James Hinton, Oxford, to Edmund Botsford, Bethel, near Charleston, South Carolina, 8 November 1787.

He writes about politics and America, which he say after the war, has

“preserved her liberty—I pray God she may well improve it—I am not so warm a republican as my friend—The theory is excellent; but whoever could yet realize its promis’d blessings?—In the present  imperfect state of things, I think at least the disadvantages of a republican government always rival its advantages.

  You know the British Constitution: tis imperfect—acknowledge it—I yet think tis the best in the world---& tho capable of much improvement; is even in its present state much more likely to preserve the rights of a nation & render individuals safe & happy than any other government now existing at least ours will be more stable, while othes sluctuate in perpetual change & uncertainty—I have great fears for America---I wish you had a thousand Franklin’s.  I wish your leaders were all such—vain wish!  but few such Geniuses can be the lot of one age however if you make the best of him—He under God will guide you to earthly happiness & safety—I hope for the sake of Immortal souls, your ecclesiastical government will never be blended with the civil here lies the bane of religion in England—a national church & a national Salvation has ruin’d its millions & I fear will ruin millions more—I wish those of you who are friends to religious liberty would reprint & circulate 20,000 copys of that little piece on Toleration written by Mr LockevI am asham’d that my Countrymen should have had such a work in their hands for a century & yet not known its excellence—But our Lawnsleeve gentlemen I doubt possess more of the knave than the fool—I have often said that had I not been a Dissenter before I came here, Oxford must have made me one—This University is wickedness itself, in the very essence, it appears to grow worse and worse.  Old Discipline is dead, & New reigns triumphant.  We have tis true some Men eminent for learning & abilities, but excepting one (Dr Horne) none eminent for piety—If a young man be exemplary for religion, his hopes at Oxford are all forever lost; the Stigma of Methodism is affix’d to his character & he can hardly walk the streets in peace—from such a polluted fountain what must be the streams?—Cambridge however is not so bad—& some good men conceal themselves in both; till they have finish’d their studies & come forth valuable men—it is suppos’d the numbers of the “enlighten’d clergy” as they are called is now near 200—may God still encrease them—The most remarkable controversy of the day, is that between the Socinians (headed by that incomparable Genius Dr Priestley); and the church of England supported by Dr Horsley & Dr Horne—in which however several more Orthodox Dissenters, have taken a part, such as Evans, Rolls, Hampton & Dr Price, the two last are Arians—Dr Priestley as a Philosopher has universal fame—He is indefatigable also in his religious labors, confident beyond measure in his assertions; he attacks Heathens Jews & Christian, & almost every month brings forth a new production of his pen—I have read him til I am tired with his reasonings & astonish’d at his audacity but the storm that he has rais’d tho it may shake a weak christian for a while will only make his roots strike the deeper, & thus establish him more firmly—it will teach him the worth of a Bible—this is the effect it has had on myself—The Doctors sentiments spread among the gay & sprightly moralists of the age, but they will never feed the hungry christian nor convert a soul to God—He has at last openly rejected the Divine authority of the writings of the apostles, so now I think we have done with him—He is however a noble champion in the cause of liberty, & his principles very just—In this department he has no contempoary more remarkable than Robinson of Cambridge, whosee abilitys do honor all Baptists.   [paper torn] is a history of our denomination in 2 or 3 vols Quarto, much of it is ready for the press, & of great expectations of it are formed—Our churches in general flourish and increase all over the Kingdom; they in general retain Calvinistic sentiments tho a little moderate—(Mr Robinson & some few excepted) Mr R— gives Socinus now & then a friendly look, but he never openly keeps company with him—The presbyterians rather decline, & I believe the Independents do not much increase—Double-faced John Wesley has establish’d many society’s & still holds his dominion, by the ignorance of his people & that superstitious veneration of himself with which he has inspir’d them—The congregatiions form’d on Mr Whitfield’s Plan seem in a sense the same—When he left them—[paper torn] cleave to the Countess of Huntingdon as their Priestess—On the whole I hope Religion does not decrease amongst us—I hope the [paper not readable] the truth—The “Rational Dissenters” as they stile themselves, ie, the Arians & Socinians have lately form’d 2 new Academies, one at Manchester, & the other at Hackney near London, the latter is on a very extensive & Liberal plan, & is design’d to supercede the necessity of Dissenting Gentlemen going to the Universitys, it is open I believe to all Sentiments, but the tutors are of one or other of the denominations above-mentioned I think they give an account of 10, or 12,000 already subscribed to it’s support—My own congregation, among whom I shall be fuse’d (if God permit) are like myself Scriptural Calvinist’s, by this term I mean we had rather acknowledge some difficultys in our Sentiments, than introduce fanciful human explanations, or strain & torture particulars, [paper torn] I think they cannot alter our sentiments without very much encreasing our difficulties instead of lessoning the [paper torn] We have a good place of worship, our members are few not more than 40, tis a new interest.  They are serious & lively, affectionate & respectful.  Salary comfortable—& hearers from 250 to 350—I have left no room for national matters—the public prints will before this reaches you inform you that the Hostile appearances between our Court & that of Versailles, are now subsided—thanks (next to our Maker) to the Prussian Monarch & to our Cabinet for their mutual firmness; we had a fine fleet of between 20 & 30 sail of the line just ready for Sea & many more in commission; When the Grand Monarque thought proper to withdraw his support from the Dutch faction—& consequently lost his interest in Holland—Jervis will overshoot himself sometimes: He has indeed inspir’d his people with a love of liberty, which he hates, & yet cannot quell—

We must expect our Budget to be open’d with a new loan of 8, or 10 millions to defray the expences of preparation—Pitt is very popular—I hope he inherits Chatham’s virtues and abilitys—you no doubt heard of an unsuccessful application to Parliament on behalf of the Dissenters; for the repeal of the Test & Corporaton acts—I suppose it is to be renewed—I hope for a speedy answer to this—I have not rec’d a letter from my late Tutor since I sent you respects &c , but I am confident that if you can find a ship bound for Bristol—any thing you may think curious directed to Rev: Caleb Evans, Stokes-croft, Bristol, will be very accepted—I can add no more but my best wishes & prayers for the happiness temporal & eternal of Dr Sir

yr affectionate & obly’d friend

Jas Hinton

Text: G96 Box T, fol. 14, Bristol Baptist College Library, Bristol. Edmund Botsford (1745-1819) was originally from Woburn, Bedfordshire; in 1765 he immigrated to Charleston, South Carolina, and was baptized into the Baptist church there in March 1767. He later ministered to Baptist churches in Georgia and South Carolina. Botsford’s sister married a Mr. Hinton of Upton, a relation of James Hinton (1761-1823), Baptist minister at Oxford and writer of the above letter.