Robert Hall, Bristol, to Christopher Hill, Esq., Scarborough, 19 February 1827.

19th Feby 1827

Dear Sir

           It would certainly give me much pleasure to visit Scarboro not only on account of the place (delightful as it is) but still more from the esteem I feel for you & your excellent companion. But, not to mention other objections, the distance for me ever to think of complying for the purpose of opening a meeting. Such occurrences are so multiplied that were I to lend myself to that kind of engagements, I might spend my whole summer in journeys. Indeed I have great doubts of the propriety of making any ceremony whatever of the opening of meetings. Nothing of that kind was done at Leicester or Cambridge. I am very happy however to hear that the cause is so flourishing as to demand a new & larger place. That it may daily flourish more & more, & that you my dear Sir may be long spared to adorn and support it is the sincere prayer of dear Sir 

                                                                                 Your affectionate friend

                                                                                                   R. Hall

P.S. I beg to be most affece remembered to dear Mrs Hill

Text: Timothy Whelan, Baptist Autographs in the John Rylands University Library of Manchester, 1741-1845 (Macon: Mercer University Press, 2009), pp. 206-07 (annotated version); also MAM. PLP. 48.25.4, John Rylands University Library of Manchester. On the back is written in another hand, “An Autograph letter of the late Robt Hall, M.A. written to C. Hill Esq. of Scarborough, declining an invitation to that town. Dated Febr 19th 1827.” Christopher Hill was a deacon at Ebenezer Baptist Chapel, Scarborough.