_To the Earl of ――――._
_London, Nov. 23, 1742._ _My Lord_,
SINCE I wrote to your Lordship, I have received a comfortable packet of letters from _Georgia_, giving me an account of my family’s safe return to their _Bethesda_. The deliverance of _Georgia_ from the _Spaniards_, one of my friends writes me, is such as cannot be parralleled, but by some few instances out of the Old Testament. I find that the _Spaniards_ had cast lots, and determined to give no quarter. They intended to attack _Carolina_, but wanting water they put into _Georgia_, and so would take that Colony in their way. But “the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong.” Providence ruleth all things. They were wonderfully repelled and sent away, before our ships were seen. Surely GOD remembered the prayers of the poor orphans, and the earnest cries which have been put up on their behalf. I find they now live at a smaller expence. They hunt and shoot for a good part of their food. Their crop gives them a considerable quantity of peas, potatoes, &c. and they kill some of their own stock. There has been a great sickness at _Savannah_. Some of the labourers have been taken off, but none of the children, as I hear, have died as yet. I hope this will find your Lordship perfectly recovered, and your honoured consort, Lady ――――, and all your Lordship’s family, rejoicing in GOD. He is pleased to give me much of his love, and to bless me every day. Several of our friends in _Wales_ have been unjustly excommunicated. I have sent two letters, and have received kind answers from the Bishop of _Bangor_. Perilous times, perhaps, are coming on; but this is my comfort, “the gates of hell shall never prevail against the church of CHRIST.” Hoping for a line from your Lordship, if it be not too much trouble, I subscribe myself, my Lord,
Your Lordship’s most obedient, obliged humble servant,