From Otley to [Mary] Fletcher. Ritchie has often lately wished to hear from her very dear friend – how is Fletcher’s health?
She was in London when Fletcher’s nephew passed through. Miss Horne[?] told Ritchie that he called on Horne but only to say that he was lodging in [the parish of] St Giles [Cripplegate area of London] with a gentleman that he was going abroad with. It was not possible therefore to trace him any further, or several of their friends would have sought him out. Has Fletcher heard from him since he went to Switzerland? Miss Horne has told her that the relationship between Fletcher’s nephew and Miss Blassford has been ended – hopefully that will be for the best for both parties.
Ritchie left London towards the end of April and although she saw little evidence of the ‘spreading flame’ that she had hoped to see breaking out, she was nevertheless very grateful to God for the time that she spent there. Her soul was benefited ‘and often sweetly instructed in the things pertaining to the Kingdom of all glory…’ Several of their friends were stirred up by the conversations that they enjoyed. ‘In the winter we used to meet together in an afternoon (when we had no preaching in the evening) and spend the time before tea chiefly in conversation. After tea (as we were all agreed that the London people wanted power rather than light) we used to spend an hour or two in social prayer that the Holy Spirit of power might be given, and often while we were asking, the answer descended and our souls were plentifully watered with dew from on high. Our dear aged father’s ministry [John Wesley] was truly profitable to my soul. If the London people are not a wiser and holier people than most others it is not for want of the whole truth being plainly and powerfully preached amongst them. Some of them really live in the spirit, but others must come up higher before they can see the beauty of that inward path our Lord leads the souls in that closely walk with Him to heaven.’
Perhaps Fletcher has heard of the dreadful time experienced in February by poor [Peard] and [Elizabeth] Dickinson. Their infant died in order that the mother might live and [Elizabeth] Dickinson’s recovery was for a time very precarious. Ritchie was her chief nurse and was supported wonderfully by God’s presence in her fatiguing duties. Dickinson is now fully restored. [Ritchie would have also been acquainted with Abraham and Eleanor Dickinson of Leeds but as this seems to relate to her time in London, it is probable that it relates to Peard and Elizabeth Dickinson. ]
Miss Salmon spent the winter in London and intended following Ritchie back to Yorkshire to spend the summer with the Ritchie family, but she soon changed her mind and started to ‘give encouragement’ to a young man. She had often denied him during the winter because he was not ‘awakened’ but about a month ago, believing that he was now converted, she married him. Ritchie would have preferred Salmon to have waited a little while but she wrote to say that Mr [George] Clark approved of the young man and that although Ritchie’s advice was sound, it was not practicable. ‘I believe her intention has been truly upright and sincerely wish it may turn out better than she has any right to expect.’ Ritchie thinks that their London friends had not tried to dissuade her because they felt that matters had gone too far for them to interfere.
Their excellent friend Lady Mary [Fitzgerald] did not forget what Fletcher had mentioned. Ritchie thinks that Fletcher once spoke of Betty Swain in front of Fitzgerald and Her Ladyship then gave Ritchie a guinea for Swain. Financial matters are further discussed with particular regard to some loss sustained by Ritchie. Lady Fitzgerald has also given Ritchie two guineas for the poor and said that if her annuity at the Exchequer was continued, she would give an additional sum. On the last day that Ritchie saw Fitzgerald, she did indeed give her another five guineas and told her that she had purposefully given her the money when she was about to leave London so that the poor people in her own area could benefit.
Has Fitzgerald reached Madeley yet? If so, Fletcher should pass on her regards. Spiritual matters are discussed in detail.