Hi, I have had this very old letter translated, to this:
To John Stead
Manchester Jany 25th 1792
Friend John
I suppose you have
heard of the Transactions that happen
ed here concernying the Rights of
Man. I mean the Devil raising
a number of Advocates crying Church
& King who threaten'd to make Havock
among the Swinish multitude as
Mr Burke calls 'em for speaking
about Bishops having such large
Salaries you know John Bunian
was the most surprised to see the
Devil go into a Pulpit with a white
Sleeve or a Black gown on. I dare
say you have read the Proclamations
that have been sent out forbidding
People to read or write for if the People
be enlightened to see how heavily they
are taxed & imposed upon its enough
to make Doctor Bacon swear for
the good Bishop of Durham wonders
at poor people complaining in this
happy Constituon of our you must
understand he only has a Salary of
Twenty Five Thousand a Year.
And besides the Friends of the
poor has endeavoured to show the
Cause of Corn being so dear. Your
know our Seaports is shut up
when it comes under seven Shillings
a Bushel so when it is above
this Price it is open. This wants
a reform for I would rather
have a Shilling loaf for 8 pence
would not you from yr
well wisher
Wm Wood
I hope you & your Father & your
Sister Susy Joseph Best are all
well as I am at present
I Think this letter is amazing... Now comes the hard bit... Who is it to!!..
The furthest back i am on the Stead is 1796, A John Stead.. who married Sarah Fisher, I think John Stead was born in Otley, or perhaps Harewood... Yorks
No im presuming this letter is to Johns father in 1792.. I know it was to John Stead as on the reverse of the letter it states.. To John Stead, Stanley Yorks...
Can anyone link me with this John Stead?.. I have looked into the author of the letter, and i think its from William Wood, who was a famous speaker and botanist..
Kelly
Help im trying to post a scan of the letter, it keeps telling me file too large, how do i make it smaller?
