_To the Bishop of B――――._
_London, March 25, 1756._
I HEARTILY thank your Lordship for your kind acceptance of my three
small tracts, and my very long letter dated _February_ 16th.――At
the same time, I acknowledge myself concerned, that any thing I have
written since, should prevent your Lordship’s pointing out to me any
mistakes, which I may lie under in regard to the canons. GOD knows,
if I do err, it is for want of better information; and therefore if
your Lordship will vouchsafe to favour me with the letter prepared for
that purpose, it shall be most thankfully received, most impartially
examined, most explicitly replied to, but withal never exposed to
the view of the world. Your Lordship needed not to inform me of the
privilege of a Peer, to deter me from publishing your Lordship’s
letters without first asking leave. I thank GOD, I have not so learned
CHRIST. By his help, nothing shall be done in that way, which is the
least inconsistent with the strictest honour, justice and simplicity.
But I hope, if a public account of the repeated disturbances at
_Long-Acre_ chapel should be rendered necessary, your Lordship will not
esteem it unreasonable in me, to inform the world, what previous steps
were taken to prevent and stop them. Surely such a scene, at such a
juncture, and under such a government, as has been transacted in your
Lordship’s parish, in the house or yard of one Mr. _Cope_, who I hear
is your Lordship’s overseer, ever since last _Twelfth-Day_, I believe
is not to be met with in _English_ history. Indeed, my Lord, it is more
than noise. It deserves no milder a name than _premeditated rioting_.
Drummers, soldiers, and many of the baser sort, have been hired by
subscription.――A copper-furnace, bells, drums, clappers, marrow bones
and cleavers, and such like instruments of reformation, have been
provided for, and made use of, by them repeatedly, from the moment I
have begun preaching, to the end of my sermon. By these horrid noises,
many women have been almost frightened to death, and mobbers encouraged
thereby to come and riot at the chapel door during the time of divine
service, and then insult and abuse me and the congregation after it
hath been over. Not content with this, the chapel windows, while I
have been preaching, have repeatedly been broken by large stones of
almost a pound weight (some now lying by me) which though levelled at,
providentially missed me, but at the same time sadly wounded some of
my hearers. Mr. _C――――_, one of your Lordship’s relations, can acquaint
your Lordship with many more particulars, and if your Lordship would
be so good as only to ride to Mr. _C――――_’s house, you would see such
a scaffold (unless taken down) and such costly preparations for a noise
upon it, that must make the ears of all that shall hear it to tingle.
Indeed last _Tuesday_ night all was hush’d,――and in order to throw off
all popular odium, I gave it as my opinion, that it was owing to your
Lordship’s kind interposition. One Mr. _C――――_ and one Mr. _M――――_, I
am informed, are parties greatly concerned. I know them not, and I pray
the LORD of all Lords never to lay this ill and unmerited treatment
to their charge. If no more noise is made on their part, I assure
your Lordship no further resentment shall be made on mine. But if they
persist, I have the authority of the Apostle on a like occasion, to
appeal unto _Cæsar_.――And thanks be to GOD, we have a _Cæsar_ to appeal
to, whose laws will not suffer any of his loyal subjects to be used in
such an inhuman manner. I have only one favour to beg of your Lordship,
that “you would send (as they are your Lordship’s parishioners) to
the above gentlemen, and desire them henceforward to desist from such
unchristian (and especially at this critical juncture) such riotous and
dangerous proceedings.” Whether as a Chaplain to a most worthy Peeress,
a Presbyter of the church of _England_, and a steady disinterested
friend to our present happy constitution, I have not a right to
ask such a favour, I leave to your Lordship’s mature deliberation.
Henceforward, I hope no more to trouble your Lordship; but committing
my cause to him, who judgeth righteously, I beg leave to subscribe
myself, my Lord,
Your Lordship’s most dutiful son and servant,
_G. W._