_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”