unseasonable time, and it being better to have only two meetings
instead of three, as almost every one could attend two meetings,
which was quite enough for one day, and gave some time for parents to
be with their children, or gave some more time than usual for reading
the Scriptures, a point at which I aimed from the beginning. For when
I came to Stuttgart, I found it just as I have found it in some
places in England on my first beginning to labour there, even that
the dear brethren and sisters had little relish for the word of God,
and as a proof of this never referred to it at the meetings; but,
before I left Stuttgart, I had the joy of seeing either all, or
almost all, having the word of God open before them whilst I was
expounding it.--Instead of the afternoon meeting at two, we met at
four o'clock, when the oppression of the heat in the summer is not so
great as at two, whereby also the lateness of the evening meeting was
avoided on the Lord's days. Also on the week evenings we had the
meetings half an hour sooner, that is at 8 o'clock instead of
half-past 8, and I affectionately advised the dear saints to take a
very light supper on those evenings when we met, that blessing might
not be hindered. Earlier than eight on the week evenings, and later
than half-past nine on the Lord's day mornings, we could not have the
meetings, on account of the habits of the country. It can scarcely be
perceived by brethren in England how great the difficulties are, with
which brethren have to contend in many foreign countries in seeking
to spread the truth, not only on account of the climate, or the
police, etc., but also on account of the habits of the people; so
that I would affectionately beseech all, who take a hearty interest
in the spread of the truth, to help by their prayers all who labour
in the word and doctrine in foreign lands, so that through the power
of the Holy Ghost they may be enabled to overcome all those
hinderances.

I now insert my first letter to the brethren in Bristol, written by
me from Stuttgart, soon after my arrival, which will show to the
reader my position there more clearly. The letter is, with the
exception of a very slight verbal alteration, which I made in
revising it for the press, just as it was written.

Stuttgart, Sept. 7, 1843.

To the Brethren meeting at Bethesda and Salem Chapels, Bristol.

My dear Brethren,

It was yesterday four weeks since I left Bristol, and I now write