Ryder, Henry
To Lady Olivia Sparrow, August 1814
If I can get rid of my cough and I are engaged to go to our dear Dean of Wells about the 29th., being there we must also acquit ourselves of a long promise to stay a little with . there will be a little difference in these Visits!! I trust will not be likely to come just at that time as it is the only time I shall be from home. Indeed the Dean I believe will be of the Jew party at Bristol.
To Lady Olivia Sparrow, 23 August [1815]
But to return for one moment to your Bible Gala – How I should have delighted to have made an unworthy guest at this hallowed festival! What did say to your muster roll of Peers and Peeresses? What honour would he have done himself by joining it! A propos of Bible Meetings – Our excellent Bishop of Gloucester rode over Mendip one broiling Morning to invite and I to spend the week at Wells and attend a B. Meeting at Glastonbury of which he is President. I should have liked it much but we were to /expecting/ Wilberforce at home, who after all never came till it was over. I regretted it the less as the Assembly met in the Abbot’s Kitchen of that vast and venerable ruin; which was damp and dreary.* What a contrast between the good cheer once proposed on this now deserted spot and the holy purpose to which it was on this day dedicated! Tho my own health has rallied much from the dry Atmosphere of this pleasant Summer, I have declined all visits, but believe I must go next week to the two Bishops at Wells if P. is better. Her health I fear is declining, and she thinks /ill/ of herself. I pray God to avert this blow. In spite of all my endeavours to avoid it by giving no invitations, and returning no visits, we are sadly overdone with company but as every body is gone or going to France* I suppose we shall live to pine in Solitude
To Lady Olivia Sparrow, [20? October 1815] [incomplete]
I spent a few days with the Bishop of Gloucester who is going on like an Angel. We are expecting him here. Has ’s Letter to said Bishop on the Bible Society yet reached Ireland?* It is a Master piece, for argument for eloquence truth and Spirit. It will make some people wince
Hannah More to Marianne Thornton, November 23rd 1816
The dear Bishop of Gloucester comes to us sometimes. I hope you are delighted with his Charge. He presided at our Wrington Bible Meeting. I assure you it looked like the time of primitive Christianity to see a Bishop making most expressive Speeches in a Waggon house covered with an Awning of Canvas. We had many good Speakers, a large and genteel Audience and 25 Clergymen of the Establishment. After the Meeting the select part of the company repaired to Barley Wood – Th[tear] of us poor infirm Animals, enterta[tear] 62 Gentlemen and Ladies at dinner and 120 at tea!! But the greatest part of the treat, because the rarest, was, that it was one of the finest days that could be seen and our party seemed to enjoy it very much. The dear Bishop said ‘it was a day of days’!
To Lady Olivia Sparrow, 27 March [1817]
Our dear Bishop – need I say of what see? breakfasted with us yesterday in his way to the great Missionary Meeting at Bristol, for which he preaches to morrow* and has half promised to take us in his way back to Wells. He talks of not returning thither for a year, which cuts off our hope of meeting! I must not complain however, as he is going to what is more decidedly his post. I fear he will be worked to death. 7 Charity Sermons during the next Month, he is to preach in London!
To Lady Olivia Sparrow, 04 August [1817]
How my heart thanks you for your considerate kindness, (under such accumulated anxieties) in remembering me and causing me so frequently to hear of your goings on. I received ’s letter from Falmouth very soon after that from dated Gibraltar. But tho to hear of you was a great comfort to me, I lament that no account of comfort to yourself has reached me. Mr. Hodson’s report indeed of dearest Millicents Attack was a fresh source of regret and sorrow. Most heartily do I beseech our Merciful Father that the occasion of this additional affliction may be totally removed, /&/ that you may not as the Apostle says, have sorrow upon sorrow.* To the all Wise Dispenser of our sufferings as well as our blessings, I am however deeply thankful that ‘your Soul prospers and is in health.’* May the Holy Spirit the Blessed, indeed the only Substantial Comforter, continue to support, console, and strengthen you. These troubles tho not joyous but grievous, will I trust multiply upon you the peaceable fruits of Righteousness. In the mean time your health is the Object of my extreme solicitude. Be as careful of it as you can, for you have much more to do in this world. Did I mention in my last that our dear friend , with and two converted Jews spent a day here lately on their road to Petersburgh where this noble, romantic, heroic being is going on a Jewish Mission with the above named Companion* The Polish Jew had been ordained the day before by our beloved Bishop of G– the other Jew a German, the next day sent me a very pretty English Sonnet, correct and rather elegant.* Way proposes shutting up these Converts for six Months to study the Russian and other Northern languages that they may preach in those frozen climates. generously consents to this Crusade. Before we parted Marsh concluded the visit with a very fine affecting prayer. May God bless them and their enterprize! The amiable Enthusiast has heard of some little /white/ stone Church in the Crimea in which he has set his heart on preaching.
To Lady Olivia Sparrow, [23 March 1818]
I have just had a letter from the most amiable and most calumniated of Bishops. His bitterest enemies can bring no charge against him but that he preaches too often and works too hard. – Surely he may say with Saint Paul 'forgive me this wrong'. His health and Spirits are better, and he goes on to labour with the zeal of an Apostle. His assailan[t] [unclear] is likely to meet with great promotion!!* His success will teach other worldly clergy the way to preferment and no doubt it will be sedulously followed up. May God protect our Church! she is in no danger but from herself. The Gates of Hell shall not prevail against, but her own unworthy Sons may.
To Lady Olivia Sparrow, 27 August [1816]
In reply to your kind enquiries after the health of our now reduced party, the best answer I can make to it seems to be that at our Bible Meeting in the Village last week /we/ not only attended, but after it was over entertained above 60 Gentlemen and ladies at dinner and about 120 at tea! Think of us poor creatures doing so dashing a thing!! But without such exertions we find it will not be kept up.* The dear Bishop of Gloucester was with us to breakfast before Nine with &c We had much good speaking, and I think in a good spirit, for there was neither acrimony nor adulation. We had twenty five Clergymen of the Establishment and but one Dissenter, so I think we at least shall not contribute much to overturn either Church or State.
To Lady Olivia Sparrow, 11 August [1819]
I cannot express to you how much I was gratified with the long, interesting and very pleasant journal with which favoured me. But though the letter in itself was in high degree pleasing yet the circumstance of a very young lady situated as she is, and occupied as she was finding time and disposition, and will, and kindness to bestow so much attention on an old friend, merely because she knew it would give /pleasure,/ is a trait of character truly delightful; the kindness was not lost upon me, and if I could I would love her better than I did before. I will not keep back, as I had intended, my letter for a cover tho’ we are expecting within a few days, three frankers, and also dear friends in succession; for our small Accommodations do not extend to many guests at once – These are ,* the Bishop of Gloucester and , and the - I woud have waited to tell you about them, were I not desirous to answer the private part of your letter which indeed I ought not to have delayed so long.
To Lady Olivia Sparrow, 29 October 1822
The Bishop of Gloucester’s ‘Charge’* must have delighted you. It is a kind of Vademecum for Clergymen. I have seen him [tear] I quitted my bed and his new born infant whom he calls his Duodecimo.* I have also had in my sick room lately, , , the learned * with many other distant friends whom I never thought to see in this world.
To Lady Olivia Sparrow, 28 May 1823
I have been above a year and half confined to my room. I bless God I do not feel any impatience to quit it, which they will not allow me to do till the warm weather is confirmed. I am generally able to see my friends two or three hours in the middle of the day. They are very kind, but my Physician complains that I see too much company. This is sometimes the case, but when they come from a distance, I cannot refuse seeing them; I have /had/ no one to dinner or sleep. The Bp of Gloucester indeed is a privileged person. If any do come My friend entertains them below. I am rather more than usually unwell to day, but I would no longer delay to intreat you my dear Lady to think no more of my little begging petition. If any apology were necessary your immense building expences would be more than sufficient, but none is necessary. I have just received my little legacy from Mrs. Garrick* which will carry me thro’ the exigencies of the present season sufficiently, and I may not live to another. Your charities are too extensive to excuse any one from proposing new ones to you; Even in my little way I find five applications for one I used to have, what then must yours be!
Hannah More to Marianne Thornton, August 5th 1824
We have had our Bible Anniversary at Wrington. It was held under a tent. There were some good men and good speakers. The élite of the assembly were invited to dine at Barley Wood to the number of 18. did the honours, poor I having my usual scrap sent up to my room. To this room the greater part came up in the afternoon. Among others were the Pakenhams from Ireland /excellent persons/ Sister and brother to the * (by the way she was here once and all the Langford family)* Bishop of Lichfield, dear and and * &c &c For T. would not let us part without desiring this good Arminian to perform the family devotions, and it was really a very edifying Scene. The day before this, I had a visit from another dear friend the , and the day after a very agreeable one from the Bishop of Lichfield again, to introduce our .* Of the latter I was a little afraid at first, lest he should consider me a little unsound in point of orthodoxy as he is particularly strict and high Church. But I think I never met with so kind, I may say so warm and even affectionate reception from a total stranger. We are the best friends imaginable and he is coming again. I have not done with my Episcopal-ism yet. – For yesterday who should make his appearance but my and his .* Forster we had a sweetly comfortable day and these kind Souls were so full of feeling, thinking it likely that we should never meet again, that both of them actually shed tears at parting, after keeping their horses two hours at the door, God bless them! I think we are come a little nearer in sentiment, at least we agreed to differ. They were late in the evening to Wells to that . I cannot press my friends to stay all night, as I cannot see them late at night, nor before noon next day – But this exclusion will not extend to you and dear and when your Western excursion takes place. I shall rejoyce to receive /you/ for a night or two and shall turn you over to for supper and breakfast &c. – we talkd you over pretty well with the Limerick’s* yesterday. I believe they miss you full as much as you do them.
To Lady Olivia Sparrow, 18 October 1825
I am in expectation of seeing /the/ dear Bishop of Lichfield the beginning of November. It has been a longer separation than has occurred since our first acquaintance. , who was with him writes me, how deeply, yet like a Christian, he felt the loss of his excellent Son.* He was however much revived by a letter from the Young Man’s Captain which spoke in the highest terms not only of his correct conduct, and amiable manners, but his piety – is most obliging and friendly towards /me,/ and we are very good friends; he is however with some good points about him, made out of other Materials than the Prelate above mentioned.
To Lady Olivia Sparrow, 25 [September 1816]
Your absence alone from a party which had for sometime been looking forward to you as its principal charm and delight would have been no small cause of regret, but how greatly is that regret aggravated by knowing that vexatious and painful anxiety kept you from us. I cannot express to you how lively an interest I take in every thing that concerns You, more especially if the occurrence is of a nature to give you uneasiness. I do earnestly, and have earnestly prayed that it may not be of a severe or permanent kind. When the excellent Bishop &c &c arrived without you you cannot imagine what a blank we felt; but greatly was the disappointment to me augmented when he put your kind Note into my hand. You may depend on my silence as well as on some that of the Bishop who is a Man of the most delicate feelings added to his other virtues; I hope you have seen his Charge it is a very fine one, quite Apostolical.* He had ugly corners to turn and he turned them with much dexterity. He made his own breakfast and quitted us at seven in the morning in order to preach two Lectures on that day twenty Miles from hence, and seven or eight from Wells to which he was to return at Night. His labours are wonderful, and he bears all the obloquy and reproach which they bring upon him from certain quarters, with great meekness and equanimity. On the other hand he is almost adored by the religious party and I believe has added to that number many converts.
Hannah More to Thomas Dyke Ackand, after 1828
Those alive people are
Bishop Lich and Coventry
Niece of from a painting of his.
To Lady Olivia Sparrow. 8-11 October [1815]
came here last week on a Visit with that delightful Man , nothing passed with an expression of my regret that You were prevented from coming here with the Bp. of G, as I had been led to hope. How glad I am that you will have the comfort of his Society. Do let me hear from you soon. Kindest regards to your young companions. I hear dear is at Bath
To Lady Olivia Sparrow, 1826 (incomplete)
I rejoyce that my excellent friend the Bishop of Lichfield is just arrived at his Deanery at Wells, and that for a short time is once more my neighbour. Lichfield is such a sad distance! I wish we had twenty four such Prelates I am sure you mourned for the .
To Lady Olivia Sparrow, September 1815
I hear is got back to . I dare say I shall soon see them. Our dear Bishop spoke kindly of him in his letter to me. I presume you have lost both him and :* but Mr. Dunn will repair the loss. I am sorry to hear that excellent and amiable Man a little too /much/ vindicates some of the peculiar opinions of our friend . You must combat them if you find them carried a little too far. Of course you will not drop what I have said
To Lady Olivia Sparrow, [20? October 1816]
Lest our excellent Bishop should have left Sidmouth (which I hope he has found a salutary rest from his labours) I write strait to you. My reason for writing so soon is that you would naturally conclude would have been here and consequently you would expect to know somewhat of the result. But mark this fresh instance of the uncertainty of all human things! He had fixed the day of his coming to which we were looking forward with that pleasure which his presence never fails to give. But the day before yesterday when we were looking out for him from Bath, arrives instead of himself a letter dated Sunning Hill,* to which place he had been travelling nearly all night in order to take the last farewell of his beloved Sister !* She had been long declining but there was no reason to expect she was so near her end. Her most tender and affectionate implored Mr. W– to come to her, but it was too late, she expired while he was on the road. Worn out as she was with suffering and disease nothing could surpass the affection of Mr. Stephen, his grief is proportionally great. For my own part it is a new rent made in my friendships. For thirty years there has been subsisted between us the most entire and cordial friendship. /Tho/ Always sickly and very nervous, she had a great flow of wit and humour with strong reasoning powers. Her delight was to hold a religious debate with .* But tho fond of arguing, she was one of the humblest Christians I ever knew. Humility and self distrust were indeed distinguishing features in her character. She had for many years conquered entirely her love of the world, and spent a large portion of her time in religious exercises. She was often tormented with doubts of her own state when I should have been glad to have stood in her Shoes.