Robert Hall, Leicester, to Thomas Langdon, Leeds, 19 March 1821.

My dear Friend,

  It gave me, as it always does, great pleasure to hear from you, and to hear that you were still capable of exerting yourself in your beloved work.  I hope, with the blessing of god, and the care it is most incumbent on you to take for the preservation of a life so inestimable, it will be prolonged for some, let me add, for many years.  Avoid all night exercises.  I have little doubt that your walk from your chapel, and your habit of walking in the night air, have had a most pernicious effect. Do, my dear sir, for the sake of your family, of our congregation, and of your friends, who so ardently love you, guard against this, and let nothing induce you to expose yourself to the night air. . . . Few things would give me greater pleasure than to spend a week once more with my dear friends at Leeds, where I have always met with the kindest and most flattering attention, so much beyond my deserts that it has served to humble and shame rather than to elate me.  If it were the reverse, however, the pleasure of spending a few days with you and Mrs. Langdon would more than compensate, and richly repay me for any inconvenience. . . .  My health has been of late good in all other respects, except my old complaint, with which I have been much harassed: it is what I expect to carry with me to the grave.  How happy we should be to see you at Leicester, if you could coontrive, along with Mrs. Langdon, to pay us a visit during the ensuing suummer: it would be our delight to render you as comfortable as possible; and you are not aware of the pleasure it woud give.  How awful the aspect of the times!  Every thing forebodes the approach of some fearful crisis.  Our great, our only consolation is, that the Lord reigneth; and blessed be our Rock!  Our time is far advanced, buut I tremble for our children. . . . 

March 19th, 1821.

Text: Brief Memoir of the Rev. Thomas Langdon, Baptist Minister, of Leeds . . .  By his Daughter  (London: Baines & Newsome, 1837), 120-22.