John Bowen, New York, to John Rippon, London, 31 October 1801.

New York Octr 31st, 1801

Very Dear sir

         I receiv’d your welcom’d Epistle with a Parcell of the Register’s favor’d by the Revd Mr Waterman, but did not him, as he whent [sic] for Boston in about Ten days after his Arrivell. I hope you have receiv’d my Letter by way of Bristol, dated in July last, which have a very good Acct of the Revivals ^of Religion^ in Kentucky & an Order for Eleven Vols of each No 1 & No 2 of the Regester [sic] and 1 doz of your enlarg’d Edition of Hymns, at about what you Retail @ 3s/. I believe you may venture to make 2 doz and 1 doz of the 3s/6d, for this reason because the ^Baptist^ Church Metting in Fayatte Street in this City have agreed at their last Church metting [sic] to use the selection with Dr Watts’s as the Minister or Clerk shall deem it nessacery [sic], which have encourag’d me to treble the Order as above half the Congregation have not got them, I might add not three fourth’s, I am also requested (by Mr Page a Mercht in this City, late of Norwich England,) to Order one of fine Royal paper, hot pressd and bound in Calf, @ 6s/, with a Portrait if it be a good likeness, he says would rather not have it else, likewise to forward 4 ^or 6^ Tune Books with the Appendix, I have enclos’d in a small Parcell three NY Missionary magazines, with the Minutes of ^two^ N. York one Danbury, and Shaftsbury Associations &c

         One of the best Preachers in ^this^ City is gone to Scotland, and also intends to Pay a Visit to London in Order to obtain, 14 or 15 Scotch. Ministers that may be willing come with him to America as there is several destitute Churches in this State and for Teachers to Establish a Colledge this Gentlemans name is Revd Jno Mason, it is probable you may hear of his arrivell in London by the Minister of Crown Court Drury Lane, or some of the other Scotch Ministers I would wish you to hear him and to give your opinion of him, as he was born in this City & Educated in the Colledge of Edinburgh, I am told that he is not so stiff when he goes abroad, but will Preach ^for^ Minister’s of other Denominations if the [sic] invite h the[y] give him an invitation. Perhaps he may preach for you, I expect he will endeavour to be in London at the metting of the Missionary Society. – Mr Waterman did not make himself known to any of the Baptist Friends here, or else ^its most^ probable the Bretheren in Gold street would have given him an Invitation to stop with them for a while, I understand he has left most of things at his Lodgings here untill he return. – Ministers in our Denomination ^in this State^ of a Liberal Education and are eminantly for Piety are very very Scarce, tho’ we ^have^ reason to be thankful there is a few of the latter Character, no doubt ere this reaches you will hear that the Fever have again visited this City as it broke out made its appearance ^very^ late this fall, not till the 20th of Septr the best information that I can obtain here was about 200 deaths to the 25th instt since then our City appear to be very healthy, those that principally died was that which might be properly call’d a Fall or Billious Fever ^as^ but ^very^ few that had the Black vomit, & some of those had made their escape from the Quarrentine Ground that Arrivd from West Indies, as many as these might be expected to die at that season of the year out of 64,000 Thousand Inhabitants, under these Circumstances we may have reason to say with Gratitude that the Lord has spared ^in great mercy^ to what we experienced some years that are past except the last, – some of our European Subscribers desired me to ^request you to^ proceed with the History of the Welch Churches as soon as it can be conveniant, as the[y] where afraid it had slipt your memory; I have obtaind five more Subscribers which makes in all nineteen, altho their numbers are few[.] I have been carefull whoam [sic] I have Solicitd their names where [I]  could have confidence, I do not Expect that I shall be able to send you any money untill I receive the Voumes aforesaid, as ^most^ Subscribers do not chuse to have the numbers deliverd untill the[y] receive their first & Second Vols, my two last Subscribers will be desirous for you to send No 11. 12. 13 & two of 14 in order to compleat their Numbers dificient[.] [T]his Parcell comes by Captn Voss of the Ship Two Friends, who will take care of any Parcell you may send by him ^at any time^, which will, when the Parcells are small save the Custom duties. Brother Brown desires his Christian Love to you, he seems a lively soul I enjoy his Company much Mrs Bowen desires her Christian Love to you and Please to except the same yourself from

                                 Your Affectionate Friend

                                             Jno Bowen

P.S. I think it would be adviseable as oft as you can insert any information that’s interesting respecting of this Country as the Americans, seems quite pleas’d to see it.

J B

Mr Williams requested me beg the favour of you to get him Parkhurst’s Greek and English Lexicon, in Order send out by the Return of Capt Voss. I will remitt you the money as soon as I can make up a sufficient sum with Brother Brown to buy a part of a Bill of Exchange to give you an Order to receive for him by the next Ship to London.

Address: Revd Dr Rippon | No 11 Grange Road | Bermondsey Parish | Southwark London

Postmark: [Nov?] 2 1801

Text: John Rippon Folder, RG no. 1285, American Baptist Historical Society Archives, Atlanta.