101. - To Mr. W. Perronet.

enjoy new prospects, I ventured to cross the mountains, which separate France from this country. But on the third day of the journey I found an unexpected trial: a large hill, the winding roads of which were so steep that, although we fed the horses with bread and wine, they could scarcely draw the empty chaise. This obliged me to walk in all the steepest places. The climbing lasted several hours, the sun was hot, I perspired violently, and the next day I spit blood again. I have chiefly kept to goats’ milk ever since, and hope I shall get over this death also, because I find myself (blessed be God!) better again, and my cough is neither frequent nor violent.

I have not ventured on preaching in this country. It is delightful. If you come to see it, and claim the estate, bring all the papers, anecdotes, and memorials your father can collect, and come to share a delightful apartment, and one of the finest prospects in the world, in the house where I was born. The weather is not (hitherto) too hot for me, and I design to try this fine air some months longer. We have a fine shady wood near the lake, where I can ride in the cool all the day, and enjoy the singing of a multitude of birds, which (though sweet) does not come up to the singing of my dear friends in England. There I meet them in spirit several hours in the day. Give my love and thanks to those you know, and particularly to dear Messrs Wesley, Mr. and Mrs. Greenwood, Miss Thornton, Mr. Atlay, and all the Foundery family. Do not forget my god daughter, her mother, and brothers. God bless you my dear friend! And believe me, dear sir, your obedient, obliged servant,

J. FLETCHER.

101. - TO MR. W. PERRONET.

NYON, IN SWITZERLAND, May 15, 1778.

MY VERY DEAR FRIEND, - I have received your kind letter, and the directions and prescriptions which it contains; for which I return you, and Dr. Turner, my sincerest thanks. I have laid aside upon it my pills of soap and aloes, and shall use no physic but in case of absolute necessity. The climate and prospect, the fine roads and pure air which I enjoy here, had contributed to strengthen me a little, when an accident (I think) has pulled me back.

About a month ago, something I chewed got into my windpipe, and caused a fit of coughing, with the greatest efforts of the lungs, for half an hour. I began to spit blood again; and ever since I have had a bad cough, which has sometimes held me violently for an hour after my first sleep. My cough has been better these two days again, and I hope it will go off if I can spit. My friends here, (through a national prejudice,) have opposed my taking the senna. This delay hurt me; and for peace sake I have taken, now and then, a glass of a diet drink, made of manna dissolved in water, which answers the end of the senna and prunes. I have bought a quiet horse, whose easy pace I can bear; and I ride much. Upon the whole, if my cough leaves me, I may yet recover my strength; but if it fixes, it will probably be my last. The will of the Lord be done!

I have not ventured upon preaching since I came here. It would be impossible for me now to go through it. If the weather should grow hot, I may go to the foot of the hills, which is but five or six miles off. I drink goats’ milk, and have left off meat since the cough, but design eating a little again at dinner.

I passed last Monday through a town called Morges, fifteen miles off, where I was told there was a gentlewoman of your name. I waited upon her; she is an elderly person, about forty five; lives with her sister who is a widow lady. They received me kindly. I gave them an account of their friends in England, and the dear Shoreham family. They were very glad to hear of them. Their father was a clergyman, nephew, or first cousin to your venerable father. The clergyman with whom your family corresponded, was another who died at Geneva. They seemed well inclined, but (like the people of this country) not deep in internal religion. The husband of the lady (who is a widow) was one of Lady Guyon’s correspondents; at least, I remember to have seen among her printed letters, one directed to him at Morges. They invited me to call again, which I design to do, if I can, and shall let you know more of the matter. They told me they had two relations of your name; one a merchant at Marseilles and another a great man at Paris, worth much money, being general inspector of all the roads and bridges in the kingdom. I told them they had some relations greater still, as being possessed of “the pearl of great price, the new name, and the new and living way to glory.” I would have stopped longer with them, but my company did not permit it. I exhorted them to pray for your branch of the family, as I was sure yours had done, and would do for them; and I rejoiced at being with your relations, telling them how much I was indebted