Thomas Pennant to Richard Bull

17 September 1792

ID: 1156 [see the .xml file] [download the xml file]
Identifier: NLW 5500C, no. 107a
Editors: Transcribed by Ffion Mair Jones; edited by Ffion Mair Jones; encoded by Vivien Williams. (2019)
Cite: 'Thomas Pennant to Richard Bull 17 September 1792' transcribed by Ffion Mair Jones; edited by Ffion Mair Jones; encoded by Vivien Williams. (2019) in Curious Travellers Digital Editions [editions.curioustravellers.ac.uk/doc/1156]

Dear Sir

This day the Letter annexed was returned to me.1 You see my attention: It was not my fault that it did not find you at Brighthelmstone as you had said you will be.2 I cannot now add more than my wish that I was young to unite in a crusade against the infidels of France.3 Heaven must leave them (not as it did David to his choice of Evils)4 but to the united Judgements of the sword famine & pestilence. The destroying angels are now hovering over tha [sic] most detestable of countries.

Adieu
Yrs most faithfully

Tho. Pennant

Downing Septr. 17th 1792.

with the same P.S.5 Pray let me know how you & yrs do.

Editorial notes
1. This appears to refer to 1155.
2. See 1157, where Bull explains his absence from Brighton when Pennant's letter arrived.
3. Pennant probably refers to the September Massacres of 2 September 1792, when aristocrats and priests were murdered.
4. 2 Samuel 11–24 relates how David committed adultery with Uriah’s wife Bathsheba, then sought to destroy the evidence of his guilt even as far as ensuring the death of Uriah. God allowed him to make a series of mistakes, the 'choice of Evils' to which Pennant refers here.
5. Cf. 1155, where the postscript reads 'Pray write soon'.