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Laissez-Faire or Government Control: A Problem for John Wesley1

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 July 2009

Robert M. Kingdon
Robert M. Kingdon
Affiliation:
State University of Iowa, Iowa City
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Extract

Many students of John Wesley have examined his economic ideas;2 few have appreciated their range. At least three sources molded the economic thought of the founder of Methodism. Only one of them, the Christian ethical tradition, has been studied with sufficient care. It was, to be sure, the first and most prominent source. But it was followed, first by Wesley's reaction to certain acute social problems which forced themselves on his attention during the 1770's, then by the thought of one of the most prominent economists of that day, the Rev. Josiah Tucker, Dean of Gloucester. These later stimuli led Wesley to consider a problem which disturbed many of his contemporaries, the problem of the extent to which a government should be allowed to control commerce and industry. His thinking on this problem is important, not because of its sophistication, but because of the tremendous influence Wesley exerted on public opinion, through his uncommonly effective preaching, organizing, and writing.3

Type
Research Article
Information
Church History , Volume 26 , Issue 4 , December 1957 , pp. 342 - 354
Copyright
Copyright © American Society of Church History 1957

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References

2. Most important: Edwards, Maldwyn, John Wesley and the Eighteenth Century: a Study of His Social and Political Influence (London, 1933)Google Scholar; MacArthur, Kathleen Walker, The Economic Ethics of John Wesley (New York, Cincinnati, and Chicago, 1936)Google Scholar; Warner, Wellman J., The Wesleyan Movement in the Industrial Revolution (London, New York, and Toronto, 1930).Google Scholar Each hereafter cited by the author's last name.

3. Wesley estimates of one of his pamphlets that “within a few months, fifty, or perhaps an hundred thousand copies, in newspapers and otherwise, were dispersed throughout Great Britain and Ireland.” Wesley, John, A / CALM ADDRESS / TO THE / INHABITANTS OF ENGLAND./(London, 1777), pp. 3–4;Google Scholar I consulted the copy in the Indiana University Library; included in Jackson, Thomas, ed., The Works of the Rev. John Wesley, A. M. (London, 1829–1831, 3rd ed., 14 vols.), XI, 129.Google Scholar Hereafter cited as Wesley, Works. All references are to this edition. For further bibliographical information. see Rev. Green, Richard, The Works of John and Charles Wesley: a bibliography (London, 1896)Google Scholar, No. 316. Hereafter cited as Green, Bibliography.

4. Weber, Max, The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism (New York, 1930)Google Scholar, trans. by Talcott Parsons, hereafter cited as Weber. Tawney, R. H., Religion and the Rise of Capitalism: a historical study (London, 1936,Google Scholar revised edition).

5. The best modern critical edition is that of Sugden, Edward H., Wesley's Standard Sermons (Nashville, et al, n.d., 2 vols.)Google Scholar. See vol. II, 309–327, for the text of this sermon; note pp. 309–311, introductory notes, for information on the frequency with which Wesley preached on this topic. Hereafter cited as Wesley, Sermons.

6. Warner, pp. 207–247, describes in detail these philanthropic activities, and notes that in most cases other humanitarian groups preceded the Wesleyans in developing them.

7. Wesley, , Sermons, II, 311,Google Scholar introductory note.

8. Ashton, T. S., An Economic History of England: The 18th Century (London, 1955), pp. 22–24; 127–128.Google Scholar Warner, pp. 137, ff. provides an excellent analysis of the utility of the Methodist virtue of industry. I feel he overlooks some of the possibilities of the Methodist virtue of thrift.

9. MacArthur, pp. 94–95. Based on Wesley, Sermons.

10. Wesley, , Sermons, II, 323.Google Scholar

11. Weber, op. cit., pp. 139–143, summarizes Methodism, emphasizing its emotionalism but saying practically nothing of its ethic. Elsewhere, e.g. pp. 175–176, Weber discusses Wesley's ethic and its economic implications very briefly.

12. Ashton, T. S., The Industrial Revolution 1760–1830 (London, New York, and Toronto, 1948), p. 145.Google Scholar

13. Wearmouth, Robert F., Methodism and the Common People of the Eighteenth Century (London, 1945), 37–39.Google Scholar Hereafter cited as Wearmouth, Eighteenth Century.

14. Curnock, Nehemiah, ed., The Journal of the Rev. John Wesley, A. M. (London, 1909, Standard edition, 8 vols.), IV, 268, 27 06 1758Google Scholar. Hereafter cited as Wesley, Journal.

15. The following examples are taken from contemporary press reports cited by Wearmouth, , Eighteenth Century, pp. 63,Google Scholar ff.

16. London Evening Post, November 19–21, 1772, quoted by Wearmouth, , Eighteenth Century, p. 66.Google Scholar

17. Rev. Tyerman, L., The Life and Times of the Rev. John Wesley, M.A. (New York, 1872, 3 vols.), III, pp. 130–134Google Scholar, quotes in entirety the letter as published in Lloyd's Evening Post, December 21, 1772, and Leeds Mercury, December 29, 1772. Wearmouth, , Eighteenth Century, p. 66Google Scholar, n. 2, discovered it also in the London Chronicle, December 17- 19, 1772, but fails to note its republication in Wesley, Works.

18. Wesley, , Works, XI, 53–59.Google Scholar This version provides the basis for the following analysis. For a convenient summary of this tract see MacArthur, op. cit., pp. 105–111. She notes that these ideas are repeated, in a strikingly similar form, by Brooke, William, The True Causes of Our Present Distress for Provisions (London: Whittingham and Symonds, 1800)Google Scholar. See also Green, , Bibliography, No. 286.Google Scholar

19. John, Telford, ed., The Letters of the Rev. John Wesley, A. M. (London, 1931,Google Scholar Standard edition, 8 vols.), VI, 159, in Wesley to the Earl of Dartmouth, Secretary of State for the Colonies, 14 June 1775; cf. p. 163, Wesley to Lord North, First Lord of the Treasury, 15 June 1775, for an almost identical letter. Hereafter cited as Wesley, Letters.

20. Wesley, John, A Word to a Smuggler (01 30, 1767), in Works, XI, 174.Google Scholar For further bibliographical information see Green, , Bibliography, No. 239.Google Scholar

21. [John Wesley], THOUGHTS/CON. CERNING/THE ORIGIN OF POWER (Bristol, 1772)Google Scholar, reprinted in Works, XI, 46–53.Google Scholar I consulted the copy in the Indiana University Library. For further bibliographical information see Green, , Bibliography, No. 280.Google Scholar See also Edwards, pp. 24, ff., and 70–81.

22. Wesley, , Journal, III, 169Google Scholar, from a letter to an unidentified friend dated March 11, 1745. Cf. Warner, pp. 103, ff.

23. Wesley, John, A CALM/ADDRESS/ TO/OUR AERICAN/COLONIES./ (London, n.d., but 1775;Google ScholarIbid., …NEW EDITION, CORRECTED, AND ENLARGED./ …; Taxation no Ty. ranny; /AN/ANSWER/TO THE/RESOLUTIONS AND ADDRESS/OF THE/ AMERICAN CONGRESS./ (London, 1775), attributed to Samuel Johnson. I consulted the copies in the Indiana University Library. The second edition of Wesley's pamphlet is reprinted in Works, XI, 80–90.Google Scholar Only in this edition did Wesley give credit to Johnson's tract. Johnson apparently did not mind. See Edwards, p. 74. For further information, see Green, Bibliography, No. 305; and Tyerman, op. cit., III, 185, ff. The other pamphlet is reprinted in Alexr, Chalmers, ed., The Works of Samuel Johnson, LL.D. (Philadelphia, 1825, 6 vols.), IV, 332–362.Google Scholar Hereafter cited as Works of Samuel Johnson.

24. Wesley, , Works, XI, 89.Google Scholar

25. Jackson, F. M., list of books alluded to by Wesley in his Journal, published in the Proceedings of the Wesley Historical Society, IV, 209.Google Scholar Hereafter cited as WHS.

26. Wesley, , Journal, IV, 125–126, 09 2 1776.Google Scholar

27. Clark, Walter Ernest, Josiah Tucker, Economist: a study in the history of economics (New York, 1903), p. 27,Google Scholar n. 3, reports that this is Tucker's version of a malicious epigram William Warburton coined about him. Clark provides the most authoritative study of Tucker.

28. Sehuyler, Robert Livingston, Josiah Tucker: a selection from his economic and political writings (New York, 1931)Google Scholar, includes an edition of the Elements, pp. 51–219, and a useful introduction on Tucker.

29. E.g. Johnson, Samuel in Taxation no Tyranny (London, 1775)Google Scholar, refers to Tucker's arguments on the American colonial situation, on pp. 45 and 83–84; or Works of Samuel Johnson, IV, 347, 360.Google Scholar See above, note 22, for more bibliographical information.

30. Wesley, , Journal, II, pp. 178d., 181d., 245d., 04–07 1739.Google Scholar

31. Wesley, , Journal, II, 341, 304 1740.Google Scholar

32. Wesley, , Works, VIII, 359Google Scholar, at the beginning of edition of The Prineiples of a Methodist. See Green, Bibliography, No. 35, for further bibliographical information. The editor of Wesley, Works, errs in dating this tract in 1740. Green demonstrates this.

33. Wesley, , Letters, III, 273Google Scholar, Wesley's public letter to John Baily, Rector of Cork, 8 June 1750.

34. Wesley, , Letters, VI, 199Google Scholar, Wesley to Christopher Hopper, 26 December 1775.

35. Wesley, , Works, XI, 80Google Scholar, introduction to A Calm Address to our American Colonies. See above, note 23, for more bibliographical information.

36. Wesley, John, A SERIOUS/ADDRESS/ TO/THE PEOPLE OF ENGLAND,/WITH REGARD TO/THE STATE OF THE NATION./ (London, 1778).Google Scholar I consulted the copy in the Newberry Library, Chicago. The tract is reprinted in Wesley, , Works, XI, 140–149Google Scholar, but a three-page postscript which concludes the original, is omitted. See Green, Bibliography, No. 327. For Wesley's explanation of why he wrote this pamphiet, see Weley, , Journal, VI, 180–181, 1702 1778.Google Scholar He hoped to “remove, if possible, the apprehensions which have been so diligently spread, as if it [the nation] were on the brink of ruin.”

37. I consulted the copy in the British Museum, Mss. 34414, f. 568. It is a single proof-sheet, which gives as author, Tucker's title, “the Dean of Gloucester,” not his name. Wesley, , Works, XI, 147Google Scholar, similarly omits the name but uses the title. The only printed mention of this pamphlet I have been able to find is in the check-list of Tucker's works compiled by Clark, p. 249, no. 42. I have found no mention of the fact that Wesley reprinted it in his tract.

38. Johnson, E. A. J., Predecessors of Adam Smith: the growth of British economic thought (New York, 1937), pp. 213, and ff.Google Scholar

39. This postscript can be found only in the original edition. The edited copy in Wesley, , Works, XI, 140–149,Google Scholar omits it without any indication. See above, note 36.

40. WHS, IV, 236, Jackson's list of books Wesley alludes to in his Journal. This particular one: “DrAnderson, James. An Account of the present state of the Hebrides and West Coast of Scotland, with hints for encouraging the fisheries, and promoting other improvements in those countries. Edinburgh. 1785.Google Scholar Illustrated with a map.”

41. Wesley, , Journal, VII, 162, 1105 1786.Google Scholar

42. Kathleen MacArthur, op. cit., pp. 34–35. For similar conclusions, see Faulkner, John Alfred, Wesley as Sociologist, Theologian, Churchman (New York and Cincinnati, 1918), p. 32Google Scholar, “Wesley was no socialist. He had no social program, except the Pauline one of humble obedience to the powers that be.” and Maldwyn Edwards, op. cit., p. 180, “Wesley would, in any case, have opposed Governmental interference, because he believed profoundly in individual effort.”

43. Warner, p. 276.

44. See Brebner, J. Bartlet, “Laissez Faire and State Intervention in NineteenthContury Britain,” The Making of English History, ed. by Schuyler, Robert Livingston and Herman, Ausubel (New York, 1952), pp. 501–510Google Scholar, for a final debunking of the Dicey thesis that Bentham is the father of British laissez-faire. Reprinted, with minor changes by the author, from The Journal of Economic History, Supplement, VIII (1948), 59–73.Google Scholar

45. Wearmouth, Robert F., Methodism and the Working-Class Movements of England, 1800–1850 (London, 1937).Google Scholar Cf.Halévy, Elie, England in 1815 (London, 1949)Google Scholar, trans. by E. I. Watkin and D. A. Barker, for the classic statement of the great significance of this development in Methodism.

46. Wearmouth, B. F., Methodism and the Struggle of the Working Classes, 1850- 1900 (Leicester, 1954).Google Scholar Cf. the much sketchier analysis of the same material by Thompson, D. D., John Wesley as a Social Reformer (New York and Cincinnati, 1898).Google Scholar