HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE. 155 



ages ; but the world is highly indebted to him for the principle, 

 since so highly improved, and so generally applied." 



The most powerful machinery in the world for raising water has 

 been erected in this neighbourhood at Oakenhill, by the Birmingham 

 Canal Company, upon Boulton and Watt's application of Savary's 

 principle. 



The art of manufacturing iron with pit-coal being perfected, fur- 

 naces are now very numerous in the vicinity of Wednesbury. They 

 are plentifully supplied with the materials on the spot ; and the 

 utmost facility for the conveyance of the manufactured goods 

 afforded by branches from the canal in all directions. 



In the year 1742, when Lady Huntingdon sent John and 

 Charles Wesley to Wednesbury, to preach the doctrine of Method- 

 ism, the miners and iron-manufacturers, who were then in a rather 

 uncivilized state, rose in a mob, and broke the windows of the 

 house where some people had assembled to hear the preachers. 

 Some of the rioters being brought by a warrant before Justice 

 Pershouse, he reprimanded the methodists. The minister of 

 Wednesbury then joined with the magistrates, (according to Mr. 

 Wesley,) and the mob was encouraged to persecute and insult the 

 methodists, and all who joined them. 



These riotous proceedings being noticed by Government, one of 

 the Middlesex justices, in an interview with Mr. John Wesley, 

 informed him, that he had orders from the King to do him justice, 

 his Majesty being determined that no man in his dominions should 

 be persecuted for conscience-sake. Thus by the beneficent influ- 

 ence of the Sovereign, the rioters were intimidated, and the spirit 

 of persecution subsided. 



Wednesbury Church is an elegant gothic edifice in the pointed 

 style of architecture, situated on the summit of a bold eminence. 

 The tower is handsome, and supports a lofty and beautiful spire. 

 The interior is divided into a chancel, nave, and north and south 

 aisles. There are several monuments in this church, particularly 

 of the families of Lord Dudley and Lord Harcourt, with several 

 ancient tombs, the inscriptions on which are not legible. It is 

 now a vicarage in the King's books, and the gift of the Chancellor. 

 The present vicar is the Rev. A. B. Haden. 



WESTBROMWICH is a village situated to the south-east of Wed- 

 nesbury, on a gravelly hill. The road to Birmingham passes 

 through the village. The population of the parish of Westbromwich 

 has rapidly increased in consequence of the various manufactures 



