Caleb Evans, Bristol to John Sutcliff, Olney, from Bristol, 23 October 1775.

My Dr Friend,

         Enclos’d you have a pamphlet lately published by me in ansr to one wrote by Mr Wesley. I did not put my name to it, but a large edition is printing in Lonn, to which my name will be prefix’d, at the importunity of sevl of my friends; tho’ contrary to my own judgmt. Please to present one, with my Chrisn respects, to Mr Newton, tho’ I am persuaded he is not of my mind, & will probably blame me for meddling with politicks. Nor shd I have done it, had it not been for the shameful inconsistency of Mr Wesley, & ye assiduity made use of in ye spread of his pamphlet. We do not alys see alike, but I can truly say I wrote that pamphlet from conscients motives and in ye fear of God.—When ye Socy Sermn is printed, how shall I send you a few of ym?  The printer is at present so hurried yt he cannot take it in hand.—And now, in ye lange of one of old, I am ready to say—Is it peace?  Oh wt a pity it is that Brethren shd fall out by the way!  When will the breaches at Olney be made up—when will that meek & quiet spirit, which so eminently adorns your pious hostess, universally spread amg the people & leaven ye whole lump!  We are commanded to pray for ye peace of Jerusalem—when will our prayers be ansd with respect to that part of our Jerusalem where you are at present situated?  I long to rece good tidings.

         Mrs Evans & my Dr children are well, but we have had 2 of our family dangerously ill, & have a Servt now lying, we fear, at ye point of death in the small pox. Sis. Mullett has lost her two daus in it, as she once before lost her 2 sons in ye sore throat, so that she is now childless. These are sore trials, but to yse yt love God shall work for good. “The bud may have a bitter taste, But sweet will be the flower.” 

         A young Lady, Sisr of Mr Lewis, died lately at my father’s in [words marked out] Consumption—How loudly & how pathetically do these providences speak to us?

         I shall be glad to hear from you when agreeable, & especy to hear good tidings of yr own Soul & of the souls of ths to whom you minister. I am mindful of you, forget not to pray for me, who am

                                             with sincere affectn

                                                               Yours.

                                                                                 C Evans

Brisl Octr 23. 1775

Text: Timothy Whelan, Baptist Autographs in the John Rylands University Library of Manchester, 1741-1845 (Macon: Mercer University Press, 2009), pp. 32-33 (annotated version); also Eng. MS. 369, fol. 43b, John Rylands University Library of Manchester. Besides his pamphlet exchange with John Wesley in 1775 about the war in America, Evans mentions two of his relations and members at Broadmead, Thomas Mullett and  his wife, the former Mary Evans; also mentioned is another member, David Lewis, and the evangelical vicar at Olney, John Newton.