J. C. Ryland, Northampton, to John Robinson, stationer in Shad Thames, Southwark, 8 April 1770. 

Dear Sir

    Your Letter came last Night I am glad you have gained your point so far – the young Men have waited with a Mixture of Hope and Fear of Anxiety and patience – In short if I had spoke five Words by Way of absolute Discouragement they would both have took themselves back again on Foot a Journey of almost 200 Miles. –

    With respect to Mr Woodmans Abilities and Learning in Latin Greek and Hebrew, and what is unspeakably better than all that – in Wisdom Good Conduct, sweetness of Temper, holy Walk a fatherly Heart and Generosity of Mind with Discernment and Sagacity in Divine Things all that know him will give him the highest and best Testimonials. –

  But as we must humour Fools, it will be best to write to the Revd M.r John Dowley Independent Minister at Suttonworth who is his Neighbour and to desire him to examine M.r Woodman – in Latin – Greek – Hebrew   I shall preach at a Meeting of Ministers at M.r Woodmans place if the Lord permit on Easter Tuesday April 17. – and will then desire him before all the Ministers present to read and translate any Chapter in the Greek Testament that they shall appoint him  He shall have no Eng[lish] in his Hand or near Him and they shall testify [so] upon paper – I shall then desire him to translate some Latin Authors and lastly – give us a Chapter or Psalm from the Hebrew Bible into English –

  As to his Terms for Tutorage you need not fear – he is above the Love of Money and they will be low enough – the Boarding for a Man ought not to be under 20£ a Year –

  But the grand Advantage of all will be in Divinity from himself and the surrounding Ministers, this is worth a Million of Times more than all the Rest – we want solid able Ministers such as Hartley of Yorkshire

  We have been plagued with Fribbles, Coxcombs and Fools in Divinity long enough – Tis now high Time to look about us – when D.r Gill and two or three more are dead we shall hardly have a man that is fit to publish a sixpenny Sermon. – Don’t doubt of my prudence till you have proof to the Contrary I will give you a line when I come back from Mr Woodmans we shall baptize near 30 at once at Artleborough within 14 miles of us the week after Easter – I am

D.r Sir your faithfull and

obedt Ser.t J. R.

P.S.  The two chief Men of Kettering Church have been with [us] this week and read the Letters pro and con which have passed, they would be glad to have peace restored. I have this Day written a healing Letter to M.r Brown and as I expect to see him on Easter Tuesday I hope with the Blessing of our Great and gracious master I shall go ever and be a peace Maker – I shall fight hard in the Spirit of Love to obtain the promise in Matth. v.

Text: MS. II.c.5.(6.), Congregational Library, London. The above letter is about Isaac Woodman and the controversy at Kettering involving John Brown.