History of Methodism. 437 



for missionary purposes. On his return to England, 

 in September, 1785, he warmly interested himself in 

 making further collections for this and other mission- 

 ary fields. After the Conference of 1786, he sailed 

 from Gravesend in company with Messrs. Hammett 

 and Clarke, who were sent out to cooperate with 

 Messrs. Garrettson and Cromwell, at Halifax, in 

 Nova Scotia, and Mr. Warrener, who was appointed by 

 Mr. Wesley, to the work in Antigua. It was his in- 

 tention first to take Messrs. Hammett and Clarke to 

 their station, and afterward to proceed to the Balti- 

 more Conference, and send forward Mr. Warrener 

 to Antigua; but adverse winds drove the vessel to 

 Antigua, where the whole party landed and were most 

 cordially received by Mr. Baxter and other friends. 

 About the year 1762, Nathaniel Gilbert, Speaker of 

 the House of Assembly, in Antigua, and possessor of 

 two sugar plantations, went to England and attended 

 the ministry of Mr. Wesley. The first time he heard 

 him preach was on Kensington Common, and the 

 sermon was made instrumental of his conviction and 

 sound conversion. On his return from England, he 

 relinquished his position as Speaker of the House of 

 Assembly, and immediately fitting up a large upper 

 room in the building where his plantation stores were 

 kept, began to preach to the blacks. His brother, 

 Francis Gilbert, was soon made partaker of the grace 

 of God. He, too, began to preach, and was a work- 

 man that needed not to be ashamed. The two broth- 

 ers rented a house in St. Johns, and there freely and 

 faithfully published the glad tidings of salvation to 

 both blacks and whites. The Lord owned his serv- 

 ants and greatly blessed their labors. They were 

 not, however, long permitted to exercise their talents 



