_To the Bishop of W――――._
_Bristol, Aug. 7, 1749._
_My Lord_,
I Thank your Lordship for your kind and cordial letter. I shall take
care to do your Lordship justice, by shewing it to such persons as I
think have been more immediately concerned. This, I imagine, will be as
much satisfaction as your Lordship will desire. I suppose the mistake
has lain here: your Lordship might have insinuated, that by my present
way of acting, I had broken the solemn engagement I had entered into at
my ordination: and that might have been interpreted to imply a charge
of _Perjury_. The relation in which I stand to the Right Honourable
the Countess of _H――――_, made me desirous to clear myself from such an
imputation; and at the same time to give your Lordship an opportunity
of vindicating yourself in the manner you have done. Was I not afraid
of intruding too much upon your Lordship’s time, and of shewing the
least inclination to controversy, I would endeavour, in the fear of GOD,
to answer the other part of your Lordship’s letter; and, as far as lies
in me, give your Lordship a satisfactory account of whatever may seem
irregular and exceptionable in my present conduct. This I would be glad
to do, not only before your Lordship, but all the Right Reverend the
Bishops; for I highly honour them on account of the sacred character
they sustain, and would make it my daily endeavour to obey all their
godly admonitions. This, I presume, my Lord, is the utmost extent of
the promise I made at my ordination. If I err or deviate from this, in
any respect, it is through ignorance and want of better information,
and not (as far as I know my own heart) but of obstinacy or contempt of
lawful authority. But I forget myself. I beg your Lordship’s pardon for
taking up so much of your time; I thank your Lordship for your prayers
in my behalf; and beg leave to offer mine in return for your Lordship’s
present and eternal welfare, who am, my Lord,
Your Lordship’s dutiful son, and obliged humble servant,
_G. W._