105. - To Mr. and Mrs. Greenwood. 106. - To the Rev. Mr. Perronet.

105. - TO MR. AND MRS. GREENWOOD.

MY DEAR BROTHER, SISTER, AND BENEFACTORS, - I thank you for the favour of your letter, as well as for former mercies shown to an unworthy wretch. I wish I could help you also to an estate here. But a sure one awaits us all in heaven. Let us go with full assurance to the throne of grace and demand, in Jesus’ name, the earnest of it. God sanctify all trials and blessings to you! The former word is useless, because trials from our heavenly Father are but blessings of another kind. Hold out faith and patience! If you will go into the country for change of air, all I have at Madeley house - horse and field is yours. Go and God will bless the journey. My duty, love, and thanks, &c, wait on Mr. Wesley, Mr. Atley, Mr. Phipps, Miss Ray, Mrs. Carteret, and her honoured friends, all friends at the Foundery, and every where.

JOHN FLETCHER.

106. - TO THE REV. MR. PERRONET.

January 2, 1779.

REV. AND DEAR SIR, - I thank you for the favour of your letter, and for the bearer, [Mr. W. Perronet,] who makes shift with me in this strange land of our fathers. All who have seen the titles he brings, think them good except the interested, who find them not sufficient. This will oblige us to go to Chateau D’Oex, and then the shortest will be to make an agreement with your cousins, who will be much better able to recover what is owing to you in whole or in part.

May we make use of our better title to the heavenly inheritance! If from the date of this letter we subtract about thirty three years, we shall find the date of the Testator’s will, and be able to say, “The kingdom that cannot be moved was bequeathed in the year 34; and the will and deed of conveyance were then sealed with the Testator’s own blood, and proved by the Judge of all, when he spoke from heaven and said, ‘Hear ye him, the Testator!’ who, delivering the bloody titles, said himself, ‘It is finished.’” That you, dear sir, your whole family, and dear Mrs. Bissaker, (to whom, as well as to Miss Perronet and Miss Briggs, I beg to be remembered,) may all, without deputy, sue and take possession of that estate, is the wish and prayer of your affectionate brother and servant,

J. FLETCHER.

107.F27 - TO THE REV. VINCENT PERRONET.

(FROM HIS SON WILLIAM.)

NYON, Feb. 8, 1779.

HONOURED AND DEAR SIR, - Your last letter, (dated Jan. 6,) I did not receive till the 5th of this month; and it seems that mine was nearly as long in getting to Shoreham, which, I am told, is owing to the badness of the roads at this season: however, we have hitherto had (blessed be God!) a very fine, though a very sharp winter.

The storm which my sister mentions in her letter, was felt here; but I believe (though it was very violent) no mischief was done in this place. Indeed, the houses here, like the mountains which surround them, are so strong, so enormously heavy, that no ordinary hurricane is able to affect them. The house we live in is like an old castle, and is supposed to have been built near five hundred years: and as to the church, it would be no easy matter to draw or describe it; for it is so surrounded by old walls and buildings of one kind or other, that we can scarce see it, though we live close to it. However, it is something like Oxford church; only the spire is not quite so high.

Last week Mr. Fletcher, Mr. Monod, (the lawyer,) and myself, went again to Geneva, and, at the request of those who have possession of the estate, lodged a copy of our papers in the hands of their lawyer; who is to inspect them, and then to give his opinion with regard to the validity of our claim. But what time he will require for this, or what his determination will be, we know not; but I trust that the cause is in better hands than those of cunning and artful lawyers, namely, in the hands of Him who is able to overrule and dispose them both to peace and justice.

I am very thankful to hear that you are so well recovered from your late illness. But both Mr. Fletcher and myself are of opinion that it is absolutely necessary you should have some one to assist you. It has been upon my mind ever since I left England, that should it please God to give us any part of this estate, the money could not be applied to a better purpose. However, I would not have it turn on that event, (which is at present so uncertain,) but wish it were done out of hand. Mr. F. recommends two persons; a Mr. Bailey, (who is at present at Kingswood,) a very pious, worthy young man, in all respects qualified for orders, and who only waits for a title. The other is Mr. Benson, who was formerly in Lady