Kent’s Coffee House, May 20, 1729.—I am sorry to hear of Nelly’s being so ill and weakly; but I am not able to add anything to the care which you take of her by any physic of mine. The diet of children is the only thing to look after.... My dearest love, as thou takest all possible care of thy infants, make not thyself uneasy about them; but secure thine own health for the sake of them, and thy most affectionate husband and friend.
A week later he writes:—
I promise myself that you are all pretty well at Kersall and Nelly better, not having any letter last post.... Prithee let the children have some sort of things that will keep the sun off ’em. Why should one let their faces be spoiled when a little custom might prevent it? Oh, dear! that I was with ye all. I long to jump into Kersall river.
If he could revisit his dearly-loved haunt at Kersall he would find the river now not quite so inviting.
In one of his letters to Mrs. Byrom he speaks of meeting with Whitefield, the great preacher and founder of the Calvinistic Methodists, who had then just returned from a visit to the American settlement of Georgia, when it was proposed to sing a hymn; and he remarks, “If I was to sing with ’em, it must (be) nearer homeward than Georgia. The tune that I should sing would be something like this, I believe:—
Partner of all my joys and cares,
Whether in poverty or wealth,
For thee I put up all my pray’rs;