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8. 27 July 1796
[Mr Ring, Surgeon, Reading] [ marked ‘July 27th 1796 – Letter from various serious Ministers’]
My dear Sir
Hitherto the Lord seems to favour my purpose of visiting Reading and Southampton.
My plan at present is to be with you about Tuesday ye 16 August and to stay with you till ye 23 or 24 – provided this will not tread too close upon the heels of your Race-week. [1] If it should, I must try to come the week before, but it will not be convenient, nor am I sure it will be practicable. And if not, I must defer my Reading visit till my return from Southampton, which will render it more uncertain. So that I shall hope, you will say ye 16th will not be too late.
I must beg an answer as soon as you can – as many things here must be adjusted according to the time of my setting out.
We join in love to Mrs Ring. I will not trouble you with more names, because I hope soon to distribute my love and best wishes among all Reading friends, in person.
In the meantime I request of you and of them to pray, that if we are permitted to meet, it may be to our mutual comfort and benefit. Believe me to be
Your affectionate and obliged
John Newton
No. 6 27 July 1796
Endnotes:
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[1] |
Until 1814, Reading races were held annually on the 3rd Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday of August on Bulmershe Heath, a ‘marshy wilderness frequented by gypsies’, to the east of the town – now within the suburb of Woodley. |
Acknowledgements:
Descendants of Sophia Ring
British Library
Lambeth Palace Library
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