Stephen Addington, [Spaldwick], to Philip Doddridge, Hot Wells, Bristol, [11] September 1751.

Most dear and ever Honour’d Doctor

         It were impossible but to a mind tender & impossible as yours to conceive the painfull anxieties that I have daily felt on your Account. And in vain had I attempted so long to conceal my most Affectionate concern had I not fear’d least [sic] I should be in the least accessary to shortening a Life that methinks I could cheerfully lay down my own to save. The melancholy accounts I have received from one Friend & another of the threatening Symtom’s [sic] of your Disorder have seem’d (I know not how to express it but by saying) at once to extort & yet forbid a Line from me. But Oh the Heartfelt inexpressible Pleasure with which I yesterday from Mr Clark received the first encouragement to Hope for your Recovery. A Pleasure & a Joy too great indeed to be communicated & yet too great to be restrained. He tells me “You are better, have taken ye Bark with some success that ye Physicians all agreed in thinking your Lungs are not ulcerated as was feared, that you appear’d to your Northampton Friends more chearfull than they expected & are not yourself without some Hope of a Recovery.” The News gave me new Life & repeating is now unspeakably delightfull. I heartily congratulate Mrs Doddridge with the most sensible Pleasure with wch she must observe this chearing though imperfect Prospect of a Revival & with her return the most cordial acknowledgments to ye Father of Mercies. May a gracious God in Compassion to every tender Relative & Friend to ye Church & World prevent the Return of every threatening Symptom. The Review of the many years Experience of your paternal affection & care renders the thought of a Separation almost intolerable. You think I could wish for the Honour & Happiness of being received with you in one joyfull moment into the Redeemers Presence. It has given me no small Pleasure to hear you have been & are enabled to wait ye Event with all composure & serenity of Mind. Much Reason indeed you have for rejoicing in the Testimony of your Conscience & in the sure Prospect of the exceedingly exceeding & eternal weight of Glory. But tho’ we know to dye would be to you unspeakable gain permit us, as conscious that your continuance in the Flesh is more needfull, most earnestly to pray for ye long enjoyment of so great a Blessing. Yes daily, & with peculiar Solemnity & Affection when in Gods House of Prayer, will we unite in our Address to ye divine Throne that ye God whose Throne is surrounded with a glorious Company of exalted worshippers would in Pity to his Church on Earth spare your dear & valuable Life & continue you for many years in your Sphere of extensive usefulness.

I am almost afraid to detain you so long as to tell you that since I had the Pleasure of conversing with you in London several circumstances have arisen (wch I could gladly relate) that seem’d to call me in point of Honour & I must add, Interest too to proceed in the Affair with Miss Reymes. I have therefore been at Norwich & we seem, I believe, I may venture to tell you, mutually agreeable, tho’ we have both determined not to marry till Mr Reymes promises at least the same encouragement now that he gave his last Daughter & I hope he will do more. He has not given any absolute Promise at present & seems inclined to suspend his Determination till (to use his own words) He have some Character of me from Dr Doddridge which he expected in answer to his Daughters Letter a long while ago. – But as the most we can expect down will not by its Interest be with my Annuity sufficient; we propose keeping some Boarders as this is a Situation where such a Design will probably meet with encouragments & if Mr Reymes will do his utmost to make Circumstances tolerably easy you, I dare say cannot wonder that I should promise myself great Happiness in a Person of Miss Reymes’s well known tenderness, Sense, & Piety. –

I came from Norwich Aug. 23 & proposed doing myself ye Pleasure of waiting upon you at Northampton ye next week for the Honour & favour of your farther advice had not ye sad news of your Illness at Bristol disappointed & tho’ I shall be in painfull suspense till I hear from you I will not I dare not desire it as writing must I know be injurious to you in your present Disorder, & ye fear of that would be far more than a Counterbalance to ye very great Pleasure it must otherwise, at all times & peculiarly in present Circumstances, give me to hear from you [–] rather command me to any Services &, Use every probable means for your Recovery & that God may give them a happy & immediate Success is & shall be the hearty Prayer of yours

                     in the Bonds of filial Affection & Gratitude

                                             Stephen Addington

Mother joyns with me in the tenderest & most respectfull Salutations to self & good Lady.

Address: To The Reverend Doctor Doddridge | to be left in the Pump-Room | at the Hot-Wells | Bristol | By London

Postmark: Huntington 11 September

Note: Sept 1751 | Mr Addington (date appears to be in Mercy’s hand; name in Doddridge’s hand)

Text: ENG. MSS. 369, no. 2, Raffles Collection, John Rylands Library, Manchester; included in Nuttall, Calendar, p. 364.