William B. Gurney, Essex Street, London, to the Revd James Hargreaves, Charles Street, City Road, London, 14 April 1827.

Essex Street

14 April 1827

My dear Sir

         I have had for some time my Brothers Subscription to the Baptist Building Fund lying by me – I have hoped for the pleasure of meeting you and paying over that [?] with my own – I have given to one Case during the last year which in my opinion ought to come within the range of our Society. I mean one where there is no church formed but where the meeting of that place will in doubt lead to the formation of a church. I have therefore deducted that from my Subscription – I was in hopes that the Institution of that Society would set aside all necessity for begging in London on Country Cases, so long as this class of cases is left unprovided for they must of course be sent up – many of them are quite as interesting as the cases to which we give and the circumstance of their being few in comparison of the whole may occasion their collecting more than we can give them – If that shd ever [be] the case can they will find it [in] their interest to come to London with their case before they form their church to avoid appealing to this Society –

         I consider twenty Guineas to be about the sum that Baptist Country Cases cost me previous to the Institution of the Society – I do not wish to save one farthing by the Institution for the Society, but I shall of course deduct from time to time whatever I may give in this way.

                     I am

                                 My dear Sir

                                             Yours most truly

                                                         W. B. Gurney

Address: The Revd James Hargreaves | Charles Street | City Road

Postmark: none

Endorsed: W. B. Gurney Esqr | April 17 1827 | with 20£ -- and 12£/12s from |J. Gurney Esqr | and 3£ from Dr Knight | Fleet Street

Text: William B. Gurney Letters, RG no. 1115, American Baptist Historical Society Archives, Atlanta.