[Alexander Knox, the sage of Bellevue] A very substantial Autograph Letter Signed Alex Knox, to a Mr [Mangen?], more an Essay than a letter, including a personal credo, comment on John Wesley, and on current politics (agitators; Castereagh)

Eleven (11) pages, 12mo, 3 bifoliums, remnants of crude binding (sewing with paper spine), text complete, final page chipped with no loss, foxing and staining NOT obscuring text. More an Essay than a Letter. He asks that a packet that accompanied this letter should be forwarded (NOT present) and emphasises that he only wants a reply when it suits his correspondent who is not necessarily required to read his letters (!) until an interval of time leaves you at liberty. His correspondent has expressed his liking for the preface submitted to him. I said nothing in it but what I feel with deepest conviction but I think [underlined] a great deal, which could not make part of such a discourse. For instance, it is my thorough persuasion [two words underlined] that the Episcopal Church, & the whole mass of Sects - are not [underlined] too diametrically contrarious interests, one of which must be decidedly right, & the other decidedly wrong. I conceive on the contrary, that they are both providential instruments in their several ways, for sustaining, & promoting the Mystery of Godliness upon Earth- Therefore the Prophet says -'Let not Ephraim envy Judah & let not Judah vex Ephraim'. | But I deliberately make this difference. I consider the Episcopal Body [underlined] - as far as it authentically extends, & retains Apostolic [word undeciphered] of Faith, to be the permanent structure [phrase underlined] of the Church, spoken of in Ephes.II.20 & the growing organization [phrase underlined] of the Church further described in Ephes.IV.16 - I believe it to be strictly and eminently the Church built upon the Rock against which the gates of Hell never shall prevail. [sentence from the Church underlined]. The sectarian societies - on the other hand- I consider as subsidiary & temporary provisions serving purposes which are indispensable for promoting the great scheme. Text to top of P.3. He continues with theological discussion (particularly emphasising the Episcopal Church) in which words like education amd the advancement of society occur. And a reference to John Wesley: To illustrate this notion by a [striking?] instance - Where would John Wesley [underlined] & George Whitefield [names underlined] have got first principles [phrase underlined] if the Church of England had not furnishe them? And again those two remarkable persons had not refused a religious [word undeciphered - see scan of page] into the great body of our people how few might there soon have been (considering the growing coldness of that period) to take any [word undeciphered] interest in our religious Institutions. He concludes with a reference to his former employer, Lord Castlereagh: Lord Castlereagh's speech pleased exceedingly. He spoke as I would have expected. But I shall not be satisfied if they do not make it sedition [underlined] to propose in any way by speech or publication Universal Suffrage & Annual Parliaments. So long as these essential elements of democracy can be promulgated with impunity agitators whether mad or malignant will have it always in their power to lead the country, blindfold, to the verge of revolution. Note: A. As a boy and young man, Alexander Knox befriended and corresponded with John Wesley. Although he asserted his theological independence from Methodism, later, he published defences of Wesley against John Walker and Robert Southey.; B. In the 1790s Knox entered political life, briefly (in 1798) becoming private secretary to Lord Castlereagh and publishing Essays on the political circumstances of Ireland (1799) before retiring from politics in 1799.