LETTER LXVI.

To Mr. M.

To My beloved brother in the Lord, greeting.

YOURS came to hand, and I thank you for it, as I am always glad to hear how the poor family of the Lord do; for my part I am but poorly with a cold and the rheumatism in my head, which for some time has tried me not a little. Cough and shortness of breath have rendered my little cabin almost unbearable. These things often make drill, field days, reviews, the camp, and the field of action, irksome, and make me cringe and think of winter quarters, dismission from service, the king's letter, or an honourable pension: but instead of this am obliged to keep on, although I confess that at times my heart sinks upon a Sunday morning, as soon as the drum beats, at the thoughts of mounting guard, or doing duty at the Palace. However, the Captain of our salvation is often better to me than all my fears, and brings me sometimes through with such a high hand as to make me a wonder to myself, though at the same time I have thought that I had scarcely strength to sit upright, even on the baggage-waggon; at this momentary, timely, much-needed but undeserved and unexpected aid and assistance, I have much

wondered, and have gone on as if in the first campaign; but no sooner is it over but I dream of the surgery, or the hospital; and if I do in any measure survive this, still nothing suits me or charms me like that pleasing sound of 'Go to bed, Tom;' and when I obtain this I am often interrupted with dreams or visions of a rout, or halt, or march, or a call to arms. Sometimes I fancy I am pursued, and my road so slippery that I cannot stand; at other times I am called to action without either arms or ammunition: sometimes I fancy my station on the forlorn hope, the most perilous station of all the besiegers; at other times I am giving the word of command, but alas, I am dumb; and when I order others to march I myself. wish to retreat. Lately I have been erecting the King's standard; I have been waving the banner, and beating up like one on a recruiting party; delivering the king's speech; promising new clothes, a large bounty, present pay, good quarters, invaluable and invincible accoutrements, certain victory, infinite spoils, and eternal honour; and at the same time my wicked heart rebelling, and giving the lie to every word that my mouth has uttered. I often find, at this work, that I vainly suppose that not a few recruits have volunteered their services, and have seemed to join the young troops; but soon after, when I expect them at rollcall, one half are missing some complaining of too much drill, and others of the difficulty of learning the manual exercise: and often in this

recruiting business I have exceeded, I mean in spending more than the king's allowance, that is, I have feigned the bounty, when in truth the whole stock has been gone; this has brought me in short in my accompts, and this puts me under stoppages, one halfpenny in two days, and hardly that. At this time I am catering, or hunting for forage; and often asking, or taking French leave in a furlough; and even this has often confined me in the guard-house; and many heavy petitions have gone up before I could appear to enjoy the privilege of a prisoner, or the parole of honour: and what can you think of such a soldier as me? W. H. S. S.

LETTER LXVII.

To Mr. A.

Lumea, Oct. 15, 1810,

Dear Christian Friend,

AFTER a long and fatiguing campaign, I have somewhat to write to my friend. I can rejoice in saying, hitherto the Lord has helped me. I can assure you that it is a something more than men in general build on, that will support the soul in a trying hour true and vital religion is an internal principle, wrought by the Spirit of God in the

heart of man; and no less than Almighty power can keep alive, or purify the affections of the soul. This is the place that would try many a blazing professor, for nothing short of a real possession can ever withstand the blast of the terrible ones that beat against the wall. I am now surrounded with many, and mighty enemies; there are awful fightings without, and God-dishonouring fears within. I must acknowledge that I find sinful unbelief the worst enemy I have to grapple with, yet I can say, blessed be God, that if ever I knew the comforts of the Holy Ghost it is truly since I have been in this country; yet I have not learned that sweet lesson which Paul speaks of: I know what it is to abound, and be in great straits, but I cannot say that I have learned therewith to be content. I stand greatly in need of the sweet graces of faith, patience, love, and resignation to my blessed God and Saviour's will. I find by painful experience that Satan goes about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour; and when he finds the poor trembling child of God enjoying his dear God as a sanctuary to his soul, he will use all the artillery of hell to disquiet him. My friend, I know these things by painful experience, yet I trust, through the tender compassion of my good God, to come off more than conqueror; yea, I trust to enjoy the gospel of Christ in the land of my nativity. I do believe that the Lord will turn my captivity as the streams in

the south; then shall I rejoice in telling my dear friends what the Lord has done for my soul.

All the army has retired near Lisbon, and we are daily in expectation of fighting the decisive battle; I believe there are more than three hundred thousand souls drawn up for that purpose. There has been many severe battles, but the great battle is yet to be fought; it will be an awful day; but if my good God is pleased to spare my life to see your face again in peace, I trust love and gratitude will be given me to praise his dear name. It is the most awful scene I ever witnessed, to see thousands of inhabitants flying from their houses, leaving a great part of their property to the mercy of a cruel army. I have often thought what Jeremiah says, or rather the Lord by him; "Shall I not visit for these things? and shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this?" The people here are the most bigotted idolaters I ever saw, and the most treacherous and unjust in their dealings.

I heard of dear Mr. Huntington's chapel being burnt down, which was I believe an interpretation of a dream I had since I came into this country, which I will relate to my dear friend when I return. I hope God will give Mr. H. another chapel on earth, to declare the truth, and when he has done what the Lord hath appointed for him, give him eternal inheritance with all his dear children in glory. I am well aware that all the chil