writing a sharp letter to the archbishop, desiring him to desist from his unseemly routs—­but was told by George III. that he was happy in having an opportunity of assuring her ladyship of the very good opinion he had of her, and how very highly he estimated her character, her zeal, and her abilities, which could not be consecrated to a more noble purpose.  He then referred to her ministers, who, he understood, were very eloquent preachers.  The bishops were jealous of them; and the King related a conversation he had lately had with a learned prelate.  He had complained of the conduct of some of her ladyship’s students and ministers, who had created a sensation in his diocese; and his Majesty replied, ’Make bishops of them—­make bishops of them.’  ‘That might be done,’ replied the prelate; ’but, please your Majesty, we cannot make a bishop of Lady Huntingdon.’  The Queen replied, ’It would be a lucky circumstance if you could, for she puts you all to shame.’  ‘Well,’ said the King, ’see if you cannot imitate the zeal of these men.’  His lordship made some reply which displeased the King, who exclaimed with great animation, ’I wish there was a Lady Huntingdon in every diocese in the kingdom!’[764]

We have as yet seen only one side of Lady Huntingdon’s energy; she was no less industrious in providing hearers for her preachers, than preachers for her hearers.[765] She almost rivalled John Wesley himself in the influence which she exercised over her preachers; and she was as far removed as he was from any love of power for power’s sake, although, like him, she constantly had this accusation brought against her.  The extent of her power cannot be better stated than in the words of her biographer:  ’Her ladyship erected or possessed herself of chapels in various parts of the kingdom, in which she appointed such persons to officiate as ministers as she thought fit, revoking such appointments at her pleasure.  Congregations who worshipped here were called “Lady Huntingdon’s Connexion,” and the ministers who officiated “ministers in Lady Huntingdon’s Connexion.”  Over the affairs of this Connexion Lady Huntingdon exercised a moral power to the time of her death; not only appointing and removing the ministers who officiated, but appointing laymen in each congregation to superintend its secular concerns, called the “committee of management."’[766]

The first thing that obviously occurs to one in reference to this position is, that it should more properly belong to a man than a woman.  Even in women of the strongest understanding and the deepest and widest culture, there is generally a want of ballast which unfits them for such a responsibility; and Lady Huntingdon was not a lady of a strong understanding, and still less of a deep and wide culture.  But she possessed what was better still—­a single eye to her Master’s glory, a truly humble mind, and genuine piety.  The possession of these graces prevented her from falling into more errors than she did.