11 JANUARY 1902, Page 23

The Coming of the Preachers. By John Ackworth. (Hodder and

Stoughton. 63.)—Mr. Ackworth gives us an interesting account of the rise of Methodism in a small country town. The picture he draws of life in England at that time is rather a dark one, and he dhows how much the peace and goodwill preached by the Wesleys were needed. What with the fears of French invasion, the tyranny of the press-gang, and the lesser evils of footpads and witches, people must have lived in constant apprehension of harm. Those readers who are lucky enough to know any very old people will be able to confirm some of the adventures in this book by the test of their recollections. It is soberly but pleasantly written and worth reading.