Lucius Bolles, Salem, to Andrew Fuller, Kettering, 8 July 1814 [draft only].

Salem (Mass) July 8 1814 –

Rev & dear Sir,

        By order of ye Salem Bible Translation & Foreign Mission Society, I enclosed to you some months since a Bill of Exchange on Saml Williams Esqr, London, for sixty-three pounds Sterling, which they wish you to apply in aid of ye translation of ye Scriptures, now going on at Serampore. As yt Bill may not have reached you, I enclose a second of ye same tenor & date.

        The above named Society was organized, soon after our Brethren Johns & Lawson left this Country for India. Impressed with ye importance of aiding in some way, ye cause of ye divine Redeemer among ye Heathen, & having no Missionaries of our own denomination, who had been sent out by ye baptist churches in American ^churches^, we resolved to do what we cod to give ye word of life, to those who were without it. American ^churches,^ we resolved to ^assist our venerable & beloved Brethren Carey, Marshman & Ward, particularly in yt^ highly important branch of their work, ye translation & printing of ye Scriptures. At ye same time, we held ourselves ready, shod divi[ne] providence raise up Missionaries ^of this country,^ whom it might be our ^more immediate^ duty to support, to afford them every encouragement in our power. Scarcely had we commenced our operations, when we receivd intelligence of ye change of views of Mr & Mrs Judson & Mr Rice. This grateful event renders it proper for us, in connexion with similar Societies in ye country to direct most of our funds to their support furnished a new opening for our future collections to an additional demand for vigorous exertion. A United States Baptist Society has just been formed for Foreign Missions which will take ye direction of all ye funds collected in ye small Societies. Sometime about ye last of August 1813 Br Rice arrived in this country to ascertain what wod be done in relation to him & his Colleague by our Brethren. He found in existance at Boston, Providence & Salem, Societies ready to patronize them. These Societies conceivd it a favorable moment to excite a more extensive interest in this great object & br Rice was employed by them to travel into ye middle & Southern States to effect it. His visit among ye churches has been very successful. In N. York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Washington, Virginia, N. & S. Carolina & Georgia, similar Societies to those at ye northward have been got up. About ye middle of May last a Delegation from all those Societies convened in Philadelphia & originated a plan, to combine their energies in one sacred effort to evangelize ye Heathen. Of their doings you will be more particularly informed by ye proper Organ, but on a subject so interesting to my feelings, I cod not say less. We rejoice in ye priviledge of attempting to open ye wells of salvation, to those who dwell in a dry & thirsty land, we rejoice in attempting to dissipate ye mists of darkness which cover millions of ye human family, by carrying into ye midst of them ye light of life; we rejoice yt in this glorious work, we may cooperate with brethren from whom we are separated by seas of hostile Arms.

        Indulge me ^to^ ask, whether by ye late renewal of ye Charter of ye East India Companty, it is made necessary, for a Missionary going within their jurisdiction, to appear personally before ye Board of Directors in England, or may permission be obtained by written applications?

        I lately receivd a letter from our br Wm Johns, & was surprized to learn yt he had returned to his native country ^with his family to England^. I trust it will [be] ye last instance in which your benevolent efforts, will in such a manner be frustrated.

        In some parts of this country, there have been lately ^some very^ happy revivals of religion, particularly in R. Island, Conct & Virginia. In ye chh to which I have ye happiness to minister, there is no special out-pouring of ye Spirit. We have been in this respect a favored people of GOD, for within nine years, more than three hundred have declared among us their faith in Christ by a publick profession of his religion. These continue united & stedfast through grace in ye apostles doctrine to a happy degree.  [draft ends at this point]

Address: none

Text: Ann Judson Folder, RG no. 1108, American Baptist Historical Society Archives, Atlanta.