Joshua Toulmin, Taunton, to Joseph Fownes, Shrewsbury, 7 July 1778.

Revd & Dear Sir

         I am afraid to see the date of your last favour; but many impediments, which you chiefly conceive attendant on my situation, & will candidly make an indulgent allowance for, have arisen to produce an undesigned neglect in acknowledging it.

         I am perfectly satisfied with Mr Eddowes conduct in the disposal of the six copies of Socinus & the remittance he has made to MrBrowne: He had acted, I apprehend, quite agreeably to the method of Trade.

         Mr Taylor’s Question leads me to think that my assertion p. 280 of the life of Socinus, that “many societies of Protestant Dissenters have become communities of professed Unitarians,” was not expressed with sufficient accuracy & precision. Your answer to that Gentleman’s Enquiry seems to supersede any I can attach to it. Except the Mint Society at Exeter formed under Mr Peirce, scarcely any have made the Unitarian Principle the avowed ground of the manner of conducting their worship—yet many have not disdained the denomination of Unitarians, & on account of the known sentiments of the generality of their members have been stigmatized for their disbelief of the Trinitarian scheme: such are the Society I served at Colyton in Devonshire before the alteration of my sentiments on the subject of Baptism & the Baptist Church I now serve.

         However your view of the matter, Sir, is on the whole, I think, more just & accurate than what my expressions intimate.

         Soon after the rect of your former letter, I took the liberty with it on writing to Dr Priestley, to give him your sentiments on his late publication concerning Necessity: for which he returns his thanks; adding, “I have seen Mr Fownes formerly & heard him preach with much pleasure. If you write to him give my respects to him.”

         The Title, Nabob of Archot, was given to me thro’ the hands of a friend, by the agent of this East Indian Prince residing then in London. The Nabob understand English.

         It will, I am sure, give you pleasure to hear, that our worthy Friend Mr Ward’s health is greatly improved: I am charged with his respects to you.

         My best wishes for your long & increasing usefulness & felicity, I beg, may be acceptable. With great esteem & affectionate regard, I am 

                                             Dear Sir,

                                                               Your obliged hble Sert &

                                                               sincere Frd & Bror

                                                                                 Joshua Toulmin

Taunton. July. 7. 1778.

Text: Timothy Whelan, Baptist Autographs in the John Rylands University Library of Manchester, 1741-1845 (Macon: Mercer UP, 2009), pp. 36-37 (annotated version); also Eng. MS. 371, fol. 123, John Rylands University Library of Manchester. J. Eddowes was a printer and stationer in Shrewsbury; by 1790 he was in business with his son, W. Eddowes. William Tayleur, Esq., of Shrewsbury (1712-96), was a member of Fownes’s congregation at Shrewsbury and a leading Unitarian layman. Others mentioned are James Peirce, Presbyterian minister at Exeter; Joseph Priestley, and John Ward, Presbyterian minister at Taunton.