Portsmouth, New Hampshire, September 23, 1770.
My very dear Friend,
YOUR letters, of May 2 and 22, came to hand. New-York packet is always the surest and most centrical medium of conveyance. Before I left Boston, on Friday afternoon, I left a large packet in the hands of a young man, who promised to deliver it to you safely. You and Mr. H——y may peruse all, and communicate what you think proper. By this time I thought to be moving southward. But never was greater importunity used to detain me longer in these northern parts. Poor New-England is much to be pitied; Boston people most of all. How falsely misrepresented! What a mercy, that our christian charter cannot be dissolved! Blessed be God for an unchangeable Jesus! You will see, by the many invitations, what a door is opened for preaching his everlasting gospel. I was so ill on Friday, that I could not preach, though thousands were waiting to hear. Well, the day of release will shortly come,[¹] but it does not seem yet; for, by riding sixty miles, I am better, and hope to preach here to-morrow. I trust, my blessed Master will accept of these poor efforts to serve him. O for a warm heart; O to stand fast in the faith, to quit ourselves like men, and be strong! May this be the happy experience of you and yours! I suppose letters are gone for me, in Anderson, to Georgia. If spared so long, I expect to see it about Christmas. Still pray and praise. I am so poorly, and so engaged when able to preach, that this must apologize for not writing to more friends. It is quite impracticable. Hoping to see all dear friends about the time proposed, and earnestly desiring a continued interest in all your prayers, I must hasten to subscribe myself, my dear, very dear Sir,
Less than the least of all,
G. W.
[¹] Mr. Whitefield died the 30th.
End of the Letters.
The following Letters, addressed by Mr. Whitefield to the inhabitants of Savannah, as they display his affections to the people, among whom he went to minister, so will be no unsuitable introduction to the Account of the Orphan-house. It may not be improper to observe, that Mr. Whitefield’s first arrival at Savannah, was May 7, 1738; he laboured assiduously in that place,[¹] and the neighbouring settlements, till August 28 following, and then went to South Carolina, and embarked on board the Mary, Captain Cae, for England, that he might receive priest’s orders, for his further service to that people, and raise contributions for erecting an Orphan-house in the new colony at Georgia, which he saw was greatly wanted.
[¹] See his letter from Savannah, dated June 10, 1738. Vol. I. p. 44.