“_October_ 6, 1816.
“DEAR MRS. HUNTER,
“My heart is already too much affected. Your letter only adds
affliction to my bonds. But I forbear. I would have called on you
this morning, but I was too low in mind to speak to any friend but
Jesus! _There_ I am truly comfortable. Pardon me; but I make no
remarks on what you have been told. I must bear it, though I am able
to contradict _three things_ I would rather not. Mr. and Mrs.
Patrick have always dealt kindly to me. I am only grieved that dear
Mrs. P. whom I really loved, that she should try to injure me in the
estimation of those who are real friends to my dear children. The
thought affects me. Why hurt my poor family? But I am too much
depressed to enlarge. I shall never forget their kindness. God will
reward them, as he has many who have dealt well to me. But he will
resent cruelty in those who have and are still trying to degrade me.
Mrs. P. will live to see it. Dear Mrs. Hunter, I am grieved at heart
I cannot relieve your mind. I am truly sorry to lose you as a
hearer, because your soul has been blest; and you know both the
plague of the heart and the value of Jesus. May he be increasingly
present to you in his person, love, and grace! Farewell, my dear
kind friend! The Lord Jesus will reward you for your love to me, and
your kindness to mine. God is not unrighteous to forget your work of
faith and labour of love. With many tears I write this. May we meet
in glory, when no enemy shall distress my mind, nor sin nor death
shall part us more! I need not remind my dear friend that I am a
_Child_ of _Peculiar Providence_; and that _heart_ of eternal love,
and that _arm_ of invincible power has protected me—has called me to
himself; and for every act of straying, will correct me with _his own
hand_, but will resent _every other hand_, sooner or later. This you
will live to see.
“_Adieu_, _dear friend_, _accept the starting tear_,
“_And the best wishes of a heart sincere_.
“Your’s, truly,
“Till we shall meet above.”
Mr. MARRYATT.—My Lord, that is the case on the part of the prosecution.