Wesley Corpus

MY DEAR MISS CLARKSON, -- Mr. Floyd [John Floyd. See letter of March 31.] informs me that you had sent me a letter, and wondered that I did not answer. You might well wonder, for it is a rule with me to answer every letter I receive. It would be particularly strange if I had not answered you, because I have so peculiar a regard for you. I love you because I believe you are upright of heart and because you are a child of affliction. I felt a near union of [heart] with you when I saw you last. I love to hear of you and to hear from you. Mr. Floyd tells me you have finished. the Six Letters; if you have, I shall be glad to see them. He tells me, too (if I understand him right), that you are attempting to turn the Death of Abel into verse. This will be an heavy work, such as will require a deal of time and patience. Yet if you begin, I trust our Lord will give you resolution to bring it to a conclusion. If I live to return to England, [He was not able to go to Ireland. See letter of Feb. 20.] I shall hope for the pleasure of a farther acquaintance with you. Wishing you an heart wholly devoted to God, I remain, my dear sister, Yours affectionately. To Miss Clarkson, At Mr. Francis Scot's, In Wakefield, Yorkshire. To Samuel Bradburn [7] CHESTER, April 7, 1781. DEAR SAMMY, -- I advise Betsy every morning to swallow very gently a spoonful or two of warm water as soon as she rises. I believe this will ease her morning cough. And I advise her every night, when she lies down, to put a little stick licorice (scraped like horse-radish) between her gum and the cheek that lies uppermost. This will suspend the evening cough for half an hour or more. Then she may spit it out. But she must needs add daily exercise, which (till she is stronger) should be that of a wooden horse -- that is, a long plank suspended on two tressels. Now, Sammy, for almighty faith! -- I am Your affectionate friend and brother. To John Valton WARRINGTON, April 9, 1781.