Letter

  • This material is held at
  • Reference
      GB 133 DDWes/9/85
  • Former Reference
      GB 135 DDWes/9/85
      GB 135 Volume of Wesley Autograph Letters & Manuscripts, page 85.
  • Dates of Creation
      26 Aug 1798

Scope and Content

From Mrs K. Keysall in Stokes Croft, Bristol, to Joseph Benson at the Preaching House in Hull, Yorkshire. She arrived here alone by stage coach on the night before Benson left the city. Her mode of travel was very different to that employed by her husband when he returned from Hertfordshire the night before she left London, for he drove in his own carriage drawn by four horses, and attended by three men dressed in livery 'as I am not fond of state this occasioned no very painful reflections, tho some thoughts recurred which were not pleasing'.

Her health has not improved in Bristol and she is constantly reminded of 'a late painful event'. She intends remaining here until the 25th or 26th of next month, when she will return home to a very unpleasant situation for Mr _ [Keysall?] is getting worse.

Spiritual matters are discussed.

Benson has asked for a more detailed account of the supposed sighting of [Eliza] Hurrel in Gower Street on the day after she died [see DDWes 9/84]. Keysall is convinced that this actually occurred, but would rather wait until she sees Benson before giving a fuller explanation. Anyway she recalls that Benson did not lend much credence to her account of a similar event some time ago 'I think we ought not to reject circumstances, because we…cannot account why & wherefore such things have been permitted'.

She is pleased that Benson has been paid the money owed from Hurrel's estate. Dr [John] Whitehead and the other executor [Revd. Gwennap] are causing Keysall a great deal of trouble. She feels that she stands alone without father, brother, or husband to take her part.

In a postscript she mentions reading Robinson's book, which argues that the Illuminati are guided by the Devil. How did Benson like [Thomas Tregenna] Biddulph's essays?