In the following winter Fletcher made an eighty-mile journey in order to assist his English medical adviser and friend, William Perronet, to secure a Swiss inheritance which he had gone to the Continent to claim. Part of the distance had to be performed on a sledge through "narrow passes cut through the snow...frequently on the brinks of precipices"; some of it was traversed on foot amid hardship and danger. But neither distances nor difficulties prevented Fletcher from speaking to all whom he could find ready to listen of Christ and His boundless love. William Perronet declared that he had preached the Gospel, not only by words and example, but by _looks_ also, wherever he went. From the early days of his frugal feasting upon bread and currants, Fletcher strongly believed in the plentiful use of fruit as food. His grapes were succeeded the following summer by a black-cherry diet, and for severe rheumatism he drank a decoction of pine-apple. He had also great faith in exercise, riding in preference to driving, walking whenever he had strength, and when unable to go out of doors allowing himself three minutes of jumping just before dinner. This may sound a curious form of exertion, yet it was recommended to him by two physicians. Despite the blessing Fletcher was to the people around him--some of whom pleaded with him _on their knees_, with tears, to remain with them--there were many in authority who took the greatest exception to his "irregular" ways of doing good. He was actually "summoned before the Seigneur Bailiff, who sharply reprimanded him for preaching against Sabbath-breaking and stage plays." He forbade Mr. Fletcher preaching in any of the churches of his native country. Curiously enough, the minister who led this opposition died suddenly, as he was dressing for church, and a house was given over to the Vicar's use that he might there exhort the many who came to him for help and teaching. While in Switzerland he composed a French poem called "La Louange" (Praise), which he afterwards enlarged under the title of "Grace and Nature," dedicating it, by permission, "To the Queen of Great Britain." He also wrote "The Portrait of St. Paul--the true Model for Christians and Pastors"; which was translated and published after his death. Fletcher arrived in England in April, 1781, preaching at City Road Chapel on his way to Mr. Ireland's house near Bristol, where, because his friend was ill, he stayed a month, returning to Madeley in May, after having been absent four and a-half years. He found his parish under a cloud, "but, alas!" he exclaimed, "it is not the luminous cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night. Even the few remaining professors stared at me the other day when I preached to them on these words: 'Ye shall receive the Holy Ghost, for the promise is unto you.'"