John Bowen, New York, to John Rippon, London, 10-15 November 1802.

New York Novr 10th 1802

Very Dear Sir

         Your kind Epistle I receiv’d favord by Mr Williams, I will render him all the Service that lay in my power, I obtaind succeeded in getting him an Employer the 4th day after his Arrivell, he requested me to give his Christian Love to you, it gives me pleasure to hear Brother Douglas is so agreeably situated at Portsea. May the Lord bless his Labors at White Row. –

         I have enclos’d an Order for you to receiv’d Ten Pounds Eighteen Shillings & five pence at sight on Messrs Wallis, Cook & Hammond, Merchants, London, am sorry you was disapointed by Mr Waters as I had deposited the Amount of that Order in the hands of his Whife [sic]. I have not a doubt but this Order will be honord as soon as presented. I paid (Mr Page Mercht in this City, who wrote the inclosd Order) Eleven Pounds Five Shillings Sterling which ^sum^ you’l please place to my Credit, the sum of 6s.7d. is 3 pr Cent Discount for Bills on London payable at sight, it is the lowest ^I^ could get it done for at present, in this City), sometimes they are as much under par as the[y] are ^now^ above Fourteen Dollars & half or 3£.5s.3d.  I receivd of Mr Dunn is included in the above sum for Books he sold of yours. I here subjoin a list of Books I receiv’d of Mr Dunn that was in the possession of Mr Allum & late Dr Foster, namely 4 Vols of No 1 Baptist Register from 1790 to 94 one have been damaged or Chafed, 14 Hymn Books of your fourth Edition 9 are charged 2s.9d & five 3s & 1 of better paper chared 3s.6d. Eighty six ^numbers^ of No 4 Baptist Register & 9 of No 8, 90 of No 9 & 90 do of 10. – I request your advice what I am to do with the[m], as for the Hymn Books, I believe I can sell them altho the[y] are from an Old Edition, the Volumes are Backt with red Leather but very much faded as if laid in the Sun – the Numbers are in tolerable good Order, in my last Letter sent you bu the Fair American I beg ^that^ you would send the Numbers that was due Namely No 25 to 33 included. No 34, 35 & 36 I have only receivd twelve ^forteen^ [sic] of each, the Subscribers are yet complaing because the Numbers are not sent out regular, therefore beg you will forward ^them^ as soon as possible. Mr Pike Junr whent [sic] for London last Spring is ^coming^ out here early next spring, he will be able to take a Parcell from you he is Son to Mr Pike Deacon at Mr Upton’s, his address I have lost, I recd the parcell by Mr Waters of the Two Friends. Your arrang’d Edition of Dr Watts is too small ^a^ Letter for this Markett & too Costly, have been to all the Ministers & Clerks in this City that use them, & have only sold one, therfore [sic] shall close them in the Parcell with the Magazines. I could [have] sold them that come about 3s/6 to 4s/6 of Larger Letters with ease I informd you in my last that the First Volume ^of B. Register^ was defective commencing at page 193 or second Page on Holy Peace & ending Page 208 included just one whole sheet ^difficient^. Hope you’l not fail to send the sheet for each of the first Volumes as the Book binder here can stich them in, if you have not sent the Hymn Book as mentiond in a former Letter, with your Likeness. I beg you’l not fail sending it, by the next Parcell, that is your Selection the Large size superfine Paper Blue Morrocco Gilt of your last Edition & one of the same size Quality & Binding without the Portrait, & one of your Arranged Edition of Dr Watts the same size Quality & Binding, about 1 doz of your Selection @ 3s/6d & 7 doz @ 4s/6d, & at least 1 Doz of your Tune Books with the Supplement, & 6 of your Arranged Edition Dr Watts 4s/6d & 6 @ 3s/6d. I have 4 Subscribers for your History of Bunhill Fields. Mr Esiekel [sic] Robins, Mr Willm Robins, Revd Mr Pilmore, & Mr Charles Bird, all of this City. Mr Robins only, chuses to have the Map with the History. I have not had an Answer from the Colledge or City Liberary [sic] as yet the Subscribers hope you’l forward them as soon as Completed, as the Books will be paid for on Delivery. I remain

                     Dr Sir

                                 Your Affectionate Fd

                                             John Bowen

P.S. Excuse Errors as I have had seven or eight attempts before could compleat it

Mr Talbot (that formerly of ye Firm, Talbot, Allum & Lee, but since, of Brown Talbot & Co.) died the 4th of this Month of a lingering Illness near two Years, it proceeded from Breaking a Blood Vessel inwardly in great part of his illness he Experienced great Darkness of ^mind^ even almost Dispair often mourned an Absent God, till within a few Days of his departing this Life he was enabled when light shone upon ^his^ soul with a smile on this Countenance said that he could look on a Reconciled God thro a Crucified Savior, that the sting of Death was taken away, & now he experienced the Presence of God with ^him^ even to the last, Revd Mr Williams preachd his Funeral Discourse the 14th inst Lords ^day^ Evening from Job 14 Chapt 10 Verse –

         I mentiond this because I believe you know’d him.

                                                         J B.

Novr 15th  

Mrs Hickling is Passenger in ye Two Friends

I have inclosd in a Parcell three Magazines & five Hymn Books – favurd by Mr Hickling as it will be most Convenient for him to send it to Mr Nortons Fish Street I have so directed it for you –

Address: Revd Dr Rippon | No 11 Grange Road | Bermondsey Parish | Southwark | London |pr Ship Two Friends

Postmark: Portsmouth [date illegible]

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