Robert Hall, Bristol, to John Ryland, Jr., Northampton, 15 June 1786.

Bristol June 15 1786

 Dear & honoured Sir

  I am much obliged to you for your last communication & return you my sincere thanks for the friendship it breathes.  I should be glad to explain myself more fully upon the affair of Socinians, but think it at present better dropt that I may enter in one likely upon what seems to be of more urgent consequence.  I am rather surprised to hear the affair at Nailsworth has reached your parts.  Yet it does not so much surprise me as it would, did I not know how much it had been talked of.  I am far from wishing to palliate any thing I know to be amiss & therefore trusting to your candour will tell you the whole of the affair.  I went to Nailsworth upon occasion of a wedding of Mr Beddom’s son with whom I had a slight acquaintance.  The occasion naturally inspired gaiety which I was not at much pains to restrain, but I am not at all conscious of any thing highly improper that passed except what I am going to relate.   Miss Wilkins & I were riding out together & having spirited horses we rode a good pace, but not faster as I imagined than was agreeable to her.  She was a considerable way before me, when to my surprise a Man crossed the way & stopped her horse   I supposing he did it wantonly to insult her in [addressing?] her frolick was very angry with him & when I came up to him said “Hang you, you dog, why did you stop the ladys horse.” I did not hear a word the man said in reply but when I understood by Miss Wilkins that the Man stopped her by his own desire I was extremely sorry, & took the first opportunity of sending for the Man to beg his forgiveness with which he seemed perfectly satisfied.  I understand however that he everywhere declared I said “damn you you dog why did you stop the lady  a base & incidious slander.  This was the whole of this affair in which there was a good deal of imprudence & precipitation but surely no aggravated matter of blame.  A circumstance which gave me upon reflection much more pain was my behaviour on Sunday evening into which however I can truly say was rather hurried into than entered of my own accord.  I had been preaching in a country village in the evening & upon my return was indeed in a serious frame, but I found the young lady laughing to a degree that almost embarrassed me for I do not even now know the occasion of it.  Their light & giddy humour however threw me off my guard & led me to join in frothy & frivolous conversation which tho’ highly improper for the Lords day would upon any other occasion have been perfectly innocent.  I was extremely grieved at this afterwards & said most likely I would rather have given 50£ than have been betrayed into it.  This is a true state of the case as far as I remember but I know very well it has been exceedingly misrepresented Mr Francis himself of Horsely tells me he first heard of it at Oxford & Abingdon where it was so reported that as he observes no one could form anything like a just idea of it but when he enquired at home where it took place he had quite a different view of it.  I have communicated with most of my friends upon it who tho’ they blame where I was blameable yet all agree that they scarcely know an instance where there has been more misrepresentation & falsehood.  I thought proper thus to tell you frankly all I know of it & trusting to your candour & good offices of which I have had so many specimens   beg leave to subscribe myself your obliged friend & Servant

R.  Hall jun.r

Text: OSG.95B, Box A, Bristol Baptist College, Bristol.