To the Bishop of B——.
London, March 25, 1756.
I HEARTILY thank your Lordship for your kind acceptance of my three small tracts, and my very long letter dated February 16th.—At the same time, I acknowledge myself concerned, that any thing I have written since, should prevent your Lordship’s pointing out to me any mistakes, which I may lie under in regard to the canons. God knows, if I do err, it is for want of better information; and therefore if your Lordship will vouchsafe to favour me with the letter prepared for that purpose, it shall be most thankfully received, most impartially examined, most explicitly replied to, but withal never exposed to the view of the world. Your Lordship needed not to inform me of the privilege of a Peer, to deter me from publishing your Lordship’s letters without first asking leave. I thank God, I have not so learned Christ. By his help, nothing shall be done in that way, which is the least inconsistent with the strictest honour, justice and simplicity. But I hope, if a public account of the repeated disturbances at Long-Acre chapel should be rendered necessary, your Lordship will not esteem it unreasonable in me, to inform the world, what previous steps were taken to prevent and stop them. Surely such a scene, at such a juncture, and under such a government, as has been transacted in your Lordship’s parish, in the house or yard of one Mr. Cope, who I hear is your Lordship’s overseer, ever since last Twelfth-Day, I believe is not to be met with in English history. Indeed, my Lord, it is more than noise. It deserves no milder a name than premeditated rioting. Drummers, soldiers, and many of the baser sort, have been hired by subscription.—A copper-furnace, bells, drums, clappers, marrow bones and cleavers, and such like instruments of reformation, have been provided for, and made use of, by them repeatedly, from the moment I have begun preaching, to the end of my sermon. By these horrid noises, many women have been almost frightened to death, and mobbers encouraged thereby to come and riot at the chapel door during the time of divine service, and then insult and abuse me and the congregation after it hath been over. Not content with this, the chapel windows, while I have been preaching, have repeatedly been broken by large stones of almost a pound weight (some now lying by me) which though levelled at, providentially missed me, but at the same time sadly wounded some of my hearers. Mr. C——, one of your Lordship’s relations, can acquaint your Lordship with many more particulars, and if your Lordship would be so good as only to ride to Mr. C——’s house, you would see such a scaffold (unless taken down) and such costly preparations for a noise upon it, that must make the ears of all that shall hear it to tingle. Indeed last Tuesday night all was hush’d,—and in order to throw off all popular odium, I gave it as my opinion, that it was owing to your Lordship’s kind interposition. One Mr. C—— and one Mr. M——, I am informed, are parties greatly concerned. I know them not, and I pray the Lord of all Lords never to lay this ill and unmerited treatment to their charge. If no more noise is made on their part, I assure your Lordship no further resentment shall be made on mine. But if they persist, I have the authority of the Apostle on a like occasion, to appeal unto Cæsar.—And thanks be to God, we have a Cæsar to appeal to, whose laws will not suffer any of his loyal subjects to be used in such an inhuman manner. I have only one favour to beg of your Lordship, that “you would send (as they are your Lordship’s parishioners) to the above gentlemen, and desire them henceforward to desist from such unchristian (and especially at this critical juncture) such riotous and dangerous proceedings.” Whether as a Chaplain to a most worthy Peeress, a Presbyter of the church of England, and a steady disinterested friend to our present happy constitution, I have not a right to ask such a favour, I leave to your Lordship’s mature deliberation. Henceforward, I hope no more to trouble your Lordship; but committing my cause to him, who judgeth righteously, I beg leave to subscribe myself, my Lord,
Your Lordship’s most dutiful son and servant,
G. W.
LETTER MCXXV.
To —— ——.
London, April 1, 1756.
Gentlemen,