Samuel Pearce, Birmingham, to Sarah Pearce, Alcester, 2 December 1791.

               After a long interval, I sit down again to write a love letter with this advantage however, that instead of suspecting it will excite the sneer of contempt I feel a sort of confidence it will savour acceptable.  Yet my own dear Sarah taught me to think so & she will give the smile of approbation when she finds her pupil profits by her instructions.

               I had a very heterodox ride to Mosely—I mean a sprinkling one, and so much sprinkling I had that if I had been ever so staunch a pleader for aspersion before, I think in future I must have witheld my Rhetoric.  Mr Cox overtook us about the 6th or 7th mile & rode 6 or 7 miles wh us—then took us leave and without saying adieu gallop’d to Birmingham.

               Mr Cambden & I parted at Mosely lane—& about half past 3 I entered my friend Harwoods—such a pickle!  O I was as wet as a shag—thro great Coat,—Black Coat,—Waistcoat, shirt, flannel and all—I drank half a glass of Brandy—& strip[p]ed entirely, exchanging my wet clothes for Mr Harwoods dry ones—You cant imagine what a droll figure I cut at such gigantic vestments—I seemed in the proportion of a rolling-pin to a Beer-Barrel.

               I tarried over tea & when my garments were dry walked down to Birm:—William at Mr Harwoods was so kind as to accompany me all the way to Town.

               I came immediately home—found all well—then visited both Mr [Ilds?] & Brooks’s meetings found it very comfortable—heard of 3 or 4 more under awakenings—conversed wh one impressed under Psal 50:22—this ye 2d to whose conversion I hope that discourse was blessed—May God still enlarge our borders—After Meetg I called at the Jones’s and found them much disappointed that I was not there in afternoon as they had friends to assist them in acknowledging the Lords goodness in her late delivery &c of which I was before ignorant—but I explained & they were satisfied—& spent a comfortable evening together.

               Young Vaughan came home & left wh me—Yesterday I dined at Mr [Rounds?] —drank tea at Mr Reynold’s—supped at Mr Potts; where I am to dine this day

               I am happy to inform you that tho the Butter was sent to market by Pope & Marsh it was not their own but sent by a friend at Tewkesbury for them to dispose of—It was carried to the market just as received 88 lb—& 23 were found one halfpenny short of weight

               It is a pity they sh.d suffer for their friendship—I expect next Mondays paper will set it all to rights again—

               I hope to have a letter from you by Willm to night—you forgot to leave out the key of the corner cupboard—I can get at nothing—will you be so good as to find it next Tuesday.

               I trust this will find you expecting a good Sabbath & awaiting for the day of ye Lord wh ardent desires after his tabernacle—may your enjoyments equal your desires.

               I dont forget my dearest Sarah at a throne of Grace—may I hope I am not forgotten—I wish you to get as much into Rebecca’s heart as you can—do let much of your conversation be on spiritual things—she needs it now.

               Shall I advise my dear Sarah also to avoid any religious controversy at Mrs Biggs—I fear she has more studied system than yielded herself to the influence of truth—you my love I believe have been better employed—you cannot therefore enter the lists upon equal terms—you had better wholly decline—I have been much afraid lest she shd distress your mind—I am under no apprehensions of her altering your sentiments—I believe you have been taught them by the Holy Ghost who dwelleth in you—& that you will be kept therein by the power of God—but it will pain your mind to hear your Lord degraded & the blood wherewith you were sanctified accounted an unholy thing.

               I have at last put a period to revision for the Press—the Sermons will be published next Monday if they will have any at Alcester let me know how many I may send.

             My filial respects to your dr Father—respectful remembrance to Mrs H— sincere love to Rebecca & due remembrance to all—Mr Biggs included in expectation of a line from you I am my dear my dearest Sarah—yours wh sincere & ardent affection

                                                                     S. Pearce

Decr 2d 91   Birm—

Text: Pearce Family Collection, MS. F. P. C. D55, Angus Library, Regent's Park College, Oxford. Rebecca Hopkins was a sister of Sarah, and was still living at home at the time of the above letter. She would later marry a Mr. Harris of Birmingham. For more on the Hopkinses and Samuel and Sarah Pearce, click here, here, and here for their entries in the Biographial Index.