_To Mr. M――――._
_Edinburgh, July 29, 1751._
THROUGH the tender mercies of a never-failing Redeemer, I came here safe yesterday noon. In the evening, and this morning, I preached the everlasting gospel to thronged auditories, and met with a very kind reception from my friends. LORD make me humble, LORD JESUS make me truly thankful! As his interest seems to be concerned, and the King’s business requires haste, I take this first opportunity of writing about the _Virginia_ affair. In that province, there has been for some years past, a great awakening, especially in _Hanover_ county, and the ♦counties adjacent. As the ministers of the establishment did not favour the work, and the first awakened persons put themselves under the care of the _New-York_ synod, the poor people were from time to time fined, and very much harrassed for not attending on the church service:――And as the awakening was supposed to be begun by the reading of my books, at the instigation of the council a proclamation was issued out to prohibit itinerant preaching. However, before I left _Virginia_, one Mr. _D――――_ (an excellent young man) was licensed, and settled over a congregation. Since that, the awakening has increased, so that Mr. _D――――_ writes, “that one congregation is multiplied to seven.” He desires liberty to license more houses, and to preach occasionally to all, as there is no minister but himself. This, though allowed of in _England_, is denied in _Virginia_, which grieves the people very much. The commissary is one of the council, and with the rest of his brethren, I believe no friend to the Dissenters. The late Lieutenant-Governor was like-minded.――I therefore think that Mr. _D――――_ is raised up to succeed him, in order to befriend the church of GOD, and the interest of CHRIST’s people. They desire no other privileges than what dissenting protestants enjoy in our native country. This I am persuaded your brother-in-law will be glad to secure to them. I shall write to Mr. _D――――_ to wait upon his Honour immediately after his arrival. I pray the GOD of the sea, and the GOD of the dry land, to send him a safe and speedy passage, and make him a long and great blessing to the inhabitants of _Virginia_. You may improve these hints as you please. I beg the prayers both of yourself and dear yoke-fellow, and assure you, that neither you nor yours are forgotten by, reverend and dear Sir,
Yours most affectionately in our common LORD, _G. W._
♦ “countries” replaced with “counties”