The wonderful miracles wrought by Bridget Bostock, of Cheshire, who
healed all diseases by prayer, faith, and an embrocation of fasting
spittle, induced multitudes to resort to her from all parts of the
country, and kept her salival glands in full employ. Sir John Pryce,
with a high spirit of enthusiasm, wrote to this woman to make him a
visit at Newton Hall, in order to restore to him his third, a favourite,
wife. His letter will best tell the foundation on which he built his
strange hope, and every uncommon request.
_To Mrs. Bridget Bostock._
Madam,--Having received information, by repeated advices, both
public and private, that you have of late performed many
wonderful cures, even where the best physicians have failed;
and that the means used appear to be very inadequate to the
effect produced; I cannot but look upon you as an extraordinary
and highly favoured person. And why may not the same most
merciful God, who enables you to restore sight to the blind,
hearing to the deaf, and strength to the same, also enable you
to raise the dead to life? Now, having lately lost a wife, whom
I most tenderly loved, my children a most excellent
step-mother, and our acquaintances a most dear and valuable
friend, you will lay us all under the highest obligations; and
I earnestly entreat you, for God Almighty's sake, that you will
put up your petitions to the Throne of Grace on our behalf,
that the deceased may be restored to us, and the late dame
Eleanor Pryce be raised from the dead. If your personal
attendance appears to you to be necessary, I will send my coach
and six, with proper servants to wait on you hither, whenever
you please to appoint. Recompense of any kind that you may
please to propose would be made with the utmost gratitude; but
I wish the bare mention of it is not offensive to both God
and you.