September 7, 1798 letter from Mrs. S [?] Biddulph to Thomas Haweis
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Title |
September 7, 1798 letter from Mrs. S [?] Biddulph to Thomas Haweis |
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Post Date |
September 7, 1798 |
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Author |
Biddulph, Mrs. S. [?] |
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Recipient |
Haweis, Thomas (1734-1820) |
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Date |
1798-09-07 |
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Physical Description |
4 pp. total; 3 pp. text; 1 p. address; |
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Dimensions |
38.4 x 25 cm |
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Location (Box, Folder) |
Box 1, File 14 |
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Address To |
Spa-fields, London |
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Country To |
England |
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Address From |
Congresbury, near Bristol |
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Country From |
England |
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Transcriber |
Gareth Lloyd |
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Plain Text Transcription |
From Mrs S. Biddulph at Congresbury, Somerset, to T.H. at Spa Fields in London. Biddulph cannot forbear ‘addressing a few lines to a brother missionary whose ardent zeal would find as much employment here as in the remotest regions of the South Seas. I could not have believed such darkness could exist in a country called Christian.’ As [her husband] [Thomas Tregenna] Biddulph had decided to spend a month here this autumn, she took the opportunity of coming here with the rest of the family. They were unable to find accommodation that could take them all together - ‘from the concurring testimony of all the surrounding parishes this place is an offence in the nostrils of them all, so notorious for every evil word and work, the most sober-minded earnestly wish Mr [Biddulph’s] continuation among them. The church has been well-attended and the people very attentive. Mr [Biddulph] also opens his doors for all who choose to come to his evening family prayer. Many attend and some esteem it a high privilege; last night there were upwards of thirty…’ They have been here a week and will stay until nearly the end of the month. Biddulph would be pleased to subscribe to a quarto volume of Captain [James] Wilson’s journal [W. Wilson], 'A Missionary Voyage to the Southern Pacific Ocean in the years 1796, 1797, 1798 in the ship Duff commanded by Captain James Wilson, London: 1799]. She would also be grateful if T.H. could pay her shoemaker’s bill of £2.4 – Mr Mcarthur of Bow Church yard. If Biddulph does not see T.H. in Bath during the winter, she will send an order for the money totalling £3.15.6. She hopes that Mr [Biddulph’s] short stay here will be of use to him – she had begun to worry about his state of mind/health(?). Sophia is now so much improved that her recovery is expected. All the family send their best wishes to T.H. and [Janet]. (1 sheet, 3 p.) James Wilson (c.1760-1814) was born in England and served in the British armed forces during the American War of Independence. He then became a mate on a ship trading with the East Indies and remained in Bengal until 1794 when he returned to England and was converted at Orange Street Chapel in Portsea. Wilson was appointed captain of the mission ship Duff transporting missionaries of the LMS to the Pacific and was judged to have been a success in that capacity. He retired from the sea and married in 1799. |
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Notes |
Endorsed "Mrs Biddulph". Black wax seal; Bristol postmark, a red ink oval with "10 O'CLOCK" along the top curve, "98 F. NOON" along the lower curve, and "SP 10" across the middle. Part of address panel wanting. |
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Digitization Date |
Digitized: 2012 |
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Digitization Process |
Digitization process: Derivatives resized at 4030 pixels in height or width |
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Digital Publisher |
Bridwell Library, Special Collections; Perkins School of Theology; Southern Methodist University |
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Rights |
Permission to publish materials must be obtained from the Head of Special Collections of the Bridwell Library |
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Decade |
1790-1799 |
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