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The Philander Chase letters were written in the 18th and 19th century and therefore may contain language that we understand today as harmful or offensive. You may encounter paternalist descriptions of Native Americans, racial slurs, or sexism. For more information, see our policy page.
Description
Kenyon discusses weather and politics in England and updates Chase on Mr. West's plan to sail to American in the spring.
Date
2-19-1830
Keywords
Percy Kenyon, Mr. West, G.W. Marriott, Bishop Bloomfield, Earl Spencer, King George III, Lloyd Kenyon
Recommended Citation
Lord Kenyon, "Letter to Philander Chase" (1830). Philander Chase Letters. 838.
https://digital.kenyon.edu/chase_letters/838
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Transcript
Gredington
Feb’rt 19
1830
My dearest Bishop
I have delayed writing in hopes of sending you word when your zealous Chaplain wd set out to rejoin you, & in hopes of sending by God’s mercy a better report of my precious Percy. You will grieve to hear we are still very anxious about her, but we will hope it will be God’s gracious will to bless us accord’y to our wishes; if His wisdom thinks fit to decide otherwise we must submit & [?] ourselves with the X’n consolations of our loss adding another to the society of the Blessed who are most dear to us all in Paradise. I cannot yet tell when West will set out but triumphantly vindicated as he has been by our excellent friend GWM I trust he will assuredly set out this spring to aid you in what to any use but yourself wd be overpowering duties. It is very indeed [refreshing] to know how you exert yourself for the sacred cause to which you devote yourself & to perceive how providentially you are enabled to work out its complete success. That you may see it flourish still more & more for years is my humble prayer as it must be that of multitudes. I shall indeed rejoice if your Congress give you the aid you beg for. It would indeed bless doubly if they do so, them for giving & your flock & you in receiving such righteous aid. We have this winter had the severest weather we have known for many years, & have now snow some inches deep which fell last night & this morning. It will not however probably now last long, but we have had strong ice ever since the 19th of Dec’r. All over the Continent & especially at several places wh we visited last year there has been a severity of weather unknown for many years past. In an Island in the Country of Northumbreland there has been so severe weather hardly the papers say. We have much general distress. Whatever political or [?] cause occasion it He only knows who governs all things. I for one have a fearful expectation of calamities befalling us in consequence of our conduct in encouraging Popery as we did last year. It has been remarked by those who examine our History, that with us as with the Jews of wh steadfast adherence politically to religious [?] has been blest with temporal blessings & national prosperity. Being under the same Divine governor of the world such west is very probable to occur; as indeed philosophically as well as religiously might be expected for the adherence to principles naturally produces such general good conduct, such [?] of industry & health as are calculated to advance worldly interests which they give evidence of things far more precious. A curious occurrence has lately taken place. The Chaplain of Bp Bloomfield, now of London has turned R Catholick [sic], & been rebaptized into that idolatrous & corrupt Church. He is son of Earl Spencer & had been pupil to Bp Bloomfied who formerly was a favourer of what has been called Emancipation. Ireland I hear is quite as [regularly] organized as for some years back to effect any object the Romish party may wish, and there is not one Soldier there less than heretofore tho’ there is a great increase of Policemen. The dear good Bishop of Salisbury is remarkably well and as zealous in all his pious exertions for the true faith as ever. I love him as George III’rd wd have loved him for he is always influenced by principle, & then as that pious King said one can depend upon a man, which one never can do if he acts from supplied expediency. My precious Lloyd [?] (& Edward at Oxford) are quite well, & we will hope for God’s mercy to our prayers for the restoration of health to my precious Percy. They are my rem’g earthly comforts, & are so because I trust by God’s mercy thro’ Christ to be hereafter reunited with them all of my precious treasures gone before in Heaven.
Ever your most affecte friend
Kenyon
Your kind letters are among my first comforts.