William Wilberforce, London, to John Ryland, Jr., Bristol, 8 December 1814.

My dear Sir

  I was going to express my regret at my having so little time today at my Command as to be forc’d to write you a very brief & hasty Letter on a Subject of great Importance & Extent; But perhaps it is as well that I do take up my pen under such Circumstances, because I might otherwise be tempted to enlarge to ye no small Expenditure both of yr time & my own, when, after all, I should imperfectly discuss my Subject – as it is, I can only name it to you – I understand that an Effort is about to be made to form Connections for our London Society for  ye Conversion of the Jews, in yr rich & populous City – I have been requested to accompany two friends of mine the Revd Mr Simeon & Lewis Way Esqr. who are Vice Presidents of  ye Society & who will visit Bristol very shortly.  I cannot however go from Home, I mean my temporary Home, at present, having some Business to transact there which has been too long deferrd, & therefore I appear before you on paper as I cannot do it in person, to request you to give a fair hearing to the advocates of the Society & an impartial Attention to its Claims.  I can scarcely doubt the Object will appear to you as it did to me deserving of Support, tho’ I had been preoccupied by other Matters, & therefore could not allot to this much of my time or thoughts.

This is an Undertaking at least on which we are far from approaching towards that point at which the paths of Conscientious Churchmen & Dissenters begin to separate & therefore we may all labour for  ye Common purpose without Jealousies on either Side – I will detain you no longer than while I express my wishes for  yr Health & Happiness & assure you that I am my dear Dr

  with real Esteem & Regard

  your faithful Servt

  W Wilberforce

The Revd Dr Ryland

Text: Wilberforce-Ryland Letters, shelfmark MS. G97a, Bristol Baptist College Library, f. 19.