LETTER V. Virginia, Bath Parish, Dinwiddie THE REV. MR. JOHN COLEMAN, MY EVER DEAR FRIEND, IN MARYLAND. THE last winter and present spring have afforded me but little leisure; my time has been employed in reading, writing and travelling. Old and afflicted as I am, I travelled more than one hundred miles last week, was at three funerals, each fourteen or fifteen miles from home-married two couple, one in Sussex, the other in Dinwiddie, at your uncle Stephen Williamson's: his eldest daughter was married to Littleberry Tucker, son of Benj. Tucker. I went also to preach at Rocky-run church in Amelia-and on Sunday last I preached and administered the sacrament at Butterwood. Within less than three months, I think, I wrote about nine hundred pages in quarto. Part of these I copied for the press-part I extracted and abridged-and part I composed in prose and poetry.-But now, it is probable, I have well nigh finish. ed my work-at least the work of writing, and preparing any thing for the press. Indeed, I have some cause to apprehend, that I may be shortly deprived of one of the greatest satisfactions of my life I mean reading. But the will of the Lord be done. With his blessing, life or death, prosperity or adversity will be gain to me. In a former letter I made mention of a tumor on the side of my face, which had been there for months, without any appearance of coming to a head, and which affected the sight of my left eye. But about fifteen days ago it assumed a different appearance to what it ever had done before. In the middle of the tumor the flesh had been sunk in, from the beginning, and stuck fast to the cheek-bone. In this hollow place there arose something like a blister of blackish hue, about the size of a bean. My wife was much alarmed at seeing this, fearing it must be a cancer. However, in about two days, the blister broke, and, having discharged about two Ꮲ . or three drops of blood, it quite disappear, ed, without any pain or soreness. As soon as the blackish skin of the blister was re moved, there appeared, in the midst of the sunken flesh, a small orifice, as if made with a lancet, or rather with the point of a pen-knife, which orifice, I suppose, reaches down to the bone. Out of this issued water, as clear as ever you saw come out of a spring, without the least disagreeable taste or smell; nor will it stain the cleanest linen any more than spring water.-I consider this discharge as an effort of nature to relieve itself and to throw off the morbid humour, and therefore, for the first time, applied a small plaister of salve to the ori fice to keep it open and afford vent to let out the water. It continued to run about a table spoonfull in twenty-four hours, till last Saturday. From that day to this the discharge has been much more copious. I suppose that yesterday and to day there has ran a gill of clear water out of it. And yet the swelling round does not seem to lessen in any degree whatever. But, I thank God, the tumor is neither sore nor painful -or so little, as is not worth speaking about: but it affects my eye, by drawing down the under lid and exposing it to the wind and cold; this causes it to fill with water, so that, many times, I can scarcely see to read or write. Some days the eye is more clear than others-and this being the case to day, I catch the favourable opportunity of writing once more to you, my son and dearest friend. -- I have not applied to any of the faculty to have their opinion on the complaint. Some of my friends are apprehensive it may be a cancer; and it may terminate in that, for ought I know. And if so, it is not improbable but I may visit Philadelphia, and make application to Dr. Tate of that city. This indeed would be a long and distressing journey-but I should promise myself the satisfaction of seeing you by the way, and of taking Dr. Magaw by the hand before I die. At present, I cannot think there are any symptoms of a cancer, according to Buchan's description of a cancer. He describes a cancer as a painful and very sore ulcer, and the ichor, issuing therefrom, abominably fœted and offensive-whereas the tumor on my face is neither sore nor painful, as already said, and the water issuing is as sweet, at least as free from any offensive smell, as that which is taken from the best spring.-Since the discharge of the water, I have felt myself more lively and vigorous in body than before; I can walk and exercise with less fatigue than bes fore, nor did I ever enjoy better health, for many years, than at present: and yesterday and to day I have read over and corrected the manuscript of hymns, which I mentioned, in a former letter. And I intend, God willing, to attend my churches and preach the gospel as long as I can crawl up into a pulpit. Though indeed the prospect of religion and the success of preaching are gloomy and discouraging.-But whe ther sinners will hear, or whether they will forbear, I wish to discharge my com mission, and die in the field of battle. My eye begins to fail me, at this time, and I must put a period to this letter. And not knowing whether I may ever be per mitted to write to you again, I shall conclude with the words of Saint Paul to his son Ti mothy, 4th Chap, 2d Ep. 1, 8. "Icharge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing, and his kingdom: preach the word, be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine. For the time will come, when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts will they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears. And they shall turn |