[Manuscript] Extracts from Letters of the Revd J.H. to a friend. [preceded by]: Copy of Sermon Preached at Sunderland Church By the Revd. Rold. Clayton on the death of the Rev. John Hampson, 19th Decb. 1819.

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John Hampson (1760-1819), alumnus of St. Edmund Hall, Oxford, and Wesleyan travelling preacher prior to joining the Church of England in 1785, is best known for his renowned 'Memoirs of the late Rev. John Wesley', 1791, widely regarded as the most objective and influential work on Wesley of the time. Despite the fact that neither Hampson, nor his father were included amongst the 100 preachers of Wesley's Deed of Declaration, 1784, though both had travelled and preached in Wesley's name for decades, John Hampson invited John Wesley to preach at his church, St John's, Sunderland on several occasions, most notably in 1788, where a record sum was raised through his charity sermon, the episode captured in the Life of James Mort: 'When he saw the vener- able man, moving down the aisle, with tremulolls step, leaning on the arm of Mr. Hampson, the Clergyman, his heart melted, and in order to conceal his tears, he sat down and covered his face.' [biblicalstudies[.]org[.]uk: Wesley Historical Society: John Wesley's Visit to Mr. Hampson's Church, Sunderland, F.F. Bretherton]The extracts from letters inscribed here appear to be unpublished and mention his major work on several occasions. 'I am glad you met with no bugbears in my memoirs of Wesley. A preacher of that connection told me when last at Lond., that it was the best that had been yet written, and our Bishop declared this approbation, because it was an impartial account./ But indeed it was reprobated by many for this very reason '. He refutes the suggestion by Dr. Priestley that he was assisted in writing Memoirs by his father, insisting that though he knew of the project, he was not involved in the composition and first saw it in print, 'It is therefore a piece of justice to say that he is perfectly innocent of any faults or imperfections which the work may have.'He is not above criticising a rival account of Wesley, quoting from a hand-written note written by Bishop of Worcester (Richard Hurd) on the flyleaf of Fletcher's work on Wesley, 'The author of these tracts was a man of fine parts and exemplary goodness, but tinted with fanaticism,' but praises Milton:'Paradise Regained is as scriptural as Paradise Lost, tho' perhaps not so practical because not so rich in imagery.' In one intriguing passage, Hampson asks his correspondent if he has read The Velvet Cushion (by John William Cunningham, vicar of Harrow oh the Hill) 'They have had a very great runIt is said that this gentleman's ministry has been of very great benefit to Lady Byron, who, happening to be in his neighbourhood, was so much affected by his discourses, that she cultivated an acquaintance with him, & is become exceedingly serious, the best of all antidotes to mental anguish.'The sermon preached by Rev. Clayton on Hampson's death (also apparently unpublished), is essentially a eulogy, praising his eloquent preaching style, his diligence and service to his parish, which was his main concern even in his last days.