From Knightsbridge, London, to S W in Bristol. Yesterday he dined at [Mrs] Heritage's house with Miss Derby and Billy Ley. Sarah should ask Mr Brown, [James] Rouquet, and anybody else she can think of, if they can get Ley a curacy in the Bristol area.
Charles walked with Ley to the Lock [Hospital] where [Martin] Madan tried in vain to persuade Charles to preach - 'If I cannot do the poor rich people good. I would not hinder him from doing it'. After spending an hour with the 'singers', Charles then listened to Madan for another hour speak on searching the scriptures. His chapel always seems crowded and many will no doubt be saved by his ministry. Madan introduced him to a young woman who was recently acquitted of murdering her own child, despite the near certainty of her guilt. She now seems under 'deep convictions'.
After a restful night he breakfasted with Mrs Gumley, who again offered him the living of Drayton in Oxfordshire. Charles neither accepted nor refused the offer, as he had not consulted with Sarah. The present incumbent is apparently near death.
[Lady] Robert [Manners] whom he visited, 'begs & entreats you to continue physicking Sally [and] Samme [?Samuel] once a week for at least a month AFTER the doctors, pothecaries, & nurses have done physicking'.
He dined at Miss Gideon's house. She is soon setting out for Brighthelmstone [Brighton in Sussex] 'weak in body…but strong in faith…Ministers have thrown away upon her much pains to alienate her from my [brother] & me. She is too humble to imbibe their envious spirit'.
Charles drank tea with Sarah's hearty friend Miss Hardy and then rode to Islington to obtain lodgings for her with the help of [Rebecca Gwynne]. He spent the night at Mr Evans's house.
Sunday 27 July
Mr Lewis did not speak the truth, as all the [Society] stewards did not 'forbid Isaac [Wesley's manservant]: for W. Hopkins did not. But we have had enough of it. Insult is added to ingratitude: yet they cannot hurt us unless we chuse it'.
Sarah should comfort poor [Sister] Pownal. John has written to offer £5 until she can provide for herself - 'a poor recompense'. It is a pity that the Wesleys' friends cannot do something for her.
Notes
- Publication Record: Quoted extensively by Thomas Jackson in The Journal of the Rev. Charles Wesley (1849), Volume 2, p.212 .
- The Lock Hospital and chapel was founded in 1746 by Rev. Martin Madan and an asylum was added largely through the efforts of Rev. Thomas Scott in 1787. It became quite famous through the custom introduced by Madan of holding an annual performance of an oratorio at the chapel for the benefit of the hospital's funds. Source: Edward H. Sugden, John Wesley's London - Scenes of Methodist and world wide interest with their historical associations (1932).
- Brighthelmstone is the ancient name of the town of Brighton in Sussex.