From [Matthew] Robins in Bideford to [his son] Jamie.
As it is now about 5 or 6am, he calculates that Jamie and his dear mother would both be in bed. Robins as usual was up at 4.
He received Jamie's letter a few days ago, but does not know anything more about the statues than when he wrote last.
Robins received a few lines from Mr ?Culliford yesterday, saying that Ms ?Storkes is dead. It was only on the Sunday before Robins came away that he took tea at her house. Yesterday also he was informed that Mr Penhale the old man (Martha will know who he means) has broken his thigh in a fall - a serious accident for one so old. Last Sunday week [Peter] Labdon was at Buckland in this circuit and preached and told the people that in regard to time, their next meeting would be at the 'bar of God'. One of his audience, a respectable farmer and brother to the preacher Mr ?Beck, subsequently died on the Monday morning.
They shall soon be meeting in Conference and electing the officers - the enclosed contains the names of the [current] officers.
Robins has been very poorly since Sunday with his old complaint, but felt better this morning.
In a postscript he mentions that his lodgings are as comfortable as he could desire. Martha and her daughter are both very kind.
Notes .
- Matthew Robins (d.1880) was four times President of the Bible Christian Conference and five times Conference Secretary. He entered the ministry in 1831 and occupied the post of Home Secretary to the Missionary Society between 1848 and 1852, in which capacity he played an important role in the commencement of the Bible Christian mission to Australia. His brother Paul (1804-90) was twice President of the Bible Christian Conference and later served as steward of the Canadian Book Room. Source: Bourne, p.517 and Bible Christian Magazine 1880, pp.478-480
- Peter Labdon (1835-98) entered the Bible Christian ministry in 1857 and served in circuits throughout the Connexion. He was Conference President in 1883. Source: Bourne pp.478-479, and Bible Christian Magazine 1898, pp.339-344