Stoke 11 oclock Saturday night Feb 8th 1840 Elder W. Richards Dear Brother A few minutes since while in a prayer meeting Deacon Bradbury came in & lade two Letters before me one from you under Date of Feb 7th 1840 & the other was from Elder Wm clayton Feb 5th 1840 & as my time is now constantly taken up in the day time, I concluded to write a few lines this eveing in answer to yours. perhaps you may think that I have not had ...

some excitement & things are working about right now in the potteries to have the people hear the word whether they embrace it or not, the priest are quite mad because we are getting a hold in Hanly we have a good house to preach in & we have a worthy brother who has rece ived the work & his doors are opened unto us constantly. he is a Merc- hant in the place his wife & servent are also members of the Church We shall have warm opposition in Hanly for it is ...

to shelter her sins behind. Again the principle of finding fault with a Brother & or Sister & speaking evil of them behind their backs as a sin that God hates & if it is not repented of it will bring the curse of God upon the heads of those that are thus guilty. & I believe their is eviel of this kind in Preston, & their are those in preston that have wrongly accused & had evil surmisings both towards you & Sister Richards & if they do not scease from those things ...

Mr Willard Richards Meadow Street opposite No. 3. New House Preston Lancashire [stamp in black ink] ^STOKE UPON TRENT^ [stamp in black ink] ^NEWCASTLE UNDER LYNE FE 9 1840^ [sideways text] Woodruff Feb 8. ^1840^ Burslem ^or stoke^ Paid Answred March 3rd ...