window, was frightened, and ran away to get to his mother's chamber. He could not open the door, so
ran back again. The man was fallen down from the window, and all the bed and hangings in the room
where he was were blazing. They helped up the man the second time, and poor Jacky leaped into his arms
and was saved. I could not believe it till I had kissed him two or three times. My wife then said unto me,
'Are your books safe?' I told her it was not much
now she and all the rest were preserved, for we lost
not one soul, though I escaped with the skin of my
teeth. A little lumber was saved below stairs, but
not one rag or leaf above. We found some of the
silver in a lump, which I shall send up to Mr. Hoare
to sell for me.
"Mr. Smith of Gainsborough, and others, have sent for some of my children. I have left my wife at Epworth, trembling ; but hope God will preserve her, and fear not but He will provide for us. I want nothing, having above half ray barley saved in my barns un- threshed. I had finished my alterations in the Life of Christ a little while since, and transcribed three copies of it. But all is lost. God be praised!
"I know not how to write to my poor boy (Samuel) about it; but I must, or else he will think we are all lost. Can your Grace forgive this? I hope my wife will recover and not miscarry, but God will give me my nineteenth child. She has burnt her legs, but they mend. When I came to her, her lips were black. I did not know her. Some of the children are a little burnt, but not hurt or disfigured. I only got a small blister on my hand. The neighbours send us clothes, for it is cold without them.
