William Wilberforce, Barham Court, to John Ryland, Jr., Bristol, 2 November 1812.

My dear Sir

I have not fallen in ye way of any Receiver for our Missionary friends in  ye E. Indies since you first mentiond to me  ye fire which destroyed so large an accumulation of their Stores.  Let me while I think of it inclose you my Contribution which I am vexd at havg delayed so long & at  ye same time let me beg you to inform me how  yeSubscription has gone on.   I can scarcely doubt if  ye zeal of  ye friends of the cause having been call’d forth so powerfully as fully to make good  ye loss.  I would be a far more liberal Contributor, were not my funds much curtailed within a few years, while  ]ye demands on them have increasd on them so much as to force me to be a less abundant tho I hope not a less cheerful Giver.  I will however willingly send you another £5, if yr Subscription has not succeeded as well as you could desire.

Text: Wilberforce-Ryland Letters, shelfmark MS. G97a, Bristol Baptist College Library, fol. 4.