‘The whole business was ill conducted. The man who sold to the Jew the medals of King’s College for 70_l._, the plate of this for 300_l._, and the plate of Caius for 500_l._, pleaded guilty, and in consequence of a free pardon to appear against the Jew, who, though acquitted at these Assizes, will probably be hanged at the next. Grimshaw, the chimney sweeper, is the only victim at present. Your friend Simeon was not wanting in his visits to him. He told an acquaintance of mine "that he found Grimshaw’s conversation delightful; that he had grace to die; and that the sooner he was executed the better, for fear this grace should evaporate." Should it ever be my lot to be condemned for execution, I will immediately apply to you for consolation. Simeon could work no conviction in the Jew; this will not surprise you. ‘I saw in the papers a list of the dancers at Lady Carrington’s ball; but, to my astonishment, did not discover your name. The papers have raised Lord C. to the degree of Viscount;[210] it would be too insulting for a man recently in business to step above the heads of our ancient Barons. I should have told you that we have here a young nobleman of unblemished character. I mean Lord Henry Petty, whose knowledge and abilities are such, both in writing and speaking in public, as to lead me to imagine that he cannot fail to make a distinguished figure in Parliament. By the bye, there seem to be some members of the House of Commons who are jealous of your Board. ‘Yours sincerely, ‘J. SYMONDS.’ _January 24, 1802._—A great gap; but from coming to London in November to quitting it the following month I wrote journal letters paged to my friend.[211] Through the Christmas holidays a blank. I have subscribed to the Lock Hospital 5_l._ 5_s._, and go every Sunday. Wilberforce always there taking notes of Scott’s sermons. In the great business of my salvation I go on slowly, struggling hard, however, to advance, by freeing my imagination from sensuality and my heart from coldness. God give me grace to persist. I lay great stress on trying by every means to impress in my mind a constant sense of God’s presence.