Church, he spent an agreeable
hour, conversing freely on the advantages of religion to individuals,
and society in general, and the Governor closed the interview by
expressing his friendship, with a promise of assistance in building a
Methodist Church. Methodism had grown in the provinces during the
years since it was established, so that in 1794, there were eleven
hundred accredited members, not including the number of adherents who
had not united with the church.

The journal in which William Black recorded his personal experiences,
and gave a faithful account, though brief, of the extraordinary events
which happened in his travels, the notable conversions, revival
services and progress of the kingdom of God closes with the year 1794.
Limited as it is in the range of its subjects, it was characteristic
of the man whose sole aim was the conversion of sinners and the
upbuilding of the saints. He was too busy to continue the record, and
though there were many things coming under the range of his
observation worthy of preservation, he was too modest to think of
writing his reflections with any view to publication.

The year 1800 was spent in England, where he attended the British
Wesleyan Conference which met in London, and during his visit he made
a deep and lasting impression upon the hearts of many, by his zeal and
modesty. He was welcomed as the founder of Methodism in British North
America, and had the opportunity of meeting some of the leaders of
British Methodism, especially Jabez Bunting, with whom he had several
interesting and profitable conversations, and who remained till death
one of his most devoted friends. In one of his letters to him while he
was attending the Conference, Bunting wrote, "My letter will, at
least, be accepted as an expression of that warmth of Christian
affection and esteem which I shall ever feel toward you. Unworthy as I
am of your friendship, I trust that a blessed eternity will confirm
and perfect the attachment which my present short acquaintance with
you has inspired and that, however separated on earth, we shall
together spend an everlasting existence." Two years later in another
letter he says, "I often recollect with pleasure the agreeable and
profitable moments we spent together at Oldham and Manchester, during
your last visit to England, and am thankful to God that ever I knew
you on earth, because I am persuaded that through his abundant mercy
in Christ Jesus, I shall hereaft