Eustace Carey, Bristol, to John Sutcliff, Olney, 19 August 1812.

Bristol August 19.th 1812

Rev.d & dear Sir.

         Must say I much regret my not having seen you during the whole of last vacation; and more so, as I fear it has justly led you to suspect my mindfulness of your passed [sic] favours. My own feelings assure me this is not the case, and knows the difficulties under which I laboured, as to be convinced he will fully forgive me. It would grieve me to forfeit the regard of one, to whose salutary counsels I have been so much obliged, and to whom I hope still to look up with confidence and respect.

         It will be necessary, Sir, for me to give you a little account how I disposed of my time, which, will enable you to judge of the reasonableness of my excuse. The D.r [Ryland] was kind enough to give me a fortnight for my journey. Set off from Bristol on the Monday as the Dr arrived on the Saturday   Reached Leicester late on Tuesday night. Now a previous application had been made by some methodist friends of Willoughby in Notinghamshire [sic] for me to preach for their Sunday-school, to which (as the Leicester friends desired me) I acceded. I stoped [sic] at L— till Saturday and then went to Willoughby. Preached for them on the Sabbath and Monday even. Returned to Leicester on the Tuesday. Was necessitated, I may say, to preach at [Streetend?] (in Leicestershire) on the Wednesday. Then comes Thursday, when I was very unwell. Friday thought to have set off to Northampton, but the coach being full, and there being no other that day, was obliged to defer it till Saturday.

         Now Tuesday was the day for my going back to Bristol (and this was a persian law which could not be altered) It therefore became impossible to see Olney, a place that will ever be dear to me. Thus Sir, you have heard my tale, and trust, you will admit it as my apology. The academy has received an accession of five; and four of them are men of considerable abilities   One of them is the son of a M.r Simmons a baptist Minister who once lived at Braunson near Daventry. M.r Newman gave a very excellent address from “be ye followers of me as I am of Christ.” He 1.st delineated the Apostle’s character, then, 2.ly, fixed upon one feature which he enforced, his conduct to his fellow labourers, illustrated in the cases of Timothy & Titus. He then in the 3.d place addressed the students and committee. First he addressed the students as literary characters, secondly, as christians, and, thirdly, as candidates for the ministry. His sermon was very cool, discriminate, and replete with good sentiment. He read it all  It’s to be published in the baptist magazine. Last week, Mr Stedman from West[gate] was at Bristol. He had been at Plymouth to ordain one of his students over the church he had formerly been pastor of himself. He gave us some most excellent advice.

         We this week heard from M.r Howlet: he is geting [sic] much worse, and has given up all hope of returning to study. While they were at meeting last sabbath evening his fathers premises caught fire, and have sustained considerable injury  Believed he says they were ensured; but not to the full amount. Was very sorry to hear of M.r Marriott’s death, and especially as it was so premature. Poor Gamby, hope he may be spared, am grieved to learn he is so ill.

         Feel increasing pleasure in my studies, and wish much to go to India, if it should prove to be will of Saviour to send me. Hope you and M.rsSutcliff: Please to give my kind respects to her, together with Miss Johnstone, hope she is well. Accept of thanks for the kindness you have shown to me. Hope you will remember me kindly to my dear fellow students often think of them with more esteem than I can express, especially Peters who is as dear to me as a brother. Should write them, but [fear?] the time that letter-writing consumes, and the expence they would be at in receiving them. Hope, Sir, you will privilege me (when convenient) with a few lines; as perhaps shall be a little uneasy till I hear from you.

                     I remain,

                                    d’r Sir, with much deference &c respect,

                                             yours &c.

                                                      Eustace Carey

P.S. I’m thinking the sending of this letter by the post is a freedom I have no right to take, but was anxious to write you, and knew not any other way of geting [sic] it forwarded. Do Sir give my respects to Mr Osborn, M.r Wilson, M.r James, and M.rs Denney. Must not farther obtrude.

Text: Eng. MS. 387, fol. 18a, John Rylands University Library of Manchester. The letter is postmarked from Maidenhead. On the back page Sutcliff has written: “Rec.d Aug.t 25. 1812.” John Simmons was the Baptist minister at Wigan and Braunston, and his son, John Edmund Simmons, served as minister at Stoney Stratford, Bucks, 1823-30, and at Bluntisham, Hunts. William Steadman was at that time President of the Baptist Academy at Bradford and pastor of the Baptist church there. William Gamby of Southill studied under Sutcliff in 1812 but died before completing his course of work, c. 1814; he was 23. He was descended from John Gamby (1730-1802), Baptist minister at Southill, 1787-1802. A number of Marriotts were members of the Olney church. Thomas Osborne was most likely a member of Sutcliff’s congregation at Olney. He subscribed £1.8 in 1800-1801 to the BMS, and another £1.1. as part of a collection by Sutcliff for the Baptist Missionary Society in 1804-1805. William Wilson was most likely another member of Sutcliff’s congregation. He submitted £1.1 to the BMS in 1801-1801 and in 1804-1805; he also served on the BMS Committee in 1812. Reference here as well to Paul’s Liberality in his Conduct Towards his Fellow-Labourers:  A Sermon Addressed to the Members of the Bristol Education Society, Assembled at Their Annual Meeting in Broadmead, on Wednesday, August 5, 1812 (1812), by William Newman. A review of the sermon appeared in the Baptist Magazine 4 (1812): 85-86. See Periodical Accounts, vol. 2, pp. 206-07, vol. 3, p. 139; Olney Church Book, Angus Library, Regent's Park College, Oxford, ff. 23, 26, 34; F. A. Cox, History of the Baptist Missionary Society, from 1792 to 1842, 2 vols. (London: T. Ward, and G. and J. Dyer, 1842), 2: 221; P. B. Gravett, Over Three Hundred Years of God’s Grace: A Short History of Sutcliff Baptist Church (Olney: [n.p.], 1987), 28; “Sutcliff’s Academy at Olney,” Baptist Quarterly 4 (1928–1929), 277; Baptist Annual Register, vol. 4, p. 1074.