Isaac Watts, Stoke Newington, to Philip Doddridge, Northampton, 1 December 1739.

Decr 1st 1739

Revd and Dear Sir

         I give you thanks Sir for your large kind Letter which I received this Morning, and in answer to it I can tell you, that thro the Goodness of God my health is in some Measure restord so that in my Course as usual, half an hour at a time: & I hope it will please God to continue my Capacity at least for so small a Service as this. I give thanks to you with all my Soul & to the Friends and Churches near you that have so kind a Sollicitude for my Welfare, as to make their Addresses to Heaven on my Account. May Thanksgiving be offerd together with their Prayers & may their prayers be continued for my increase of Usefulness.

         I am particularly obliged to you also, Sir, for your Transmission of Colonel Gardiner’s Account of the Benefit he has received from any of my Works. I have had but small acquaintance with him, and that is several years ago. May Grace grow abundantly in his Soul in the midst of the many Temptations to which his Station in Life exposes him.

         I need not tell you Sr how Sollicitous [paper cut] Mr Guyse & I have been to urge and [paper cut] Mr Nownham to pay the pupils till last Michaelmas, but beyond that ^time^ we have no Hope on that Side. Yet we have some Views yt by that time there may be some determination of the Case of Mr Cowards Will, & tis possible we may have ye Money in our own Hands.

         I rejoice in what you tell me of ye Encouraging Success you have amongst your Pupils, & particularly those under our care supported by Mr Cowards Benefactions. I have one of Mrs Bulkley viz. That her son may not begin to preach till next Midsumer [sic] at soonest, the Reason of it you will know before that time.

         With many Salutations to you from all our House & hearty prayers for your continued Life & Success & for the peace & Welfare of your whole Family

                     I am Sir

                                 Your faithfull and Affectionate Brother & Humble Servt

                                                                                 [signature cut out]

Address: To the Reverend | Dr P: Doddridge | in Northampton

Postmark: 1 DE

Endorsed: Decr 1739

             Dr Watts 1 Dec. ’39

Text: MA 514.7, Isaac Watts Letters, The Morgan Library, New York. The MS of this letter was not known to Nuttall; he cites the printed version that appeared in J. D. Humphreys, ed., Correspondence and Diary of Philip Doddridge (1829-31), vol. 3, p. 406.