Joshua Toulmin, Birmingham, to Walter Wilson, London, 10 July 1809.

Dear Sir,

         It has been a weight to my mind, that your obliging Letter of May 13th has not, ere now, been noticed & my grateful acknowledgements made for it.  But you will allow me to plead my numerous avocations.  They have attended me in every situation: they are renewed every day.

        I am, indeed, surprized at the report you make of your Age, in connection with the extensive work you have in hand & with the knowledge you have shewn & which this work requires, & so many minutia & so many characters, that must have existed many years before you was born: much exceeding all the information that I at more than twice your age, born & educated in London & from an early period having a taste for similar Enquiries, have picked up.

        I am highly gratified, I can assure you & I trust, devoutly thankful, as it becometh me under every instance of being made useful, at the information you have given me; that I have been the [?] of your first establishment in the principles of Protestant Dissent.

           The enclosed paper will shew, that I have received your Queries.  I regret, that I can not more fully & minutely meet your Enquiries.  The Article of Mr [Balfor?] I have copied from my Appendix to the History of Taunton; which, tho’ some part was printed has not yet been finished.  Of Mr Webb, as he is a living character I have not attempted to write to you more at large.  I could add, that he was a native of Taunton & received his Grammar learning under Mr [Fort?] of Bristol, his academical under Dr Ashworth, of Daventry.  Mr [Weald?] probably knows him.  He would, perhaps, if applied to, tell his own story. He resigned his connection at Paul’s Alley, Barbican I think in 1766.

        I have been so engaged I have so many books lately published before me, pressing on my attention, that I have not yet seen any more of your work, than I mentioned in my former letter.  But I intend to procure the First Volume, which I understand, is completed.

        I am still apt to think that there is some great mistake witth respect to Mr Pickard’s sentiments concerning Dr Priestley.  & that the matter referred to related not to ye Dr’s writings, but to something that passed, on our application to Parliament, about Subscription to the 39 Articles, at a Meeting of the Body at Williams’ Library at which Dr Priestley was present, & expressed himself so pleased at what Mr Pickard advanced, tho’ it reflected on himself, as to say, that it would do honour to the Dissenters to print & publish it.  This I have from my Colleague.  It is desirable, that the matter could be clearly, fully & authenticately, stated.

        Great caution is certainly necessary in reporting verbal declarations.  Much is to be allowed for misapprension, for inacurracy in recollection, &c.  What is written, has of course more precision in it & a more fixed, permanent form.  I greatly respect the memory of Dr Priestley, Mr Pickard, as I do Mr Tailer

        May success attend your labourious investigations & your laudable efforts in the cause of Xtian Liberty.

                                 I am, D.r Sir,

                                             Your obliged hble Ser.t

                                                         Joshua Toulmin

Birmingham

10th July.  1809

Text: Walter Wilson MSS, MS. Montagu, d. 21, fol. 274, Bodleian Library, Oxford.