Samuel Wood, letter, to Nathaniel Whitaker, 1767 September 28
Date28 September, 1767
Call Number767528.4
abstractWood writes to outline the touring and preaching schedule that he has prepared for Whitaker and Occom. He mentions a penny paper denouncing Occom.
handwritingFormal handwriting is stylized, yet largely clear and legible.
paperLarge sheet folded in half to make four pages is in good-to-fair condition, with moderate staining, creasing and wear.
inkBlack.
signatureThe signature is abbreviated.
layoutThe first page of the letter is on one recto, but the second page is on two recto, not one verso. The third page of the letter is on one verso and is written in landscape orientation, not portrait orientation as on the other pages.
noteworthyWood consistently punctuates the contraction "I've" as "Iv'e."
EventsFundraising Tour of Great Britain
Modernized Version Deletions removed; additions added in; modern spelling and capitalization added; unfamiliar abbreviations expanded.
mouth, and suppose You received my Letter
Since writing that Letter Iv'e wrote and
sent Papers to all the Places therein men
tioned and which You purposed to visit this
Week (Stowmarket only excepted, which
I know You could send to from Ipswich)
This will meet You (I hope well) at
Bury, where, I expect, our Friends will
be ready for You, in consequence of the
Notice had from me — they'll also
be ready for You at Melford on Friday
Forenoon — and at Sudbury that evening
where I expect Mr. John Gainsborough
(if at Home) will receive You —
Today Iv'e wrote to Mr. Ford of Castle
Heddingham and have sent Papers — I
inform him you'll be there Monday next
(October 5th) Forenoon and that one of You will
preach at 2. or 3. Afternoon if desired, and
as may be agreed upon by them next Lord's
Day — Iv'e also wrote and sent Papers to
Mr. Field of Halstead informing that
you'll
you'll be at Halstead, from Heddingham, either on
Monday evening (October 5.) or Tuesday Forenoon and will
(one of You) preach for him at 2. or 3. o'clock Tuesday
if agreeable and so appointed by him and the People on Lords
Day — and have also wrote to Mr. Davidson Brain
tree, sending Papers, and informing him of your Design
to be at Braintree, either Tuesday evening (October 6th) or
on Wednesday morning (October 7.) time enough to preach the
Lecture there which begins about 10. Forenoon — To Mr. Da
vidson's Friendship and affection Iv'e committed You, and
have asked him to plan for You both to the westward
and Eastward of Braintree in Essex — You'll see by what
Iv'e done You are fixed for next week until Wednesday
without any further Trouble to You of writing to Hed
dingham Halstead or Braintree — The Paper which
Ive sent to these ministers and to all others are a Pamphlet
(the Narrative) the brief account and the Testimonials — These
Iv'e accompanied with a Letter to the minister or principal
Person — I expect all were received before Yesterday — and
these 3 parcels into Essex (Heddingham, Halstead and Braintree)
will get into their Hands tomorrow — I expect, as I shall
send them by this Midnight's Coach — at Weathersfield
[illegible][guess: Stormbourn], Dunmow, Thaxted and other Places that You
may go to Westward of Braintree You may show my
Letter of recommendation (if You go to these Places) so
You may Eastward at Coggeshall, Dedham, Colchester,
[illegible][guess: Wisham] Chelmsford — Had I time and was it necessary
I
I would have wrote personally to the ministers of those Places, but that's not
necessary — Since You left Us I received a Guinea from good Mrs.
Corsbie (Mother to Mr. Corsbie of Bury) which was off Mr. Occom's Bill
with Mr. Ollyett completely — Here I receive your Letter of 26th instant
from Ipswich— I'm glad Youv'e done so well at Yarmouth and Woodbridge —
I should rather think it best to proceed to Heddingham Halstead and Braintree
(for to Melford and Sudbury You must go) and so go over Essex (West and East) as pro
posed — You may afterwards go to Cambridge and take in Bishop Stortford and
some other [illegible][guess: Place] in your Tour to Cambridge —
of the Brief representations for I'm got to the last of them, and must send to
[illegible][guess: Lynn], Walpole, Framlingham, and several other small congregations in Norfolk
and Suffolk — On Friday last was a Grubstreet penny Paper published at
Norwich aiming foolishly (but without Wit) to expose the Instititution
and good Mr. Occom in particular — A very low Affair it is and utterly
below Notice — I'm sure Mr. Occom is Soldier good enough to despise a
Squib, and therefore would have sent You one to excite your Laughter and to show what
Sort of People we have among Us, was it not for this expense of Carriage which
it would not answer to You — I shall be glad to hear from You at Leisure
Many have inquired whether Iv'e word from You and now I can satisfy them —
This famous Catchpenny is called a Cry from the wilderness, or a converted
Indian's Application to a christian congregation, both indeed it's below Grub
street and as innocent as to doing any mischief, as it's low, foolish and malicious —
Mr. Scott remains confirmed — Mrs. Wood, Mr. and Mrs. Newton and M[illegible] Ruggles and
our little Girl and Boy all think and speak of You both and join in salutations to yourself
and good Mr. Occom — May God bless You both! May He prosper this glorious
Cause! and May You live to see the blessed Effects of your Labours — Adieu heartily,