Dan Taylor, London to John Fawcett, Brearley Hall, Yorkshire, 21 February 1777.

Belovd & esteemed Friend and Bror,

          Two days ago I received a letter from M.r Beatson desiring to send the pamphlets which I have of his to M.r Edwards’s Halifax. I desire to know what number you have sold, and what you have of those I sent you, order that I may write to him, as he requires from me a speedy answer to his letter.

         As my pen is [in] my hand, also, I beg you would take it in good part, if I venture to ask you a Question respecting myself, and desire a direct and immediate answer. It is said by some in this neighbourhood, that a certain serious and judicious minister has declared that I behave in a cruel manner to my people. I have desired to know who the minister is; but can’t obtain the information. As the report spreads, and may both injure my character as an individual, and my usefulness as a minister, especially considering the authority with which it is stamp’d, as coming from a minister both serious and judicious, I think, I ought to know from whence it arose if I can. Had it been merely the Clamor of the multitude I shd not have thought it worth while to regard it. I beg leave therefore in Christian love to ask, if these or the like words have been spoken by you? & if so, to what part of my behaviour they refer?  I know your caution & prudence too well, my Bror, to imagine you would say any such thing, unless such a representation of me was laid before you as made my conduct appear to you in this disagreeable light.  If you be the person from whom the report is propagated, I shall acknowledge it as a very great favor if you will permit me to lay before you the circumstances of that conduct to which your words refer. But if the report came not from you, I trust you will excuse the freedom I now take. As the affair is tender, & of considerable importance, I beg you would write immediately, and this will oblige thirst.

                                                               Your sincerely affectionate Bro.r

                                                                                 Dan Taylor

Feb. 21. 1777.

Text: Timothy Whelan, Baptist Autographs in the John Rylands University Library of Manchester, 1741-1845 (Macon: Mercer University Press, 2009), pp. 33-34 (annotated version); also Eng. MS. 371, fol. 118, John Rylands University Library of Manchester. Also mentioned here is John Beatson, minister at Hull. William Edwards was a bookseller in Halifax.