J. I. Fernandez, London, to John Sutcliff, Olney, 7 May 1810.

London   May 7.th 1810.

Rev.d & dear Sir,

         I received your note & favour of M.r [Clarke?]; I intended writing to you before this, but one thing and another prevented me. Sam.l Brunsden has been very ill with the scarlet fever, but, through mercy is rather better, and appears to be in a convalescent state. M.rs Rolt was very much alarmed at first: her health is but middling;—has fatigued herself, very much, with sitting up at nights. She was under the necessity of removing Sam.l from M.r Thomas’s, for fear the other children should catch it—she has procured lodgings in the outskirts of Islington. Says she cannot leave London, till Sam.l is quite well. I have not heard her intimate any thing about her returning with Capt.n Reid—She seems rather at a loss what to do for want of money.

         I have stayed hither beyond my time, but I could not, very well, help it. This week are the Missionary meetings. It will be a very, very interesting week, I am told. I, never being present at one before, am inclined, once more, to transgress; a good many of my friends have said, That it would be a very great pity not to embrace such a favourable opportunity as this. What to do I know not. I hope, I may not displease you. Hitherto, I have used the money you gave me—& have had no occasion to apply to M.r B— for any; but I believe, shall need a little assistance from that quarter.

         M.rs Rolt did, in my hearing, make some enquiries, respecting Capt.n Reid; but M.r Burls could not give any satisfactory reply;—whether he has, since, made any enquiries, I cannot say.

         I intend calling upon M.r Burls soon, when I shall interrogate him on the subject.—I have once or twice felt very poorly, but thro’ tender mercy, am pretty well, at present. I am happy to hear, M.rs Sutcliff has recovered; I hope yourself & the rest of the family are well. 

         Please to give my very kind respects to all. Accept the same yourself, from, Rev.d & dear Sir,

                                             yrs very sincerely & cordially,

                                                               J. I. Fernandez 

Text: Eng. MS. 387, fol. 37, John Rylands University Library of Manchester. On the back page is written in Sutcliff’s hand: “Rec.d May 8. 1810.” Fernandez was originally from Macao and after his conversion in 1796, became a staunch supporter of the BMS in India. Samuel Brunsdon was most likely the son of Daniel Brunsdon, a BMS missionary to India who died in 1801. Mrs. Rolt was the former wife of Daniel Brunsdon. Timothy Thomas (1753-1827) was the Baptist minister at Devonshire Square (1781-1827); he also operated a school in Islington. His cousin, Thomas Thomas (1759-1819) was the Baptist minister at Mill Yard  (1789-99) became one of the first secretaries of the Baptist Union in 1813. William Burls was for many years the treasurer of the BMS. See “Dissenters’ Schools, 1660-1820,” Transactions of the Baptist Historical Society 4 (1914-15), 227; Ernest A. Payne, The Baptist Union: A Short History (London: Carey Kingsgate Press, 1959) 24, 26.