Samuel Medley, Liverpool, to James Dinwiddie, Manchester (“Pr favor of Mr Spear Junr”), 9 August 1782.

Liverpool 9th Augst—1782

Dear Sir—Or (plainly if you please) Dear Cousin

  There’s an Address for You!—Such a One as I never wrote you before—such a One as you never received from one before—And pray who can tell what this same Cousinship may one Day produce, especially if You should become One of his Maj.ty Principal Secretarys of State—And I should become Arch Bishop of Canterbury—And be assured of this—that if ever we are to become such—we are nearer to it than ever we were—Well, but—Dear Cousin—again You see I am as pleased with this new Relation as a Boy with a new son—Well but once more—Dear Cousin—Your very acceptable favor of the 5th Currt I duely rec.d—thank You for Your early Intelligence of what had taken place the forenoon of that Day—You know my poor heart was much in it—and very anxiously concerned for Your mutual Comfort and Happiness—And be asured [sic] I am not less so—No. now the sacred relation has commenced—Be asured Both of You of my Best Love—And (if it be worth any thing)—my hearty Blessing upon You Both—for Body and Soul—for Time and Eternity. I almost long to hear how you were received on Monday afternoon at Ships-[car?]—And how you have been helped to manage matters since—do drop me a Line informing me when You are returned to Manchester—with that Dear Dear Creature with You—I trust if I am spared to see You both Happy—both for Time and Eternity—I shall Love You and rejoice in You both more than ever—I pray You may live and walk with God and with one another as Heirs together of the Grace of Life—as helpers of Each others Faith and forwarders of each others Joy—that Your Prayers nor Your Peace may never be hindered or interrupted.—But that You may go on Your way with One Heart and with One Soul, rejoicing in Christ Jesus—And in a truly Sanctified and Subordinate Sense—rejoicing in Each other—God help you both to keep near to him—Remember—Creature Comforts are but Time Comforts—Consequently—Cannot last forever.

  If I knew when Mrs Medley returned to Manchester in her way home—And if at that time You and Mrs Dinwiddie were at home—I would come and meet her at Manchr—And at the same time should have an Opportunity of paying my respects to You both—In Propria Personae—perhaps You may be able to Inform me in a Line respecting this Matter.

  All my Children here at home join me in presenting their Love to Mr and Mrs Dinwiddie and wish them much happiness in their new relation—

  I called as desired upon Mr Poole, but could not find him within Mrs Poole I was informed was but poorly in her Chamber and it was not Convenient to see her as he was Expected to Call at Mr Hope’s in Pool Lane they promised me to inform him as desired. 

  For the present I take my leave, hoping amidst all the Hurry which may take place in consequence of Your marriage you will not forget or neglect to favor me with a Line from You—

  And once more for the present Adieu  The God of Heaven forever Bless You Both and make You Blessings and Comforts to Eaach other  So wishes and prays—Dear Cousin—(for the last time in this Letter)                     

                   Yours most affectionately

                                     in the whole of my Relation to You

                                                       Sam Medley

Text: Timothy Whelan, Baptist Autographs in the John Rylands University Library of Manchester, 1741-1845 (Macon: Mercer University Press, 2009), pp. 43-45 (annotated version); also Eng. MS. 370, fol. 84a, John Rylands University Library of Manchester. James Dinwiddie was Samuel Medley’s cousin by marriage; he was an Independent layman in Manchester associated with the firm of Dinwiddie, Kennedy, and Dinwiddie, Merchants and Cotton-Manufacturers, 4 Red-Cross Street. Others mentioned above include William Hope, linen and woolen draper, at 14 Pool Lane, Liverpool, who, along with various others of his family, were members of Medley's congregation in Liverpool; and possibly Charles Poole, collector of the Dock duties, whose offices were located in the Old Church Yard, Liverpool.