Wesley Corpus

These five pounds [The value of an exhibition the Restoration to 1772 was 20; it was raised to 40 on May 28, 1772 The studentship was additional See next letter.] if you please shall be deducted at Christmas, or if that does not suit with your conveniency shall be returned as soon as possible. --I am, sir, Your obliged and humble servant, [John Wesley Signature] Editor's Introductory Notes [1] The first of Wesley’s letters that have survived is fitly preserved in the Muniment Room at Charterhouse, where he was a gown-boy from 1714 to 1720. It was published in facsimile in Greyfriar, the School magazine, for April 1891; and was reproduced in Homes and Haunts of John Wesley, pp. 152-3, by permission of the Rev. Canon Elwyn, Master of Charterhouse 1885-97. The Head Master, the Rev. Frank Fletcher, writes in 1919: 'We count John Wesley as the greatest of many great Carthusians.' He is thus commemorated in the School Song: Wesley, John Wesley, was one of our company, Prophet untiring and fearless of tongue, Down the long years he went Spending yet never spent, Serving his God with a heart ever young. Wesley was eighteen when this letter was written. The letter has been torn, so that the date is imperfect; but the post-mark is November 8. Wesley had gone up to Christ Church in June 1720. His anxiety that the incident referred to should cast no slur on his good name is seen in the care he takes to describe how the mistake had arisen. That is characteristic of him to the end of his life.