Revised Jun 6 2021

No. 86. Mr. P: Heywood to Miss Heywood.

Hector — Oct^r 5^th 1792

Sep 12, 1792
Sep 15, 1792
Sep 19, 1792 On Tuesday last I had the Pleasure of recieving my dearest Mary's Letter of the 12th. Ulto. — Alas! — my Sister! — at the time you wrote that Epistle, little did you expect that melancholy News was so near you, that you must have received through my most respected Friend Doctor Scott, two or three Days afterwards — But let me hope you have all borne it with the same Fortitude & patient resignation, I received my final sentence! — With respect to what you read in the Papers of the Prosecutions having closed &c, on the 15^th Ulto. was true, I was aware of your seeing the Day appointed for the Commencement of the Trial in the Papers, tho' I did not inform you of it myself, in the last Letter I wrote to my dear Mother, yet I think I hinted as much as that it wou'd be the next Day — The Day after the Trial was ended, our amiable Friend Mrs. Bertie was obliged to leave Portsmouth, y& on her Way to Maristow, she stopped at Yarmouth, from whence on the 19th. Ulto. she wrote me a most kind Letter, in which she says — "I am on my Way to Maristow (my Father's Place near Plymouth) & as you will most probably on your Enlargement go round to the Isle of Man by Water, I beg therefore you will take the very first Opportunity of getting round to Plymouth, & coming to Maristow, as it is the Wish of us all that you shou'd come there for a Variety of reasons, I will give you when we meet. good bye — God bless you, keep up your spirits & believe me your sincere Emma Bertie" — By this it wou'd appear that her Hopes & Expectations are sanguine — but I have been so often disappointed in mine that I will no more entertain any, but wait with Patience for what it may please God to accomplish — I have had two or three kind Letters from Mr. Southcote at London — Ah! my dearest Sister & was your Plan for meeting me at Liverpool then fixed upon? — how great then must have been your unexpected Disappointment? — Heaven hath ordained it otherwise! — & thus it is that all human Hopes & Expectations prove abortive & are defeated by the all-wise Designs of an omniscient Creator — repine not then my Sister, but endeavour to consider it as having happened for the best — if not for us — yet may we not be the Instruments of promoting the Good & Happiness of many of our Fellow Creatures, though we personally reap no Benefit from it, yet even from that Idea alone, a true Christian Mind can derive the most refined Pleasure & divine Consolation — it is not only the best for ourselves, but it is our Duty to put such a Construction on the Misfortunes which may chance to happen to us; & by no means call in question the Justice of Providence

Mr. Delafons pays me daily Visits. — By Letters from my truly good Friend Mr. Graham at London, nothing can be done in this unhappy Affair till the Arrival of the King in Town (where he arrived on Tuesday Evening) so that I now wait with Patience & resignation for the final Decision of my Fate by the Interposition of his Justice, or Mercy, & am thank Heaven equally prepared for the reception or either — Oh! my Mary how my Heart bleeds this Moment at the Thoughts of the distressed state of Mind you must all be in, at the Perusal of my former & this Letter, & my afflicted Mothers Case! Heavens! can my weak Imagination paint her soul! — Chear up her drooping spirits my dear Sisters all — tell her that I am happy & feel not a Moment's Anxiety but for her — tell her that all the powerful Interest that can be procured are at this Moment interposing themselves in my Behalf — & (if God pleases) will do it effectually — but hope not! — prepare only for the Worst, or perhaps the Best — you say my dearest Mary you can enjoy no Company therefore avoid it, and will not go to any Parties till I can accompany you, but let me beg that on my Account, you will by no Means debar yourselves of the innocent Enjoyment of the Company of a few select Friends, but on the Contrary encourage such Intercourse as will in some measure evaporate the cloudy & melancholy Ideas that may arise in your Mind (in your present state of Anxiety) in solitude & retirement. — I will say no more but beg my dear Mary will give my most sincere Duty to my afflicted Mother & tell her to strive to raise her Spirits, my most unbounded Love to my ever dear Sisters & Brothers, my Uncle Heywood & Cousins Nessy & Margaret — & remember me most respectfully & affectionately to my Friend Dr. Scott & in short all those who may chance to enquire after me: you may tell them all that I am perfectly happy, for I have learn'd to be so in all situations of Life — But Adieu my beloved Sister be assured I am for ever with unabated Love –

your truly Affectionate Brother

    Peter Heywood