Wesley Corpus

To Whom it may Concern Date: LONDON, February 25, 1790. Source: The Letters of John Wesley (1790) Author: John Wesley --- In August 1788 Mr. Atlay wrote me word, 'I must look out for another servant, for he would go to Dewsbury on September 25.' So far was I from 'bidding him go,' that I knew nothing of it till that hour. But I then told him, 'Go and serve them'; seeing I found he would serve me no longer. He sent me word that I had in London 13,751 18s. 5d. stock in books. [See letter of Sept. 4, 1788.] Desiring to know exactly, I employed two booksellers to take an account of my stock. The account they brought in, October 31, 1788, was: Value of stock, errors excepted, 4,827 10s. 5d. John Parsons, Thomas Scollick. Why did John Atlay so wonderfully overrate my stock Certainly to do me honor in the eyes of the world. I never approved of his going to Dewsbury; but I submitted to what I could not help. With respect to Dewsbury House, there never was any dispute about the property of preaching-houses (that was an artful misrepresentation), but merely the appointing of preachers in them. If John Atlay has a mind to throw any more dirt upon me, I do not know I shall take any pains to wipe it off. [See letter of May 12.] I have but a few days to live; and I wish to spend those in peace.