John Clarke, Berwick, to Joseph Angus, Baptist Mission, Fen Court, London, 24 December 1842.

Berwick Decr 24th 1842

My dear Bro,

  I cannot recommend the going of Mr & Mrs Merrick in a Vessel to Cape Coast Castle. It is a most trying place at which to remain; and a twelvemonth might pass away before a single Vessel for Fernando Po, or any of the Rivers near, would call there—Ricd Johnson Esquire 8 Duke St Edge Hill, Liverpool, will do his utmost to find a Vessel for Bonny, Calebar, or Cameroons—and, for a vessel going to one of these Rivers, you shd inquire; as very few Vessels, indeed, call at Fernando Po. But the Vessel taking them out ought to engage to land them at Clarence. North West Bay would not do—and any other place would risk their lives at the most dangerous time, most unnecessarily. Far better to wait for a proper Vessel, than to send them out in an improper one—and not only shd the place of landing be well decided, but the character of the Captain, and state of the Vessel, and sort of supplies, for the Voyage, should be ascertained I need not say that some West African Captains are notorious for their harshness, and brutality, and it wd be [our] duty to avoid sending a young or an old Missionary with such—Br Hewett, of St Thos ye Vale wishes to have a good Schoolmaster immediately—will you keep this in mind—He says "My great object in writing is to ask you to get for the people at Jericho a good efficient Schoolmaster, a man who can preach, or at least conduct a service—the people are very anxious to have a good school, & so am I. You know what kind of a man we want—if the Committee will not send him out, why then the people will pay his expenses. We want him as early as possible—you will I know do this for the sake of people, whom you love so much, & who love you with equal affection"—I do not know of any proper person for this situation, I hope you do; and that you will be able to send one—but, I need not say, the people should pay the whole expense—they cannot better employ a part of their means—and too long they have looked upon education as a good they should have for nothing—Ever yours in warmest love,

                                                   John Clarke

Text: MAW, Box 39 (BMS 2230), John Rylands University Library of Manchester. Edward Hewett (d. 1883), BMS missionary to Jamaica, 1842-1883.