Andrew Fuller, Kettering, to William Wilberforce, London, 21 August 1811. 

Kettg  Aug. 21st  1811

My dear Sir

   Your very satisfactory Letter of the 24th Ult. left no other uneasiness in my mind than what arose from your having had so much labour through what I had written. I did not wish for any farther satisfaction; but as you at most insisted on my writing to Mr Thompson I did so. He says, ‘Lord S. never said to me that Mr W. urged him to persist, nor any thing like it. He said that Mr W. was afraid of the methodists, or words to that effect, which a little surprised me, and those who were with me.  But whence Ld S. inferred Mr W’s fears, I know not. When I saw Mr W. in the House of Commons in the evening I mentioned to him what Ld S. had said, and he replied in substance (for I will not pretend to repeat the exact words) “I hope that the Methodists know me better than to allow any such representation to make any impression on their minds.”¾ I do not believe that Dr Coke, or any one else, ever heard Mr W. say that Ld S. had betrayed him.  It appeared to me, I remember that some of Mr W’s expressions with regard to the Establishment had been misconstrued by Lord S., but I never knew the particulars of the conversation between them.’

   Mr Thompson at my request promised to write to Dr Coke. He seemed rather reluctant to write to me upon the subject, and I believe wd not but for your sake. I have never till now mentioned the subject of having received a letter either from him or you, but where it appeared necessary to correct the misstatement, which has been the case in several instances. But I do not wonder at his reluctance, considering what is some times made of a few words.  You will present my thanks to Mrs W. for her Lettr which if I had not [f.174v] received yours, must have effaced every thing of an unfavourable nature from my mind. I am dr Sir

                     Yrs very respectfully

                                 Andrew Fuller

PS  Having a small pamphlet, (wh with the Letter will not weigh an ounce) on a subject which you touched in some parts of yours to me, I will inclose it.

Text:  MSS. Wilberforce, d. 17, fol. 174, Bodleian Library, Oxford. Fuller’s pamphlet was about Methodist Dissenters.