_To Lady H――――n._
_London, Sept. 4, 1749._
_Honoured Madam_,
BY the providence of good and gracious GOD, I came to town on
_Thursday_ evening, after having had a pleasant circuit in the _West_.
The day after I wrote to your Ladyship, I preached twice at _Exeter_,
and in the evening I believe I had near ten thousand hearers. The
Bishop and several of his clergy stood very near me, as I am informed.
A good season it was. All was quiet, and there was a great solemnity in
the congregation; but a drunken man threw at me three great stones. One
of them cut my head deeply, and was like to knock me off the table; but,
blessed be GOD, I was not discomposed at all. One of the other stones
struck a poor man quite down. As I came from _Exeter_, I visited one
_John Hayne_, the soldier that, under GOD, begun the great awakening in
_Flanders_. He is in _Dorchester_ ♦gaol for preaching at _Shaftsbury_,
where there has been, and is now a great awakening. Every where the
work is upon the spread; and since I have been here, we have had some
of the most awful, solemn, powerful meetings, as I ever saw at the
Tabernacle. Congregations have been very large, and I have had several
meetings with the preachers. On _Saturday_ I had the honour of being
almost all the day long with Lady _F――――_, Lady _H――――_, Lady _C――――_,
and the Countess of _D――――_. Lady _F――――_ and the Countess received the
blessed sacrament before the others came: and I think they both grow.
If I stay over _Sunday_, (as perhaps I may) I hope to have another day
with them. I am sorry to inform your Ladyship, Mr. _D――――_ died last
_Sunday_ about noon. He had been sick about a fortnight, was in doubts
for a while, but two or three days before his death he rejoiced in
GOD his Saviour. This morning I had the pleasure of a visit from Mr.
_P――――_ and two _German_ ministers, who have been labouring among the
_Jews_, and been made instrumental of converting many of them. They
seemed to be dear souls. They have preached at the _German_ chapel with
great power. That your Ladyship may always enjoy a thriving soul in a
healthy body, is the continual prayer of, honoured Madam,
Your Ladyship’s most dutiful, &c.
_G. W._
♦ “goal” replaced with “gaol”