_To the Same._
_Plymouth, June 26, 1744._
_My dear Friend_,
YOU see by this where I am. Doubtless you’ll wonder at the quick
transition from _Portsmouth_ to _Plymouth_. To the former I intended
going when I wrote last; but just before I took leave of the dear
tabernacle people, a message was sent to me, that the captain in which
I was to sail from thence, would not take me for fear of spoiling
his sailors. Some interpreted this as a call from providence not to
embark at this time; but I enjoined them silence ’till I had taken my
leave, and then, hearing of a mast-ship that was going under convoy
from _Plymouth_, I hastened thither, and have taken a passage in the
_Wilmington_, Capt. _Dalby_, bound to _Piscataway_, in _New-England_.
My first reception here was a little unpromising. A report being spread
that I was come, a great number of people assembled upon the _Hoe_,
(a large green for walks and diversions) and somebody brought out a
bear and a drum; but I did not come ’till the following evening, when,
under pretence of a hue-and-cry, several broke into the room where I
lodged at the inn, and disturbed me very much. I then betook myself to
private lodgings, and being gone to rest, after preaching to a large
congregation, and visiting the _French_ prisoners, the good woman of
the house came and told me, that a well-dressed gentleman desired to
speak with me. Imagining that it was some Nicodemite, I desired he
might be brought up. He came and sat down by my bedside, told me he
was a lieutenant of a man of war, congratulated me on the success of my
ministry, and expressed himself much concerned for being detained from
hearing me. He then asked me, if I knew him. I answered, no. He replied,
his name was _Cadogan_. I rejoined, that I had seen one Mr. _Cadogan_,
who was formerly an officer at _Georgia_, about a fortnight ago at
_Bristol_. Upon this, he immediately rose up, uttering the most abusive
language, calling me _dog_, _rogue_, _villain_, &c. and beat me most
unmercifully with his gold-headed cane. As you know I have not much
natural courage, guess how surprized I was; being apprehensive that
he intended to shoot or stab me, I underwent all the fears of a sudden
violent death. But, as it providentially happened, my hostess and her
daughter hearing me cry _murder_, rushed into the room and seized him
by the collar; however, he immediately disengaged himself from them,
and repeated his blows upon me. The cry of _murder_ was repeated also,
which putting him into some terror, he made towards the chamber-door,
from whence the good woman pushed him down stairs. About the bottom
of which, a second cry’d out, “Take courage, I am ready to help you;”
accordingly, whilst the other was escaping, he rushed up, and finding
one of the women coming down, took her by the heels and threw her
upon the stairs, by which her back was almost broken. By this time the
neighbourhood was alarmed. Unwilling to add to it, I desired the doors
might be shut, and so betook myself to rest, not without reflecting,
how indispensibly necessary it was for christians and christian
ministers to be always upon their guard, and with what great propriety
we are taught to pray in our excellent Litany, “from sudden,” that is,
“from violent and unprepared death, good LORD deliver us.” That this
may be our happy lot, is the hearty prayer of, dear Madam,
Yours, &c.
_G. W._