Letter dated 20th January 1820, sent from Reverend Stewart of Dingwall to Reverend Dickenson
Description
Handwritten letter dated 20th January 1820, sent from Reverend Stewart of Dingwall (writing from St John’s Street , Edinburgh) to Reverend Dickenson. Within the letter:
- Apologies for another break in correspondence, but there are many calls on his time and much support for him and the family locally. His health has improved since coming to Edinburgh. He is able to move about and has no fixed ministerial role and so people think he is always available. His uneasiness at this is continuing.
- Considers himself to have an “unsensible heart” and worries that he’s not far “improved and edified”.
- Son Alexander, who was in London, is now in Glasgow, learning and teaching. Stewart hopes he holds fast to the Covenant and is sure he keeps at his studies.
- Younger sons attend various classes at University. Some students known to him will, he hopes, inspire his sons. He particularly likes a pious young naval surgeon who passed on information about the death of a pious young officer who was at the “attack on Algiers”.
- Charitable and religious societies being founded in good numbers and Stewart is particularly involved in an Inverness one “for the education of the poor in the Highlands”, which seems to be flourishing. Such societies need to be “moved and kept in motion by prayer”. They also need funds.
- Stewart’s sister, Mrs Small in Stirling, sends greetings.
- Comments that pen of one member of the family has ceased [Have they stopped writing?]
- Stewart happy to know that Dickenson’s father’s health has improved and sends greetings to Dickenson, his brother, their partners and other “dear brethren” in “the spirit”.
- He does not expect to leave Edinburgh before the 1st of April.
