William Wilberforce, Malvern Wells, to John Ryland, Jr., Bristol, 16 October 1819.

My dear Sir

I entirely concur with you in Opinion concerning the Impropriety of the application made to you, in ye manner especially in which it appears to have been done; (for if you had been privately sounded on ye  Subject with an assurance that nothing farther would be done or mentiond except you should approve of it, the Case would have been very different) And I really feel much for you on the very unpleasant & even distressing Circumstances in which you are plac’d – would it not be best (if not too late) for you to apply privately to the Mayor, & desire the paper to be quietly withdrawn – In yr Case I should answer, that I wishd to take no part in calling forth ye political opinions of my congregation – not but that if a general declaration were made which was to express no Judgment on ye conduct of ye magistrates or Ministry but merely a general declaration of attachment to the Constitution & Loyalty to the Crown  I should be truly glad to hear that it had been sign’d by all men in ye Kingdom, of every denomination, who fear God & honour the King: & I will frankly add, that the present times appear to me to call for ye Expression of such Sentiments & feelings.  I write but too clear that Endeavours are using with ye greater Industry, to extinguish all religious principles & with them all patriotic feelings from ye Mass of ye people   I was greatly shockd by a passage in one of Carlisle’s periodical publications the very name of which the Republican, plainly indicates its intent, I will make my Amanuensis extract and copy it if he can in time for this night’s post, tho I am half afraid he will not be able – But understand me, it is not that one daring & wicked individual is found to publish a shockingly irreligious paper, surprises me, tho’ it cannot but grieve me.  But that which I own, does excite both my Surprise & Concern is that such a man meaning to get his living by his publications & but too probably knowing the Taste of his Readers is not afraid of disgusting them by such a plain avowal of his hostility to all Religion as a System of delusion insulting ye understandg & injuring the morals of Mankind – 

A Complaint in my Eyes has for some time allowed me to write but little & scarcely read at all – hence I have not been able to labour thro ye various Statements of ye Newspapers & by comparing & contrasting, to endeavour to make out ye truth.  But I own I hope the magistrates have a good case or rather I mean that from what I hear I am inclind to believe they have.  Your Quotations are very forcible but I trust the Justification will not be merely the bad Character of yeVictims of Injustice – But I must break off – I have been tempted to scribble too much – as to ye Subject of yr former Letter I remember I put ye Case into ye hands of my friend Mr Grant as in all respects ye best Channel for obtaining Justice & Liberty to be desired – Believe me ever w.th cordial Esteem & regard

  My dear Sir

  yrs sincerely

  W Wilberforce

Revd Dr Ryland

Text: Wilberforce-Ryland Letters, shelfmark MS. G97a, Bristol Baptist College Library, fol. 8.