Anne Dutton, Great Gransden, to Philip Doddridge, Northampton, 30 January 1743/4. 

Great Gransden, Jan. 30, 1743-4.

Reverend Sir,

            As I know the Lord has made you zealous of good Works, and in particular, for the spreading of Christian Knowledge, and the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts; I beg leave most humbly to offer to your Consideration, a Case that was lately mention’d to me in a Letter from a Friend; Mr Grant, mate of the sloop belonging to Mr Whitefield’s Orphan-house. This Letter, Sir, sent from Bethesda in Georgia, July 5th, 1743, I receiv’d the 9th of November last. In which Mr Grant tells me, That Mr Jona & Mr Hugh Bryan, (planters in South-Carolina, lately converted to Christ) with some few other Friends, have built a Meeting-house for Divine Worship. That over the Negroes lately converted at Mr Jonathan Bryan’s, there is a godly young Minister ordain’d Pastor. That opposite to this Meeting-house, there is a Piece of Land to be built on for a Negroe-School; as but few of the Negroes can read, and as they thirst after inward, and outward Knowledge. And that when Mr Grant was there, Mr Bryan ask’d him, if he thought Collections from some pious Friends in England, might not be rais’d in behalf of it. To which Mr Grant adds, “Doubtless there are many, who would esteem it a Happiness to be Instrumental, in Ethiopia’s bowing her Head to JESUS” &c.

            This being the Case, Sir, if when you have consider’d it, the Lord shall incline you to make any Collection for this Purpose among your People and Friends, or to stir up others to this good Work; the Money may be remitted to Mr Jonathan Bryan by Mr Whitefield when he goes to Georgia. And I doubt not, what may be given for this End, will be a most acceptable Service unto God our Father, thro’ Jesus Christ. And well you know, Dear Sir, that most richly the Prince of Grace, will reward all your Labour of Love herein, shewn towards [His] Name and CAUSE in the Earth; when He comes in His, and in his Father’s Glory to give Rewards unto his Servants, according to their Works. – Oh Dear Sir, what a good, what a glorious Master is Jesus Christ! How happy, how honourable are the Men that love Him best! How blessed they in the World! How glorious will they be, World without End! Our Lord keeps a book of Remembrance, in which He registers all the Services of his People; and He will bring them forth before men and Angels, unto Praise, Honour, and Glory, at his Appearing. Oh what great Account doth our Lord make, in his great Love, of our little Services! And to what great Account, will every of our little Services turn in that great Day, when our glorious Lord rewards them all, in his great Grace, with great Glory, every Way like his Great SELF!

            I beg, Dear Sir, you will please to pardon my Boldness, in mentioning this Case to you. Which I entirely submit to your Prudence, as Wisdom shall be given you from Above. – Wishing all Prosperity, in all Labours, for the Glory of God, and the good of souls; with most humble Thanks for all your great Favours; I beg leave to subscribe myself,

                        Reverend Sir,

                                    Your most obliged, and most obedient     

                                                Humble Servant in the Lord,

                                                                        Anne Dutton.

P.S. My Spouse, Sir, is not at Home, or would have sent his most Humble Service, wth all possible Thanks for all your great and repeated Favours, of which he always retains a most grateful Sense. My most humble Service, Sir, to Madam Doddridge.

            Perhaps, Sir, you may think Mr Whitefield ye most proper person to apply to for Collections on Account of this Negroe-School. But as I suppose Mr Whitefield ha’n’t finish’d his Collections for the intended Negroe-School near Philadelphia, and as the Orphan-House Affairs are continually upon his Hands; I humbly think, Sir, that these may prove Impediments, as to his engaging in the Affair. But I design to write a Line to Mr Whitefield about it; and if you should receive a Line, sir, from Mr Whitefield on this Account, I doubt not its Influence wth you. 

Address: To | The Reverend Doctor Doddridge | in Northampton

Text: Dr. Williams's Library, London, New College Collection, MS L1/5/65. Dutton's correspondence with Grant led to her A Letter to the Negroes lately Converted to Christ in America. And Particularly to those, lately called out of Darkness, into God’s Marvellous Light, at Mr. Jonathan Bryan’s in South Carolina, which appear in print in late 1743, not long before the above letter.