William Wilberforce, Bath, to John Ryland, Jr., Bristol, 29 December 1820.

My dear Sir,

If I had not trusted that I need not stand in ceremony with you, I should long ere now have returned you thanks for the obliging packet with which you favored me, for which I beg you now to accept my acknowledgments.  I have waited however till some other business should give occasion for my writing to you, & I have now to request you to be so obliging as to inform me whether I can procure at Bath, or you can get me at Bristol any Reports of the Society under the Serampore Missionaries for setting up Schools in Hindoostan –  I dont recollect the exact name of the Society, but I have mentioned the Reports themselves (two, out of three, which I think are all that are published, I have read with great pleasure) to some friends of mine, people of considerable rank & influence, & those recommended to them the perusal of these Reports, & promised to obtain them.  I trust that we shall ere long be able to second with something of more proportionate vigour the incomparable efforts of the great & good men who have been labouring with such spirit & success in India; I allude especially to our Serampore Brethren – 

  I remain

  My dear Sir,

  your obedient faithful Sert

  W Wilberforce

P.S.

A complaint in my eyes obliges me to employ an Amanuensis.

The Revd Dr Ryland

Text: Wilberforce-Ryland Letters, shelfmark MS. G97a, Bristol Baptist College Library, fol. 9 (letter is not in Wilberforce’s hand).