John Rippon, London, to Thomas Ustick, Philadelphia, 25 March 1794.

Lond Mar 25. 1794.

Dear Bror,

         I thank you for the draught value £15.15.0 (Fifteen Guineas) by Mr Trevor on Mr Brant, with which your acct is accredited, and by the Pigou I now send in a Box

         90 Regisers no 7     1/0   charged    9d                          £3.7.6

         7 Vols of Regr, charged.  6 Vols                 at 6/6                          1.19.0

         ** 7 Dr Hunters Sermon        charged   6 at 1/0                   0.6.0

         ** 7 Dr Rylands –                      do         do                     0.6.0

         ** 6 Trivetts Chrony               5                      6d                             0.2.6

         Luther Table Talk      £1.0.0                 at                                  0.18.0

         In a paper parcel wch the box wd not hold   

         14 Bicheno’s Signs of the Times 2d [?], at 12  1/6                  0.18.0

         These last I send to oblige ye author, they are returnable ^& so are other articles^ and the Articles distinguished above by ** I have paid 1/0 for each Sermon & 6d for each Chronology, so yt I lose by each, & forward them to serve ye Chh here, & may please some curious person with you.

         I have not heard from yourself nor from others ye state of yr family in the late calamy. I see yr name among the living, blessed be God. Bror Rogers has sent me 2 or 3 letters, & sent us Carey’s 2d & 3d ed: of his book (ye last not yet come to hand).

         I should be glad to have an exact list of all the Baptists who died in yr city, ye members of your Church distinguished from other baptists – I supps you must have met with some remarkable Cases in vistg the sick & dying at ye time of ye plague. Any thing worth preserving please to communicate whether it relates to yr own church, or to other ministers & their churches.

         Mr Thomas Fielder, once a memr of my church, who has been in yr city 2 or 3 years, can you say whether he is dead or alive? His children have been with me to know. I hear he attends with the Presbyterians.

         Please to forward all the Ecclesiastical news you can.

         How do ye Hymn books sell? In Dr Fosters last he informs me that my edition at ye former price sells better than the American conditions [editions] at the reduced price. Dr F also I find has lost his wife. “What dying worms are we!”

         Long since I sent to Dr Rogers of Phila a box of books (mostly Hymns) for Mr Wood of Kentucky wch the latter ordered – he has since wrote Dr R that he was not likely to have them – if he has not sent for them, and Dr Rogers has not heard of him, since Dr ^R^ wrote me last, if you want any of ye Hymn books you may open the box and acct for the whole.

         Almost all Mr Asplunds Registers are on hand – they must have cost him great trouble, but they do not sell. I paid 18s/0d for the barrel of them he sent to me. To what place shd I return them for him. The letter for him, which came from his native country, first to me, & is now sent to you please to forward, it cost me 3s/1d postage, which I have put to his acct.

         Did I not mention some time since, Dr Gills Exposn, abridged? I can soon go to press with the new Testt. The war has hindered the sale of religious publics here. Has there been any encouragemt given to my plan in Pennsylvania? Have you heard any of the ministering brethren say any thing about the work? Please to let me know what is wished. We shall allow 7 copies to those who take 6. 1.1.0 to be paid at time of Subscription. The new Testt in 4o not to exceed 2.5.0 to Subscribers – but paper is raised very much within one month past what was 18/0 will now be 21/6. If I did not wish you before to recv Subscrips I wish you now to do it. I do not know of 3 people among all our connexions here in town & country but who approve of the plan.

                     I am very affecy yr Bror & Servt

                                             John Rippon

I beg you will let me know how Mr & Mrs [?] are.

Address: Rev Mr Ustick | Philadelphia | Hond by Cap Robinson | Pigou

Postmark: none

Endorsed: March 25. 1794. J. Rippon. [most likely by Ustick]    

Text: John Rippon Folder, RG no. 1285, American Baptist Historical Society Archives, Atlanta.