Letter

  • This material is held at
  • Reference
      GB 133 DDCW/5/94
  • Former Reference
      GB 135 DDCW/5/94
      GB 133 Folio entitled Letters of the Revd. C Wesley, page 94
  • Dates of Creation
      17 Mar [?1762]

Scope and Content

From London to S W. One letter a week does not really satisfy him when they are apart for he is counting the days until they are reunited. Yet he does not promise himself that they will meet again for there are so many evils in this world - he dare not call them accidents 'for God ordaineth all things'. Who knows what the divine will is concerning this wicked city?, and how near it is to suffering the same fate as Portugal or Lima.

The Bishop of London [?Richard Osbaldeston] has published a letter of warning and the churches are full. Last night Charles preached in the French chapel at Spitalfields for the first time 'my scruples being at last removed'. The chapel was full to capacity as he preached on 'The poor have the gospel preached unto them…'.

He preached again this morning on 'God is our refuge & strength…'. The poor weavers both French [Hugeunot] and English again filled the building - 'here is surely a door…& as yet NOT many adversaries'. He must try to maintain the good work by preaching every morning of next week, after which he will probably go to Canterbury in Kent for two or three days accompanied by Dudy Perronet.

Sarah has not mentioned music, which is he fears a bad sign indicating idleness - 'when you would have me look after a harpsichord for you, you will tell me'.

Last night Charles [Perronet] left for Bristol to see John Wesley, before he leaves for Ireland. Dudy and [Edward Perronet] pine after Sarah, and the Wesleys really must spend a month or two with them at Canterbury.

[Mrs] Stotesbury, the Blackwells, Mrs Dewal, and many others send their love.

[The rest of the letter is missing]

Notes

  • Publication Record: Quoted extensively by Thomas Jackson in The Journal of the Rev. Charles Wesley (1849), Volume 2, pp.208-209.
  • John Wesley travelled to Bristol from London in March 1762 on his way to Ireland. He also mentions in his journal for 12 March the holding of a day of national fasting, which would be in keeping with the tone of the above letter.

Note

Notes

  • Publication Record: Quoted extensively by Thomas Jackson in The Journal of the Rev. Charles Wesley (1849), Volume 2, pp.208-209.
  • John Wesley travelled to Bristol from London in March 1762 on his way to Ireland. He also mentions in his journal for 12 March the holding of a day of national fasting, which would be in keeping with the tone of the above letter.