Anything related to the Countess, who was nearly the sole financier of the Great Awakening, is scarce. She supported Whitefield and the Wesleys without reserve. She founded her own training college for the new evangelists coming to Christ through their ministries. She then built them chapels all across the United Kingdom, nearly exhausting her vast estate.
The present is a really superb content four-page autograph letter, entirely in the hand of Selina, Countess of Huntingdon [1707-1791]. Addressed to Mr. English* who was then operating as a Chaplain for her own chapel, the letter is effusive in terms of her own faith.
"Mr English,
Your letters always comfort me. The Spirit in which they are written must bring good news to my heart from you. The faithful's suffering will for Jesus Christ's glory end well for your own soul and also for the ministry he has favored you with. The ups and downs of the divine life are many and are almost most observed when great usefulness by our dear Lord is intended. But you and I have only to do and suffer for the righteous will of God upon earth that His loving purposes may be fulfilled . . ."
Etc. etc. etc. This is a first-rate example of a very rare Great Awakening autograph.
4 pages, 8 x 10 inches, complete with just a few minor blemishes. Addressed to: Mr. English, i.e. Mr. Thomas English, Bath. Dated 24 February 1774.
*See the biography of Thomas English from the Christian Herald here: https://books.google.com/books?id=LToEAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA203&lpg=PA203&dq=chichester+gosport+%22mr.+english%22&source=bl&ots=bYFfyFZMqv&sig=ACfU3U3gJ1u5fcF6UfZg7e5fY0t8lT8M5Q&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjgmO3rj8TtAhUOAZ0JHWApAXYQ6AEwAHoECAQQAg#v=onepage&q=chichester%20gosport%20%22mr.%20english%22&f=false