Herman Vitsius Ryland, Beauport, near Quebec, to John Rippon, London, 16 July 1817.

Beauport, near Quebec

16th July 1817

My dear Sir

         Your Letter of the 25 March last has been delivered to me by Mr Stennett and I assure you it afforded me singular pleasure to be reminded of Persons whom I have known so long and whom I so sincerely respect as I do you. I have a strong recollection of innumerable acts of kindness received from you during a series of years in early life, and I shall be happy in testifying my grateful remembrance of them by any attentions which it may be in my power to shew to the young Gentleman whom you have introduced to my acquaintance.

         I cannot say I know (except by seeing his advertisements frequently in the Papers) the Person with whom Mr Stennett has connected himself – and to whom, from the line of his Business, I should think the Term Trader was rather more applicable than that of Merchant. I understand he was formerly with a Mr Rivers, a young Man who within these few years has amassed a good deal of money here as a dashing Warehouseman. It is natural enough that Persons of this description, when they go to England, should prest [fol. 482v.] themselves off as Merchants; but they are not considered exactly in that light in this Society –

         I enter into these Particulars because, from what you tell me of Mr Stennett, his mental acquirements, as well as his manners and breeding, give him much higher Pretensions in this Society than the People here mentioned, and I fear the Connexion may sacrifice him to a certain level, though qualified by his habits and Education to hold a Place in the uppermost here. I have not however one word to offer against the respectability of Mr G. in his line, and I heartily wish the Connexion may lead to Mr Stennett’s permanent and advantageous establishment in this Country

         I do know by sight, a man of the name of Thaddeus Osgoode (an American as I understand by birth) who [went] some time since to England where, it is said, he collected a pretty round Sum of Money, upon the Pretense of its being used as a Fund toward promoting public Education in this part of His Majesty’s Dominions – and I recollect, after his Return, seeing an advertisement in one of the Quebec Papers announcing, that, on a Day and at an hour therein specified, Mr Osgoode would attend at a certain Tavern in that City, for the purpose of reading [fol. 483r.] an account to the Public of his Conduct, and of then and there answering all such Questions as might be put to him respecting it – (or Expressions to that effect) I did not find that any meeting took place in consequence of this advertisement; though I had the Curiosity afterwards to enquire; but the Transaction confirmed me in the Idea I had previoulsy formed of Mr Thaddeus Osgoode with whom I have not the slightest wish or inclination to force any acquaintance.

         And here, my dear Sir, suffer me for once, candidly to acknowledge to you, that although I sincerely respect the great Body of Dissenting Clergy, and think as highly of the Sincerity and Piety of several of them with whom I have the happiness to be acquainted as I can do of any others, I have, upon mature deliberation, brought up my children in the established Church, which I have myself invariably attended ever since I first came to this Country – I have not time to enter into any reasoning on this Subject, nor do I see any useful purpose it could answer to do so if I had – and I mention the matter now merely with a view to give you information, and that you may not hereafter be surprised to find that I really have not the slightest acquaintance with any of the dissenting Clergy in this Province, except it be with a Dr Sparks (of the Scotch Churches) who is much respected by all Ranks and Descriptions of People and is as worthy a Man as I ever met with.

         I heartily thank you for the Pamphlets you were so good as to send me, though I had both Publications before. It is [fol. 483r.] very pleasing to be reminded of your affectionate and long tried attachment to my dear Father. Will you admit a belief that, in the World of Spirits, a Parent may be permitted to intercede with the Deity for a Son still remaining in a state of Probation – in this miserable World it would surely be a consoling Idea to admit into the human Mind! I know you will answer, that another and an infinitely greater Intercessor is appointed – and to him I pray not for my own happiness only, but for yours and that of your Family, in which I can assure you I shall ever take an interest, being with Sentiments of unfeigned Esteem and Regard

                                 My dear Dr Rippon

                                             Most faithfully

                                                         and affectionately yours

                                                                     H. W. Ryland

My Wife desires me to offer you her best respects and good wishes – She is, I believe, personally unknown to you though you are not so to her. The mention you make of my Family induces me to inform you, that I have but Four Children remaining out of [?] Two Boys, both of whom assist me in my Office, and two Girls, the eldest of whom is still in England with a Miss [?] at Brighton but we expect her out in the course of this year or the next at furthest. Her Sister, only seven years of age, is with us – We reside entirely in the Country all the year round, but I go almost every day into Town to attend to my public Duties. I have here a little Farm, which I purchased a few years since, containing about Fifty acres of arable and Meadowland &, at some distance in the Mountains, about thirty acres of Woodland. My House is situated on a rising Ground, about ¾ths  of a Mile from the St Lawrence, in a beautiful Paddock, from whence we have a compact view of the Harbour and City of Quebec, and of a wooded Glen where

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underneath are [?] through which runs one of the most rapid, circuitous and beautiful Streams that it is possible to see, and all around us we have the most praised, interesting and cheeful scenery that can be imagined – and if you could take a peep at us (as I heartily wish you could), I think you would acknowledge that you had never before seen a spot combining so many beauties of nature –

         You say nothing to me about your Family though it would have been very gratifying to me to have heard some account of them – I enclose a few lines for Mr Stennett which I leave open for your perusal – I fear I shall not have time to write to my Br by this opportunity. Pray tell him I recd the Box of Books and have written to him twice since the Navigation opened.

Address: none

Postmark: none

Text: John Rippon Letters, British Library, Add. Ms. 25388, fols. 482-83.