Parental Letter

Perhaps one of the most interesting things in Bristol is what appears to be a letter from Beddome's parents when he was studying in London. It is quoted in part in Olinthus Gregory's memoir but the whole contains first words from the father then words from the mother. Some of the father's handwriting is not entirely clear. I've done my best.

To Mr Benjamin Beddome
at Mr Wards
Bookseller at the Kings Arms
in Little Brittain

May 26 1740 Munday

I wish yr letter had come a post sooner for then yr cloth
might have been sent up wt lidyarde Cox. I am sorry Mr
Willson is in such a hurry to call you to ye ministry it
would have been time enough just before you came Away
but seeing it must be so I think you must not preach in public
above once or twice at most at your own place & no where
else except Mr Stennet or his people ask you & if ye
latter do it you may serve them as offt as their necessity
requiairs you may get Mr Rogers in Bartholomew Close
to make it up for you give my hearty services to him
& his good wife & tell him I would desire him to put
it into one of his best hands to make up for you & put
a good Button upon it wh it is made Is not God in ye Ruin
wills it wills or God yunto ys countrary wills it if you go
to ye places I have mentioned in my last which perhaps
you have not yet Rcvd ye lord I hope will help you to
make a solemn dedication of yr self to God & enter
on ye work of ye lord with holy awe & trembling
I hope to get sundry of yr friends in ys place to beg
assistance for you & a blessing on thursday next
I have no time to add I leave ye Rest to yr mother
farewell
my dear Child I can't Inlarge now by Reason
your fathers hand & mine is so different that it will make
you pay double postage so I shall only add that I Received
ye wig paid Carriage 1s 6d your father don't know but it
came in the Box I have sent the paper parcel of cloth
this day by Mr Biddell att the kings arms Holborn Bridge
about two o'Clock I hope my dear the lord will be with
you & help you in the ensuing work Mr Foskett is gone
to the assosiasion at Birmingham designs to be at home
a friday come sevennight mr moor is better mrs Beers is
still seemingly at ye poynt of death mr Poynting of
Woster is dead John Trotman the Glazer is in a consumtion
we all fear is gone home being able to do nothing
but I must add no more but conclude with kind Love
to yourself & service to all enquiring friends
your truly affectionate mother Rachel
Beddome
the carriage of the parcel is paid