9.            15 August 1796


[Mr Ring, Surgeon, Reading, Bucks Berks] [Marked: Augst 15th 1796; ‘Most dear & Revd Sir My Dear & Revd Friend’]
 
My dear Madam,
 
You must accept of a letter today, instead of a visit.
 
On Friday I went out purposing to take places in the Reading coach for tomorrow. But while on my way, and before I reached the Inn, I was informed that my Curate Mr Benamor was that morning suddenly attacked, by a complaint which he had twice before, but we hoped he had quite recovered from – an inflammation in his lungs, which had caused a great haemorrhage. His fever is high and his state is critical, if not dangerous. [1]
 
This unexpected providential dispensation, puts me to a stand. I fear I shall not be able to get a supply for my church, without which I cannot stir. All is in the Lord’s hand. If I succeed I shall be with you before the week closes, but certainly not sooner than Thursday. If you do not see me this week, you may conclude that the Lord does not permit me to see Reading or Southampton at present. He has wise reasons for all his appointments, whether we know them or not. We are sure that He does all things well, and that nothing happens to us without his knowledge and appointment. We join in love to Mr Ring and all friends. My heart will be with you, if I cannot visit you in person.
 
I am your affectionate and obliged
John Newton
 
Monday 15 August 1796



Endnotes:
 
 [1] James Haym Benamor (1768-1796), son of Dr James Benamor of Milman Street (who had attended Newton’s wife and his adopted niece Eliza – ‘a godly man, who mixes prayer with all his management’). James was schooled at Kingston-upon-Hull (under Joseph Milner) and matriculated from Magdalene College, Cambridge, in 1787. On 18 August 1791 he married Elizabeth Boycott at Fenny Stratford, Bucks (Newton, who had taken him under his wing, wrote, though away on holiday, to James a couple of weeks before his marriage). James asked Newton for a reference as the possibility of a curacy arose. Newton replied that he should assure his future rector, ‘that if I was not positively engaged to Mr Buchannan … I know no person in England to whom I would more gladly offer my title than to yourself... I wish Dr Brydges[Nathaniel Bridges (1749-1835)] likewise to know that my good opinion of you is not upon conjecture, hearsay, or occasional knowledge, but upon an intimate acquaintance and a close critical observation of you, for several years, I believe not fewer than 5 or 6. I can have no doubt of your competency either in views, spirit, or ability, and therefore I have the strongest persuasion that if Dr Brydges favours you with a title, he will never regret it.’ Benamor was ordained by William Cowper’s cousin Spencer Madan, Bishop of Peterborough. He became the curate at St Mary’s Orlingbury, Northants. Sadly his wife died in the summer of 1795 and was buried in that church on 12 August, with a memorial stone placed in the chancel. On 30 July 1796, Benamor was licensed as Newton’s curate at St Mary Woolnoth, in place of Claudius Buchanan (1766-1815) who had left for Bengal as chaplain to the East India Company. This letter informs us that Benamor had scarcely been Newton’s curate for a fortnight when he fell dangerously ill. On the day of this letter, 15 August 1796, James added a codicil to his will, appointing his father Dr James Benamor, his previous rector Dr Nathaniel Bridges and his lawyer William Cardale guardians of little Joseph (who was sadly to die a few days before his father). James died on 2 September 1796. He was buried in St Mary Woolnoth on 9 September with his son. Newton wrote to his Southampton friend Walter Taylor on 5 October 1796: ‘I preached a funeral sermon in the evening for my dear friend Benamor, from his own dying words, Mark 7:37, He has done all things well. How can it be otherwise? If he does all things, they must necessarily be well done; for his wisdom, power, and goodness are infinite, and we are assured, that not a sparrow, much less a child, and a servant who loves him, can fall to the ground without him.’

Acknowledgements:
Descendants of Sophia Ring
British Library