John  Clifford, 54 Dorchester Moor, to Rev. William Boyden, 25 January 1886.

My dear Sir,

         The two Rylands to whom you refer may be thus briefly described

1) John Collett Ryland, was M. A. of the University of Providence, Rhode Island, U.S. ; minister at Northampton from 1759 & died at Enfield in 1792.

2) John Ryland, son of the above J. C. R. was born 1753, removed to Bristol in 1793 & assumed the presidency of the Bristol College.  He died in 1825: M. A. & D.D. degrees were conferred upon him by the Rhode Island University.

         I hope you have a good portrait of myself, for I am a “sorry wobbling creature,” & I regret to say photographers & “men of that ilk” do not always improve on my iron presentment.  Elliot & Fry have the best photo of

                                 Sincerely yours

                                             J Clifford

Text: ENG. MS. 861, fol. 15, Thomas Raffles Collection, John Rylands University Library of Manchester. Clifford was minister at that time at the Westbourne Park Chapel.