From Charles Wesley to his wife Sarah. From London to Bristol. Sarah should have informed him how ill she was. It would certainly have brought him back from London. He is relieved that she has now recovered so well that Mrs Gallatin informs him there was no reason why she could not have come to London with them - she should have done.
She should inform him when she is setting out and she should also let Mr Sheen accompany her. The first days journey should take them as far as Marlborough, Wiltshire and on the second they shall be met by friends at the George Inn in Reading, Berkshire. At noon on the third day she shall find Charles at Salthill in Buckinghamshire.
[Thomas] Lewis, Dan Jenkins and many others would gladly lend Sheen a horse. Charles 'can depend on none but Isaac [Wesley's manservant] to bring me mine at my own hours'.
Sarah's presence in London will guarantee him some rest which he cannot do without.
Mrs Butterfield has two beds in one room for the two children [Charles junior and Sally] and 'every thing convenient'.
This evening Jack Hamilton promised to deliver his letter and key. In Charles's bureau Sarah will find his other keys, particularly the one for the box where the cases are. He was 'forced to lock them up for fear of small thieves'.
This journey to London will be a good way of restoring Sarah's strength.
He presumes that she will ask Mr James or some other brother to arrange the carriage hire to London.
His love should be given to [Anne] Vigor, Mrs Furly and [?James] Brown etc. He is going to preach at the Foundery. On Thursday he will stop using the [medicinal] waters. Sarah's arrival will be tonic enough.
His love and blessing should be given to 'the little folk'. Both Colonel and Mrs Gallatin assure him that Charles junior is much better.
In a postscript he passes on the greetings of Mr and Mrs Boult. the people here are very eager 'to supply my necessities'. He found it difficult to refuse.
Note
- The Mr Brown referred to, may be James Brown, the Rector of Portishead near Bristol from 1764 to 1791. He was a chaplain to the Countess of Huntingdon and was responsible for introducing Dr Thomas Coke, one of the founders of American Methodism, to John Wesley. Source: John Edwards, Peter Gentry and Roger Thorne, A Methodist Guide to Bristol and the South-West (1991), p.15.