Owen Johnson Birt, Bristol to his uncle [Joseph Angus, Baptist Mission House, London], 17 October 1842.

Bristol Oct 17 1842

My dear Uncle

      On my Fathers return from London last Friday, I was informed by him of the opening which will occur in the Missionary field in the island of Ceylon, and also of the kind interest which you have taken in my case and prospects. For several years past I have been led to consider it my duty to become a missionary to the heathen, and, during the last few months, my mind has been especially directed to this object by the advice of Dr Prichard,[3] an eminent physician in Bristol, who considers that in a tropical climate I should enjoy robust health. The West Indies seemed to offer an attractive station, and Dr Prichard strongly recommended my going to Jamaica, or some other island there. Since my Fathers return however, and the views given me respecting Ceylon, I have thought incessantly on the subject, and have endeavoured to ascertain what is the will of God in my future lot. It now appears to me that as a more important work remains to be carried on in Ceylon than in Jamaica, should I be deemed qualified for the station, to that island I ought to go. Indeed it was, at first, my wish to be fixed in the East Indies because I thought labourers were more needed there.

      In the present state of my affairs I did not think it right to decide until I had again consulted Dr Prichard and had asked his opinion of Ceylon as a place of residence. I had an interview with him this morning, when he expressed himself very strongly in favour of that island, saying that though he had no doubt I should enjoy very good health in the West Indies, it would be far better for my mind and body to go to Ceylon—that it was far more healthy, and, he believed, that there I should be quite strong and vigorous. This testimony I consider very satisfactory. After I left Dr Prichard I called on Mr Crisp,[4] who expressed his decided opinion that I was suited to the place and work, and that in terms so strong, that, whilst truly gratified for his kindness, I hardly like to repeat them. He said that he would write a letter of recommendation to the Committee if it were thought desirable.

      The advice of my dear friends and that of my tutors being now in accordance with my personal wishes, I have decided, as I trust by the direction of the Spirit of God, to offer myself to the Committee of the Missionary Society as a candidate for the work in Ceylon and I am willing and ready to go at once should they think proper to accept me.

      And now my dear Uncle, what steps do you advise me to take in this matter?  How must I proceed?  Can I offer myself to the Committee for this station through you?  You have been so kind hitherto that I am sure now you will favour me with your advice. Will you be so kind as to send me a line, in answer to this, as soon as convenient. We are all anxiously expecting to hear how my dear Aunt is, and trust that she is better. Give my best love to her and my cousins.

      My dear Father and Mother join with me in most affectionate regards to you and my dear Aunt.

                                          I am, my dear Uncle

                                                            Your truly attached nephew

                                                                              Owen J. Birt

On the back page Angus has written the following account of Birt’s acceptance by the BMS Committee:

22nd year

5 years since baptized.—

Gurney

Steane

Hinton

Soule

Green

Pritchard

Groser

Angus

recommend that Mr O. J. Birt be accepted for Missy Service in Ceylon

Arrangements be made for Mr Birts leavg as early as possible & that the usual allowances by granted for his outfits & passage

[illegible word] request friends at Bristol & London.

Text: Timothy Whelan, Baptist Autographs in the John Rylands University Library of Manchester, 1741-1845 (Macon: Mercer University Press, 2009), pp. 260-62 (annotated version); also MAW, Box 39 (BMS 1716), John Rylands University Library of Manchester. Owen Johnson Birt was the son of Caleb Evans Birt (1795-1854), minister at Broadmead in Bristol. The younger Birt was appointed as a BMS missionary to Ceylon in October 1842 (see letters 188, 192), but unfortunately, he died in route on 15 March 1843. His wife, however, continued on to Ceylon. A letter from her appeared in the Missionary Herald (April 1844), 210-12. Birt’s letter was presented to the Committee by J. H. Hinton on 20 October 1842. See BMS Committee Minutes, See BMS Committee Minutes, Vol. I (Jan. 1843-May 1844), f. 79; Vol. H (Oct. 1841-Dec. 1842), fol. 191, Angus Library, Regent's Park College, Oxford. James Cowles Prichard (1786-1848) was a Bristol doctor and author of several medical works. Thomas Steffe Crisp (1788-1868) was at that time Principal of Bristol Baptist College and assistant pastor at Broadmead. 

The members of the Committee who signed the statement confirming Birt’s assignation as a missionary were all Baptist ministers except for W. B. Gurney:  Edward Steane (1798-1882), Baptist minister at Denmark Place Chapel, Camberwell, and secretary of the Baptist Union, 1835-82; J. H. Hinton (1791-1873) at Devonshire Square, London, 1837-63; Israel May Soule (1806?-73) at Battersea, 1834-73; Samuel Green (1796-1883) at Lion Street, Walworth, 1841-49; George Pritchard (1773-1852) at Keppel Street, London, 1817-37; William Groser (1791-1856), formerly at Maidstone (1820-39) before removing to London in 1839 to become secretary to the Anti-Opium Society; and Joseph Angus. Birt was approved on 27 October 1842. See BMS Committee Minutes, Vol. H (Oct. 1841-Dec. 1842), fol. 195, Angus Library, Regent's Park College, Oxford.