For these and other reasons, and in some respects most unreasonably, the people at Savannah became prejudiced against him, and so disaffected that “he perceived that his preaching was not likely to be attended with beneficial influence.  Hence, having in vain sought an accommodation with his opponents, without in the least relaxing from the enforcement of his principles, and disappointed in the prime object of his mission, that of preaching to the Indians, he resolved to quit the Colony, and return to his native land[1].”

[Footnote 1:  Memoir of the Rev.  John Wesley, prefixed to a volume of his Sermons, by Samuel Drew, page xvi.]

Another circumstance brought the whole scene of his trials to a catastrophe.  Sophia Hopkins, the niece of Mrs. Causton, wife of Thomas Causton, Esq., chief magistrate of the place, had been a pupil to him to learn French, was a professed convert to his ministry, and become a member of the Church.  Her beauty, accomplishments, and manners, were fascinating; and she appears, by some coquettish advances, to have won his affections.  Delamotte, however, doubting the sincerity of her pretensions to piety, cautioned his friend Wesley against cherishing a fond attachment.  The Moravian Elders, also, advised him not to think of a matrimonial connection.  In consequence of this, his conduct towards her became reserved and distant; very naturally, to her mortification; though her own affections had been preengaged, for she soon after married a Mr. Williamson.  But a hostile feeling had been excited against him by her friends, for the manifestation of which an opportunity was afforded about five months after her marriage.  Wesley having discovered in her conduct several things which he thought blameworthy, with his wonted ingenuousness, frankly mentioned them to her; intimating that they were not becoming a participant of the Lord’s Supper.  She, in return, became angry.  For reasons, therefore, which he stated to her in a letter, he cautioned her not to come to the ordinance till she could do it in a reconciled temper.

The storm now broke forth upon him.  A complaint was entered to the magistrates; an indictment filed, and a warrant issued, by which he was brought before the Recorder, on the charges of Mr. Williamson,—­1st, That he had defamed his wife; and, 2dly, That he had causelessly repelled her from the Holy Communion.  Wesley denied the first charge; and the second, being wholly ecclesiastical, he would not acknowledge the authority of the magistrate to decide upon it.  He was, however, told that he must appear before the next court, to be holden at Savannah, August term, 1737.  In the mean time pains were taken by Mr. Causton to pack and influence the jury.  There were debates and rude management in the court.  No pleas of defence were admitted.  The evidence was discordant.  Twelve of the grand jurors drew up a protest against the proceedings.  The magistrates, themselves, after repeated adjournments, could come