PLP 31-5-40
Dublin, July 9,1820
My dear Jonathan
Yours of the 2nd instant I duly received. I arrived here
yesterday fortnight, and have been here ever since. I left home June 20th, I
drank Tea with your Uncle and Cousin at Frodsham, and slept at Chester that
night. the next morning, Mr James Wood, Mr & Mrs. Myles, and myself, went
by the same Chaise 18 miles to Holywell, in Flintshire, where we were to hold
the District Meeting of the Second or Missionary Welch District. This is the
place where the head of St Winefred is said to have been cut off in the
seventh century, by order of Cradock, a neighbouring Prince, because she would
not sacrifice her chastity. the head rolled down a hill but was taken up,
carried back to the Corpse, to which it was rejoined & she lived fifteen
years. A spring of uncommon magnitude burst forth from the place where the
head rested, which still sends forth one hundred tons of water every minute.
It forms a very nice Bath, & is of a nice tasting as I proved by drinking
a glass of it. Such is the tradition.
The first evening of our District Meeting, two of the
Brethren preached in Welch, to a very crowded congregation. The next evening,
I and Mr James Wood preached to a full chapel. After spending two full days
here, we set forward towards Holy head. At the end of the first stage we
arrived at St Asaph. Recollecting that you Mother's Uncle, the Rev Thomas
Jones, was one of the Vicars-choral of this pace, as well as Rector of
LLangvyrn in Montgomeryshire, I got to look into the Cathedral while we
changed the Chaise and horses. A very old woman showed me the place, who
thought she could recollect Mrs. Jones, and at any rate was sure she heard of
her. We then pushed onto Conway Ferry, then to Banyon Ferry, and then 12 miles
farther to Givundy in the Isle of Anglea, were we lay four hours in bed, and
then pushes on 12 miles more to HolyHead. Here we breakfasted, and then
embarked on board the Ivanhoe Steam Packet. We had a pleasant voyage of 60
miles to Howth, where we landed in about seven hours and a half. We had then
seven miles to Dublin, which we traveled in Jaunting Car, & took all our
luggage for 7 shillings.
Dublin is a place of great grandeur, and especially as to
the public buildings, carriages, and some of the streets. But it is equally
remarkable for poverty & wretchedness. It abounds with poor & that of
the lowest description.
The election began the day I arrived. The conclusion was
unsatisfactory to the main body of the people.
I shall be very glad to see you before Autumn. But as to
your coming to Liverpool, I doubt the propriety of it. It would not do for you
to be at an Inn. And there are strong apprehensions as to accommodations for
the Preachers. Mr Newton expresses doubt whether he can get every Preacher so
much as half a bed. Besides it would add above 100 miles to your travelings
being 52 miles farther than Burslem. When you come, I will if I can, afford
you some trifle toward your expenses.
The cloth I sent you, was not Somersal, but from Charwell,
about three miles from Leeds.
I am very sorry, you should have again blundered, & not
fulfilled your promise of calling upon Mr Corrine. I am not so much sorry
about the thing itself, as it show a want of exactness, a want of resolution,
order, & living by rule, which unfits a man, almost more than anything
else, for passing properly , usefully, & comfortably through life.
I hope to be in Liverpool in about a week. Write to me
there. I have written this in great haste, having little or no time to spare.
But, my Lad, Religion, Religion!-- You never say anything about the this. And
I have said nothing lately, because I almost despaired. However, I am
Your affectionate Father
Jonathan Crowther
plp 31-5-41
Iron Bridge, near Shiftral, Dec 21,1820
My dear Jonathan
As to what you mentioned some weeks since about a sort of
opening at Bradford, I have to say, that I cannot "command 600
Pounds." But if I could, I would not think it right to venture that money
in a partnership -concern at Bradford. To partnerships in general, I have
taken something of a dislike, though I do not doubt but that some of them turn
out well. If it was some old gentleman who had feathered his nest, and who
wanted a young partner, chiefly to take the active part of the business off
his hands, I should like it better. But the very mention of 600 Pounds and at
command, makes me suspect it is some man who is almost fast, and who hopes to
get relieved by taking in a partner who has ready cash. I do think the plan of
engaging with Mr Tomkinson for a year is the most likely to do you the most
good, unless something very good should offer in London or elsewhere, of which
at present, I see no probability. Meantime, I should suppose, Mr Tomkinson
will expect you to act with decision and promptitude, especially as he may
call to mind former days. These are my thoughts at the present, but I hope
Providence will supremely direct.
We are sending you a goose, a ham, a piece of cheese, a
waistcoat, a pair of stockings, & some minced pies. There is a new London
Coach comes through this place three times a week. It passes here tomorrow
morning at seven, and reaches the Old Bell Holbom (?) the next morning.
Tomorrow morning we intend sending you your hamper by this Coach: and I expect
it will be in London on Saturday morning. I am straitened for time and have a
bad cold, and can only add that I am
Your affectionate Father
Jon Crowther
plp 31-5-42
Iron bridge near Shiffral, March 27,1821
Dear Jonathan,
I have felt my mind much embarrassed especially giving an
answer to your last letter. As to my becoming a News-writer, and borrowing
hundreds of pounds to get the business a-going, I cannot at present see this
to be me duty. I did not indeed, suggest the idea of you going to Mr Tomkinson,
but after you had suggested it, and I had thought it over, I did think it
exhibited a proof of the increase of your good sense and sober way of
thinking. Whatever had been your final destination, it might have been very
useful to through life. I thought also, that spending a year in that way, and
having a Press of your own might see you way before you,and I hoped to be able
to afford you a little assistance now and then. But for a great speculations,
and more especially for contracting great debts, I have no taste. By the
afflicting connection I formed at Rochdale, twenty years ago, I have been for
many long years, liable to be arrested and imprisoned every day of my life,
and sometime have been threatened. I have, however, thus far escaped, & my
escapes have sometimes been very evidently owing to a special Providence.
Through that same special Providence the affair is now getting better every
year, and I hope that sooner or later the will be for each of you at least 200
Pounds. But what I have passed through has given me a impressive lecture upon
large ventures and Co-partnerships.
There is an over-ruling Providence who notices every
individual; who appoints the times of our being born and fixed the bounds of
our habitations; and who, if we acknowledge him in all our ways, serve him,
and call upon him, will make our way plain before us, and do what will be best
for us. And the prayer of Hagar was the best, "give me neither poverty
nor riches, but feed me with food convenient for me".
Your apprenticeship will expire, not on the 13th of May but
on the 19th, the day on which you will be 22 years of age. This I learn from
the copy of your Indenture, which is in my possession. I here give you a copy
of the Memorandum, written and signed by Mr Cordeux.
"Jonathan Crowther came to the Book Room,on the 14 day
of May 1814, but was not bound apprentice t me until the 6th of September
following. I hereby promise however, that he shall be out of his
apprenticeship of seven years from the 19th of May 1814.
Witness my hand,
Thos. Cordeux
Conference Office
City Road, London
Sept 15th, 1814.
your apprenticeship, therefore, will be at an end, next
Saturday seven weeks. On the Sunday morning therefore, you will be a free man,
at our own disposal, and it was on a Sunday morning that you were born God,
however, will still be over you. Under his direction and instruction, may you
do better than you have under mine and of Mr Cordeux.
In God, we are all pretty well, and doing fairly. Mr
Crompton and Hannah complain of not hearing from you. They are well, and have
gotten a new house & well furnished. Little Jonathan has gotten a
wheelbarrow and a pair of clogs.
Mr Smith's family are all well,except himself, who is
recovering from an ulcerous sore throat.
The enlargement of Madley Wood Chapel had been completed
some weeks. It has cost above 400 Pounds. but it gets well filled. Betsey,
Sarah, Jane, Joshua and Lydia are all at school. Mother and Mary are at home..
They all join in love to you.
Mrs. Taylor and family will remain at Plymouth Cock till
near the Conference. Then I hear the two boys will go to Woodhouse School, and
the rest will probably come to Madley.
Both your lat letter have been charged double. Probably it
was owing to your not doubling the first leaf as in this letter, and not
writing " Single" upon the back. I remain,
Your affectionate Father
Jon. Crowther
plp 31-5-43
Northwich April 28,1818
My Dear Brother,
Yours of yesterday I received this morning. One Coach, at
least, comes through the place from Wanington every day. It reaches here about
twelve o'clock, and therefore must come through Wanington, as I suppose, about
ten. Please to advance Mary as much money as will pay her fare on the outside,
and I repay you. Tell her to bring all her things with her, as it but unlikely
any opportunity will soon occur for conveying anything that might be left
behind.
My wife and Hannah join in love to you all. By your having
been at Liverpool, I am led to hope that your health is better. But, ere long
we must follow the generations that have gone before us. And to me, the idea
is not unpleasant. I am getting reconciled to mortality. May we all be found
ready, with lamps trimmed, and our lights burning, when the master shall come
to call us hence.
I will endeavour to get Comberback supplied, though it
looks rather curious in your letter, to desire me to seek for a supply, and
then, forgetting this circumstance to say, that when John Pipe comes you will
be "four Parsons in your house". Surely then, you will be able to
supply a whole county, and may have to advertize for work. But it happens
unfortunately for us, that most of places are at a great distance from you.
Well God help us all, and give us grace here and glory
hereafter. so Prays
your affectionate Brother
Jon Crowther
To the Rev
Timothy Crowther ( his Brother)
plp 31-5-44
Burslem Oct 9, 1819
Mr. Thomas Mease
Stokesley, Yorkshire
Dear Sir,
I am sorry that there should be any dispute about the 20
pounds allowed to your Circuit for furniture. I should have answered your
letter sooner, but that I have been from home.
I write to Mr. West by this Post. I have not authority to
command him. But I give him my opinion fair and legitimate grounds: and the
last Conference in the 113th pages of the minutes, expressly says, The money
is allowed for the House at Stokesley. this, however, does not so fix the
matter, but that the second Preacher may be removed elsewhere upon mutual
agreement and with due authority. And I am glad that you express a willingness
to bend in this matter to the authority of the Quarter District Meeting and
the Conference.
I have told Mr. West that as the Stokesley house had the
sanction of those three assemblies, I doubt whether it ought to be changed
without the same authorities. In the meantime Sir, I hope, you will ------
grounded in patience, and do all you can to heal the unity of the Spirit in
the bond of peace. I pray God to direct you all & to make all things work
together for good. I am,
Dear Sir,
Your affectionate Brother,
Jonathan Crowther
plp 31-5-45 Northwich Dec 1,1818
My Dear Brother,
Though I have been so long before acknowledging the
receipt of your obliging letter, yet I was not insensible of your
kindness. Two things occasioned the delay in my answer: First, that a
Missionary Society was formed in and for this circuit, before one was
formed for the District. And rules and addresses were printed and
circulated. Secondly, though this little and feeble Circuit started with
considerable vigour and exertions, the zeal and strength seemed very much
exhausted when I came into it. Considerable languor still prevails. But if
you will send me 100 of the addresses by the Camir, or the John bull
Coach, I will use this to stir the people up afresh in the good and
important causes.
I appears to me that our connection is at present in a
very still state. At least I hear very little any way remarkable or
interesting from any quarter. I n this Circuit we are going on in a
middling way. I hope rather better upon the whole. You I trust, are doing
very well.
I am,
Your affectionate Brother
Jonathan Crowther
To The Rev John Stamp
Methodist Chapel
Maccelesfield
