Philip Doddridge, Northampton, to Elisha Williams, Welbeck Street, London, 4 April 1751.

Northampton April 4th 1751

Dear & worthy Sir

         I am greatly obliged to your last but greatly grieved to hear that the Morning of Joys so reasonable & so noble as those which your new alliance gives you are in some measure overcast by the Illness of that most excellent Lady who now bears your Name honouring it while she receives Honour from it. Earnestly have I prayed for the Recovery & Establishment of her Health. I would flatter my self the Journey we so much solicit may be of some Benefit to it before her voyage. I should be glad to promote a Scheme on which my Heart is so much set by giving you any Encouragement to hope an Interview with My good Lady Huntingdon here but all I can say is that it is not imposible. She is now ill, but intends for Bristol in a few weeks if God strengthen her for such a Journey. I believe she will spend one Day here. If she does she will rejoice to see you & your excellent Lady (that Epithet is come upon me again before I was aware) if you miss her here & she next reach London while you continue there I will find a way to introduce you to her. Only come down & that as soon as you can & let me know if possible [paper smudged] you that other Things may be adjusted in a View of enjoying as much of you as possible. At prest accept our united Compliments most sincerely & affectionately presented & my thanks for your care of the affairs about wch I wrote to you. May a gracious God direct & prosper your way to us that before I lose the hope of any farther interview with you both on Earth you may assist us a little more in our preparation for Heaven. I cannot say with how much veneration & esteem I am

                     Hond & Dear Sir

                                 your most faithful Friend

                                             & obedient humble Servant

                                                         P Doddridge

Address: To the Honourable Colonel Williams | at Mrs Thomspons | in Walbeck [Welbeck] Street | near Marylebone Fields | London

Postmark: 5 AP

Endorsed: Dr Doddridges Lett | to Col Williams in London | Apr 4 1751

Text: Williams Family Papers, GEN MSS 1180, Box 1, Folder 1, Beinecke Library, Yale University. Cited in Nuttall's Calendar (1977), no. 1715.