ve no
doubt that he will have a society of six hundred, or perhaps one
thousand members in Bermuda in four years. He may then, if he please,
return to superintend the work in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, but
it will depend upon his own choice whether he return to you, or to
England, or remain at Bermuda." William Black consented to go, and
went to New York, where he engaged his passage, but was prevented from
reaching his destination by some persons from Bermuda who were opposed
to Methodism, and were going by the same vessel, and used their
influence so that the passage was cancelled. Two years later the
British Wesleyan Missionary Committee requested him to become
Superintendent of Missions in the West Indies, and Dr. Coke renewed
his request that he assume charge in Bermuda, but he declined the
appointment to the West Indies on the account of the severity of the
tropical climate, though he was willing to go to Bermuda. The Nova
Scotia District Meeting however intervened, and petitioned the British
Conference that he might be allowed to remain Superintendent of
Missions in the Maritime Provinces and Newfoundland, and there the
matter ended.

Meanwhile the arduous duties of visiting the churches and preaching
continued with much success, several new churches being built and
numerous conversions, among whom was Colonel Bayard who commanded one
of the British regiments at Halifax during the war, and afterwards
settled about 30 miles from Annapolis. He had been strongly opposed to
Methodism, but was led by William Black to a personal trust in Christ,
and lived such a holy life that he became known as the John Fletcher
of Nova Scotia. In the midst of a great revival which swept St. John,
and through the District from Barrington to Liverpool, there came
opposition from some preachers from Scotland, who spurned the idea of
conversion, however success followed the faithful preaching of William
Black and his fellow workers and many souls were led to Christ. In
1809 he was stationed in St. John, New Brunswick, where he spent two
years, but his active ministry was drawing to a close.

The privations and incessant labors began to tell upon a strong
constitution, so that in 1812 he was compelled to become a
supernumerary, though not desisting altogether from rendering whatever
service his health would permit in extending the cause that lay so
near his heart. Along with the Rev. William Bennett he was delegated
by the British