plp 33-5-22
Stockport June 6,1815
My dear Jonathan,
You would have heard sooner from me but that I have been
extremely busy and very little at home, since I received you last letter. I
did sometimes think of writing to you to ask if you would not have money
sufficient upon receiving the remainder of the 20 pounds from Mr Edwards , to
buy the cloths yourself. But ------ I have gotten it something cheaper. It has
cost me 3 pounds 3 shillings which is above 8 shillings less than the common
selling price.
I suppose the whole of the new Edition of my Portraiture of
Methodism is now printed off. and the agreement was that I was to have the 20
pounds the week it should be published. I wish you to get what remains due.
You may say, that you are in want of some new clothes, without saying I have
sent you some cloth. Or if you intimate that I have hinted that I should be
glad if you could lend me some money. And that is true enough. However, it not
very likely I shall get much in this way. but get you the money and then send
me word, what money you have in hand; what you owe ; and when you are to begin
receiving weekly wages.
Mr Lemon was here about ten days ago. I talked with him
about your board but he said he could say nothing till he should get home. He
specified nothing from which I could form any guess.
Your ----- and Joshua, after spending five weeks at Sowerby
Bridge and Halifax, came to the ---- the last week, and I suppose either this
week or the next will return home. the rest are all well/ Hannah is gone to Mr
Dodge's to drink tea and does not know of my sending to this afternoon.
Mr Heald died this day three weeks. He was but very dark
and doubtful, when death began to look him seriously in the face. But her
obtained comfort and died in the full confidence of faith.
I send you the first 5 no's of the Life Of Dr. Coke,
written by myself. But my name was unknown and was as expected, till I avowed
in the Leeds ----- of last saturday. If you hear ---- of it in London, do not
say a word about it to any person in London, & keep the numbers secret.
But if it be talked about, then you need use as restraint. It seems Mr Dach is
engaged to write an account of the Doctor. This I neither ----- nor suspected
till this day. However, the one "life" need be no hindrance or
injury to the other. At least, the few that will be sold found Leeds with not
much affect what comes from the book though, 900 subscribers were obtained in
a few weeks. Whatever Mr Frew's talent are as a writer upon other subjects, I
do not fear him as a rival in writing a Life of Coke and especially when
connected with religion, Methodism, and missions. But there is no need of any
rivalry or opposition in the business. Both may possess their respective
merits. Mine will make about 500 Octavo pages the chief part of which is
already written. My meaning was purely to do good, without any injury to any
person.
The magazines arrived today. Searched for a letter and were
disappointed at not finding any. Write by return Post or at the fastest on the
next day after you receive this.
I remain your affectionate father Jon. Crowther
Remember to Mr Cordeux, Mr Blanshard, Mr Knise, your Cousin
and their wives.
PS Perhaps it may look odd that I should be publishing a
Life of Dr Coke, after what is inserted upon the subject in my Portraiture of
Methodism, the truth is , I never wrote nor saw a line of ----- till this day.
Mr Edwards lamented my distance and I recommended MR Sutcliffe as editor to
this portion and I believe he wrote the account of Dr. Coke But nothing said
about this secret, at least at the present.
plp 33-5-23 Manchester July 31,
1815
Dear Jonathan,
I received your letter by Mr Entwisle. I shall endeavour to
answer your questions. At my own request, I down for Norwich. This will be
much nearer you, and you may come very cheap by water to see us. Only takes a
few hours. Mr McNicol stays at Stockport and Mr Townley succeeds me. There is
no single man, and some of the circuit is given to Ashton. The new Preachers
for London East are Mr Thomas Wood and John Daires. My colleague is Mr
Beckwith. Mr Barber is our President. There were some votes for me, Mr Gaulton,
Mr Moore, and Mr Reese.
I have finished writing the Life of Dr. Coke and it is all
gone to the printer at Leeds. Nothing has been said about it in the
Conference. Nine members of it are out. The work goes off very well. There
were nine hundred -----.before the preachers opposed it, (??) and now there
area thirteen hundred.
I lodge near Oldham Street Chapel, but you do not know the
house or people.
Your Mother and Hannah area very busy, and therefore have
not time to write.
Mr Bunting is our Secretary. We have a very full
Conference.
Walk circumspectly, redeem the time. Cleave to the Lord
with purpose of heart. Continue in Prayer and watch in same with thanksgiving.
I am your affectionate Father
Jonathan Crowther (letter was difficult to transcribe and
may not be totally accurate)))
plp 33-5-24
Wednesbury, Sept 2,1815
My Dear Jonathan,
Yesterday we received your letter written the preceding
afternoon, and were glad you had reached the end of your journey in safety.
Life itself is a journey; and our main care should be, so t
pass through this world as to meet in a better, where pain and parting will be
no more. Let us to this end lay aside every weighty and the sin which so
easily beset us. Guard against dissipation and levity and walk constantly in
the fear of God, exercising yourself unto every brand of Godliness, giving all
diligence and then you shall enjoy the precious comfort of the Holy Ghost. In
religion alone lies all the safety and even the value of life. And every
providential dispensation we pass through, and every pain we are called to
endure are designed the more effectually to teach us this lesson. Habitually
read the Bible and be regular, frequent, and fervent in private prayer. And if
you could break through and exercise yourself in prayer meetings, I am fully
persuaded it would be for your good. Do take occasion to make one or two
trials.
Yesterday it seemed to be finally determined for Hannah to
go to Mr Atkins's Boarding school at Prescott, near Liverpool and to set off
on Thursday Oct 5th. She seems to be more reconciled to it.
I wish you all to get such accomplishments as may make you
useful in life, and capable of providing for your own comfortable support.
May God, that you may have neither poverty nor riches, but
be fed with food convenient for you, that he may be you sun and ---- for your
grace and glory and ---- yours. and disposed o\you in ----- as he sees good,
Cleave to the ----- of heart, following the ---- watching unto prayer and---
and be blessed in time.-------
Write again in a fortnight, I am your affectionate Father
Jonathan Crowther
rest of letter unreadable-------- only several more
lines----
plp 33-5-25
Wednesbury, Nov 13,1815
My dear Jonathan
I expected to have sent the remainder of Dr Coke's life
this time; but I have not gotten the two last numbers though I have written
more than once for them. This surprizes me; but perhaps the mystery will
shortly be cleaned up.
Jane has gotten well and easily through the hooping-cough;
but Joshua has had a very hard struggle. For some time his life hung as
doubtful as yours did when you were in the small pox, lived a whole week upon
little but cold water, and I had chosen the spot for your grave on two
different days. We despaired of Joshua's life and a second Doctor, whom we
called in , scarcely expected him to live to another day. He was very weak,
and it was very distressing to hear him cough. (Joshua later lived to be 99
yrs old dying in 1913 a wealthy accountant). But his spirit and fortitude
never forsook him. Yet after severe fits of coughing he would plaintively say,
"Ah dear- dear--dear" and finish up by saying,
"Well-Well-." He still coughs some, but has been supposed to be out
of danger some time, and has considerably recovered his flesh and strength.
Last Saturday night about one, some thieves stole our
rabbits, and we have heard no more of them.
We are in peace here and in the fir---. Our congregations
at Wednesbury and some other places, are considerably enlarged. But there is
great distress among the Iron Trade. It was once determined last week to stop
all the works at Bradley, which would have thrown six or seven hundred men out
of employment. And the perhaps might have been followed by the discharge of
some thousands belonging to other works.
The bearer, Miss Hallow, is a member of Society, and is
perhaps the first dress-maker and Milliner in wednesbury. She talks of
attending the City Road Chapel next Sunday, and will be obliged to you if you
can help her to a seat. And you may send a letter by her.
your Mother & Sisters send their love to you.
I think Hannah is not over and above content at Prescott.
but the situation can do her good, and I do not think her continuance there
will be very long.
Watch and pray, I am you affectionate Father,
Jon Crowther
I will send the remainder of Dr Coke's Life as soon as I
can. Remember me kindly to the Miss Lemon's, you Cousin thomas, Mr Tomkinson,
and any of the Preachers t whom you may happen to name me.
plp 33-5-26
Wednesbury, Dec 12,1815
My dear Jonathan,
I should have written to you sooner, but that it was
sometime before I could meet with a suitable pair of Quarter Boots. I do not
know what these would have cost in London, but I got them for 11 Shillings, 6
pence.
It is rather curious that such methods should be taken to
help the Cornish Comedy over the style in writing a Second Life of Dr. Coke.
But at any rate, I shall hereby render a service to the public, though it may
be at second hand. Indeed, it is my opinion, that had it not been for me, no
Life of The Doctor would have been written. It was when Mr Griffith and Mr
Bunting had been in London last May, & had told the Book-Committee, how
rapidly a life of Dr Coke was selling in Leeds written by they ----- not who,
that it was determined that a life should be written for the Book-Room. Well,
at any rate, I have done no hurt and I have done some good in the business.
And as to honour, I must never have much of that, except some persons cannot
prevent it. Nor is it of much consequence. My great ---- had been independency
of mind and conduct. I still prize this above any honour that Methodism can
confer upon me, especially as I consider it as a branch of that uprightness
which I think essential to the true Christian character. There is a God, and
another world, and all things are designed to --ut us and keep us mind of
this. There are designed to cause us to cease from man (?), and trust wholly
in God, and in all things to live for eternity.
As to presenting a copy of the Life of Dr Coke to Mr
Bradburn, I hardly know what to say. Independent of other circumstances, I do
not know whether he would not up his nose, & frown contempts upon it.
However, if you have reason to believe the contrary, and wish to do it, then
present it to him, with my respects, and tell him I beg his acceptance of it,
as a token of a long acquaintance and friendship. If you do not give it to
him, then you may sell it, if you can find a purchaser.
Jane has had several relapsed of the Hooping-Cough, but
seems now to be almost well. Joshua gets slowly better, though he still coughs
very painfully sometimes. The rest of us are still as well as usual. We have
not heard from Hannah very lately, as we have not yet answered her last
letter. But I intend to write soon.
We enjoy great peace and quietness here. And Peace &
Harmony seem as if they would return to the Circuit. In Wednesbury, Darlaston,
Great-Bridge, & the congregations are improved.
As I do not know when I may have another opportunity, I
send you a little silver, not that I suppose you to be without, but that it
may be ready when you want it. You must be strictly frugal. It is necessary,
and it will be very useful.
What you mentioned as wishing to have something of it sent,
is not ore, but rather cynders from the iron furnaces, being a compound of the
drops of iron, lime, and coals.
your Mother, & Sisters send their love to you. My best
respects to Mr Lemon & family, and any of the Preachers, & other
friends, to whom you may mention.
As to the black silk handkerchiefs, your Mother -enes you
to take special care of them, as they are made out of a very good one of hers,
which she ----- worse many times, and which she has split and hemmed for you.
Please to write immediately, that we may be sure of the
safe arrival of the parcel, and may learn how you are. Your affectionate
Father
Jon Crowther
Cleave to the Lord with purpose of heart, Act 11.23 and
attend, & help in the Prayer Meetings.
In binding Dr Coke's Life, or putting into boards,
remember, the Doctor's Portrait should face the title page & the Mak of
Ceyton (?), the appendix. Booth has them wrong.
