mercy, and peace may be multiplied upon all, is the earnest
prayer of, dear Mrs. T,
Your most affectionate friend, brother, and servant, in Christ Jesus, G. W.
LETTER DCXL. To the Rev. Mr. S.
On board the Betsy, June 24, 1748.
Rev. and very dear Sir,
THOUGH we are about two hundred leagues from land, yet lest hurry of business should prevent me when we get a shore, I think proper to write you a few lines whilst I am on board.—Long before this reaches you, I suppose you will have heard of what the Lord of all Lords was pleased to do for me and his people at, and also when we sailed from, Bermudas. We sailed from thence just twenty-one days this morning, and have lived, as to the conveniencies of eating and drinking, like people that came from the continent, rather than one of the islands; so bountiful were our friends, whom we left behind us. Hitherto we have met with no storms or contrary winds, only it begins to head us now. But God, in his own time, I trust will carry us to our desired port. The first day we came out we were chased, and yesterday a large French vessel shot thrice at and bore down upon us. We gave up all for gone. I was dressing myself in order to receive our expected visitors. In the mean while, our Captain cries, "the danger is over." The Frenchman turned about and left us. He was quite near, and we almost defenceless. Now we are so near the channel, we expect such alarms daily. If any thing happens extraordinary, I shall be particular. As for other things, I cannot say much. The Captain is exceeding civil, and I have my passage free; but all I have been able to do in the great cabbin in respect to religious duties, is to read the church prayers once every evening, and twice on the Lord's day. I have not preached yet; this may spare my lungs, but it grieves my heart. I long to be ashore, if it was for no other reason. Besides, I can do but little in respect to my writing. You may guess how it is, when we have four
