My dear Miss H—n
I have now before me your last letter [deleted]
dated y^e 18^th of Oct^r [deleted] tell^g me while I read y^t I have been
too dilatory in answering it while y^e contents alarm me & speak
tho in others words y^e purport of our saviours admonition “watch
& pray lest ye enter into temptation” duty’s really necessary yet
I speak it with shame much neglected by me daily experience
teaches me my need – {^with} y^e deceitfulness of my heart & y^e
shares of a vain world together with y^e wile of a cunning
adversary & yet y^e backwardness I [deleted] feel to these things I shoud
sometimes be ashamed to tell a fellow mortal I cannot help
exclaiming with M^r Berridge – “what a cheat & a rogue is man
to himself” – I shoud wish you in your next to tell {^me} what
was y^e {^cause} of M^r Hil-ch’s being set aside I never yet got to hear
it - & how they seem to take it – My dear Miss Hodson
I sincerely wish you may be early acquainted with y^e
things y^t pertain to salvation y^t y^e means of grace you are
enjoying might be blest (enjoying did I say) = but give me
leave to add {^with it} that those only which see their need of a saviour
& of their own helplessness {^& sinfulness} by nature can from [deleted] y^e heart
rejoice at y^e good {^tidings} of salvation by a redeemer permit me
while I with those to be known by my Friend to tell {^her} I wish
no greater happiness for myself than a saving knowledge of
[new page]
& interest in them – My Papa Mamma & Sister join me
in kindest {^respects} to M^r & M^rs Hodson – I hope soon to hear of
your Mamma’s happy delivery which we sincerely wish her –
My Aunt Richardson is this day coming to Manchester to
Reside here she hav^g left Ratcliffe upon y^e marriage of M^r
Richardson {?Brother} which was yesterday – I have it now
in my power to fulfil my promise concern^g M^r Berridges
letters am sorry to give you y^e trouble of get^g them copy’d
hav^g thought to have done it myself but one thing or
other has always hindered – Miss Clarksons begs her compts to
all – I hope I need not apologize to my dear Friend for y^e
writing of this letter therefore must conclude as it is near
meet^g time with my best love & wish^g you y^e comforts of
this life as far as consistent with y^e glory of God & a happy
mortification to the world y^t you may live above its smiles
or frowns be fitted for a better & have y^e comfortable hope
of it while here below
I remain
with great respect
your affectionate
Friend R Clegg
(My comp^t to all Friends)
Manchester
Nov 27 1782
[new page]
Miss Hodson
Chester
P^r favor of The
Rev^d M^r Armitage

My dear Miss H—n
I have now before me your last letter [deleted]
dated y^e 18^th of Oct^r [deleted] tell^g me while I read y^t I have been
too dilatory in answering it while y^e contents alarm me & speak
tho in others words y^e purport of our saviours admonition “watch
& pray lest ye enter into temptation” duty’s really necessary yet
I speak it with shame much neglected by me daily experience
teaches me my need – {^with} y^e deceitfulness of my heart & y^e
shares of a vain world together with y^e wile of a cunning
adversary & yet y^e backwardness I [deleted] feel to these things I shoud
sometimes be ashamed to tell a fellow mortal I cannot help
exclaiming with M^r Berridge – “what a cheat & a rogue is man
to himself” – I shoud wish you in your next to tell {^me} what
was y^e {^cause} of M^r Hil-ch’s being set aside I never yet got to hear
it - & how they seem to take it – My dear Miss Hodson
I sincerely wish you may be early acquainted with y^e
things y^t pertain to salvation y^t y^e means of grace you are
enjoying might be blest (enjoying did I say) = but give me
leave to add {^with it} that those only which see their need of a saviour
& of their own helplessness {^& sinfulness} by nature can from [deleted] y^e heart
rejoice at y^e good {^tidings} of salvation by a redeemer permit me
while I with those to be known by my Friend to tell {^her} I wish
no greater happiness for myself than a saving knowledge of
[new page]
& interest in them – My Papa Mamma & Sister join me
in kindest {^respects} to M^r & M^rs Hodson – I hope soon to hear of
your Mamma’s happy delivery which we sincerely wish her –
My Aunt Richardson is this day coming to Manchester to
Reside here she hav^g left Ratcliffe upon y^e marriage of M^r
Richardson {?Brother} which was yesterday – I have it now
in my power to fulfil my promise concern^g M^r Berridges
letters am sorry to give you y^e trouble of get^g them copy’d
hav^g thought to have done it myself but one thing or
other has always hindered – Miss Clarksons begs her compts to
all – I hope I need not apologize to my dear Friend for y^e
writing of this letter therefore must conclude as it is near
meet^g time with my best love & wish^g you y^e comforts of
this life as far as consistent with y^e glory of God & a happy
mortification to the world y^t you may live above its smiles
or frowns be fitted for a better & have y^e comfortable hope
of it while here below
I remain
with great respect
your affectionate
Friend R Clegg
(My comp^t to all Friends)
Manchester
Nov 27 1782
[new page]
Miss Hodson
Chester
P^r favor of The
Rev^d M^r Armitage