HOW glad was I to hear by the London Shunamite, that you and your Lady were well; that God had given you a son; that you reflected on your preaching at Tottenham-Court chapel with pleasure; that you had gotten a curate; and, to compleat all, that you intended to visit England next spring. This news rejoiced me before I left town, and was most grateful to our good Lady H——n, whom I have the honour of waiting upon at this time in Bath. She hath been sick, nigh unto death, but through mercy is now somewhat recovered, though as yet unable to write much. This her Ladyship much regrets on your account; and therefore enjoins me to inform your whole self, that your letter did not reach her hands till many weeks after the proper time; that ever since she hath been visited with lingering sickness, but begs you will not linger in coming over to our Macedonia to help us. The thought of it seems to refresh her heaven-born soul. Blessed be God, her Ladyship still takes the lead. She is now doing honour to the remains of the Earl of B——n, who sweetly slept in Jesus last week. His corpse lies deposited in her Ladyship’s chapel, and is not to be removed till next Friday morning. There have been public prayers and preaching twice every day. The noble relatives constantly attend, and all is more than solemn. Great numbers of all ranks croud to see and hear; I trust many will also feel. The deceased Earl died like the patriarch Jacob; he laid his hands on, and blessed his children, assured them of his personal interest in Jesus, called most gloriously on the Holy Ghost; cried, Happy! happy! as long as he could speak, and then—You know what followed. I know how you and yours will improve this imperfect account, and therefore hasten to subscribe myself, dear and honoured friends,
Yours, &c. &c. &c.
G. W.
LETTER MCCCLXXX.
To Lady S—— S——.
Bath, December 9, 1767.
Honoured Madam,
ALL hath been awful, and more than awful. On Saturday evening, before the corpse was taken from B——n-House, a word of exhortation was given, and a hymn sung in the room where the corpse lay. The young Earl stood with his hands on the head of the coffin, the Countess Dowager on his right hand, Lady Ann and Lady Isabella on his left, and their brother Thomas next to their mother, with Miss O——n, Miss Wh——r, Miss G——e; on one side all domestics, with a few friends on the other. The word of exhortation was received with great solemnity, and most wept under the parting prayer. At ten the corpse was removed to good Lady H——n’s chapel, where it was deposited within a place railed in for that purpose, covered with black bays, and the usual funeral concomitants, except escutcheons. On Sunday morning, all attended in mourning at early sacrament. They were seated by themselves, at the feet of the corpse, and with their head servants, received first, and a particular address was made to them. Immediately after receiving, these verses were sung for them:
Our lives, our blood, we here present,