He also had to struggle with financial difficulty, and was not unfrequently in debt. He sometimes had to borrow; and, more than once, when requesting that his sisters would write to him, playfully remarks, that, though he was “so poor, he would be able to spare the postage for a letter now and then.” His friends were kind to him, and his tutors were considerate. Soon after his entrance, his tutor, Mr. Wigan, retired to one of his country livings, and was succeeded by Mr. Sherman, who kindly told him that he would make his fees as low as possible.[22] Of course he had the £40 per annum, which belonged to him as a Charterhouse scholar; but this, with the utmost economy, was hardly sufficient to meet all the expenses of a young Oxford student. These financial embarrassments are often referred to in the subsequent correspondence. The following is from an unpublished letter, written by his mother. “WROOTE, _August 19, 1724_. “DEAR JACK,—I am uneasy because I have not heard from you. I think you don’t do well to stand upon points, and to write only letter for letter. Let me hear from you often, and inform me of the state of your health, and whether you have any reasonable hopes of being out of debt. I am most concerned for the good, generous man that lent you ten pounds, and am ashamed to beg a month or two longer, since he has been so kind as to grant us so much time already. We were amused with your uncle’s coming from India; but I suppose these fancies are laid aside. I wish there had been anything in it, for then perhaps it would have been in my power to have provided for you. But if all things fail, I hope God will not forsake us. We have still His good providence to depend on, which has a thousand expedients to relieve us beyond our view. “Dear Jack, be not discouraged; do your duty; keep close to your studies, and hope for better days. Perhaps, notwithstanding all, we shall pick up a few crumbs for you before the end of the year. “Dear Jacky, I beseech Almighty God to bless thee! “SUSANNAH WESLEY.” The following also, from another unpublished letter by his mother, refers to the same subject. “WROOTE, _September 10, 1724_. “DEAR JACKY,—I am nothing glad that Mr.—— has paid himself out of your exhibition; for though I cannot hope, I do not despair, of my brother’s coming, or, at least, remembering me where he is. “The small-pox has been very mortal at Epworth most of this summer. Our family have all had it except me, and I hope God will preserve me from it. “I heartily wish you were in orders, and could come and serve as one of your father’s curates. Then I should see you often, and could be more helpful to you than it is possible to be at this distance.”