William Newman, Stepney, to John Sutclif, Olney, 31 October 1812.

Stepney   31 Octr [18]12

My dear Sir

      I return the inclosed according to your request the sheet wanting is—the first 8 pages of the work itself not of the Life of Confucius which I now return. Perhaps you can send it up by some friend that comes to London.

      I rejoice to hear that the loss at Serampore is made up—having done with loss, let us now think of gain. How easily can the Omnipotent turn a curse into a blessing!

      I have been much perplexed with the case of R. M. Worth—but seem to come to this conclusion—that he is not able to go through the course of studies prescribed—and that it will be more suitable for him to go out and travel as an Itinerant Preacher—or go into secular business and preach in a village as far as opportunity may be afforded. I am truly sorry to part with him but if I make this report to the Committee, he tells me he shall acquiesce in it. May the God of wisdom direct!

      I have seen a letter from Mr Ward to Mr Lindeman in which I think he speaks of eleven churches at Asia—this is new to me.

      At the house of M.r L. I saw the other evg three Missionaries from the Society at Rotherham—waiting in London—destined for the East Indies—

      By the way, I have heard of several letters from our Missionaries which have arrived since You left London but I have not heard from any quarter, what has been collected in Calcutta—

      When do you expect the next No of P. Accounts?  Let me hear from You from

                                                            Your’s very affecty

                                                                              Wm Newman

P.S. I have been long contemplating a small publication on the state of females in Pagan & Mahametan Countries and in the course of this winter, I shall publish it, if I am not prevented by other things—I should like to see Mr Ward’s book on the manners of the Hindoos—If you see Mr Fuller shortly or send to him—will you do me the favor to ask him to lend it me for a few weeks. I shall gladly pay the carriage—

On the back page is another note by Newman to Sutcliff:

Dr Sr

         I beg your acceptance of a copy of my Bristol Sermon.—shall be glad if You can promote the circulation of it  Yours

                                                                              W N

Monday 2 Novr [18]12

Text: Timothy Whelan, Baptist Autographs in the John Rylands University Library of Manchester, 1741-1845 (Macon: Mercer University Press, 2009), pp. 157-58 (annotated version); also Eng. MS. 381, fol. 1485b, John Rylands University Library of Manchester. On the back page Sutcliff has written: “Rec.d Nov. 7. [18]12. Ans.d [Nov.] 17. [1812].”

Joshua Marshman’s Elements of Chinese Grammar, with a Preliminary Dissertation on the Characters, and the Colloquial Medium of the Chinese, and an Appendix Containing the Tahyoh of Confucius with a Translation, printed in two parts at Serampore in 1814. William Ward's Account of the Writings, Religion, and Manners, of the Hindoos:  Including Translations from Their Principal Works appeared in 4 volumes Serampore in 1811. (Serampore, 1811).