Samuel Giles, 32 George Street, Manchester, to Joseph Angus, Baptist Mission House, 6 Fen Court, Fenchurch Street, London, 23 July 1842.

Manchester

32 George St July 23/42

My dear Friend,

   Three young men who have served their Apprenticeship as letter-press printers & are now working as journeymen on 2 of our newspapers, influenced by the stirring appeals which Mr Moffat made at one of the Missionary meetings, are desirous of going to some Missionary Station where they could obtain a livelihood and at the same time forward the cause of Xt.. Having heard from some quarter or other that the Baptist Mission was about to establish printing presses—either in India Africa or one of the West Indian Stations they applied to us for information & counsel how to proceed. I replied that I had not heard of such an intention, but that I would write you requesting to be informed. & if you can in any way forward their object & give me the requisite information I shall feel much obliged. One of them is a Teacher at Union Chapel School (Mr Tucker’s) another in Mr Fletcher’s (Independent)—of the third I know nothing—four of them have made a Profession of religion.

   Should you require for any quarter of the World individuals in their Capacity, I think they will do credit to the appointments. Testimonials as to skill and character of course would be forthcoming if required—they understand every branch of the business—& would go to any quarter where they can be useful

   Are you likely to come our way soon—if so we shall have a bed at your service & if Mrs A will accompany you it will much increase the pleasure

   The Commercial state of Manchester is truly deplorable—& the prospects of the poor appalling. The work people out of employment are too much turned by want, and all but utter destitution to rise, but, were they as I have seen them in years past I am sure they would not be long in reversing the injuries under which they are groaning.

   Please to present my kind respects to Mr Gurney & his family & to your good lady in which Mrs Giles desires to unite—Begging the favor of an early reply   I remain,

                        My dear Friend

                                 Yrs very sincerely

                                       Sam. Giles

N.B. The young men are not needy adventurers out of Employment, but all of them I believe in good Situations with full worth. S.l G.

Text: Timothy Whelan, Baptist Autographs in the John Rylands University Library of Manchester, 1741-1845 (Macon: Mercer University Press, 2009), pp. 240-42 (annotated version); also MAW, Box 39 (BMS 944), John Rylands University Library of Manchester. On the address page was written: "to be opened by M.r Stanger if M.r A is from home." Samuel Giles (b.1809) was a Baptist layman and wealthy calico printer in Great Cheetham Street, Manchester; William Wright Stanger, Jr. (1809-1877) was the chief accountant for the BMS; Robert Moffatt (1795-1883) was a missionary to South Africa for the London Missionary Society, 1817-1870; Francis Tucker was a former BMS missionary in India and, at the time of the above letter, minister at the Union Chapel, Oldham, near Manchester; Richard Fletcher (1800-1861) was the Independent minister at Grosvenor Street Chapel, Manchester, 1831-1853; and William B. Gurney (1777-1855) was a successful shorthand writer for parliament and the Old Bailey, treasurer of the BMS (1835-1855), and father-in-law to Joseph Angus.