Susanna Wesley

SURVIVORS AND DESCENDANTS.
23F
ponderous fashion to the " father, I understand, Sir,
your boys are skilled in music ; pray, let me hear
them." They were always willing, and sat down to
their instruments at once. Dr. Johnson took a chair,
and, picking up a book from the window- seat, immediately
began to read and to roll about, as was his
custom. The moment the music ceased he looked up,
closed his book, " said, Young gentlemen, I am much
obliged to you/' and departed.
Samuel Wesley had a great dislike to London, and
for many years sought and found musical engagements
in the country. After his marriage he lived
for some time near Barnet, and then at Camden Town,
which was quite rural in those days. He was an
indefatigable letter-writer, and used to fill
many
sheets of paper with musical and other gossip, for
the amusement of Charles and Sally. He gave at
least ten " hostages to fortune," and died in October
1837, in his seventy-second year.
He lived to see his eldest son, Charles, a Doctor of
Divinity, and Sub-Dean of the Chapels Royal. For
thirty years Dr. Wesley was thus connected with
St. James's Palace, and, in his official capacity, was
present when Queen Victoria was confirmed, crowned,
and married, and also when she was " churched,"
after the birth of her first child, the Princess Royal.
He was at the royal infant's christening, and, seventeen
years later, at her marriage with the Crown Prince of
Prussia. He died at St. James's in 1859, and left two
daughters.
Samuel Sebastian Wesley, well known as a Doctor
of Music, was the third son of Samuel Wesley, and
in his youth was one of the choristers of the Chapel
Royal, St. James's. When little more than twenty-