John Ryland, Jr., Bristol, to John Sutcliff, Olney, 23 January 1805.

My dear Bror

         We have got nearly three thousand pounds subscribed for our Building, particulars I have no time to relate—I send this on a printed paper the better to conceal the inclosed which you will be so good as to acknowledge in a day or two—9.3.9. is for yourself, including 1 Guinea for D. Dossett’s pocket money—which will pay you for 1 Qr at the rate of 32 Guineas pr Ann. Board & Tuition—the same as is paid here—the remaining 4£. 6.3 you will pay to Bror Fuller for the Mission Society, particulars shall be sent as soon as I can—I recd 50 Guineas last week thro Mr Biddulph.[4]

On the opposite page are these figures:        

                                                        Board & Tuition                     9. 3. 9

                                                        Dan Dossett                            48. 6. 3                                          

                                                                                                           57.10.7

Text: Timothy Whelan, Baptist Autographs in the John Rylands University Library of Manchester, 1741-1845 (Macon: Mercer University Press, 2009), p. 123 (annotated version); also Eng. MS. 371, fol. 107g, John Rylands University Library of Manchester. The letter is postmarked 23 January; on the back page Sutcliff has written: “Rec. Jan. 24. 1805. Ans. — 25. —.” Ryland oversaw the move of the College from North Street to Stokes Croft. The new building, including the Museum, cost £12,000 and was not completed until 1811. See Norman S. Moon, Education for Ministry: Bristol Baptist College, 1679-1979 (Bristol: Bristol Baptist College, 1979) 34. Daniel Dossett was studying for the ministry under Sutcliff at Olney, although he does not appear in the list of students mentioned in “Sutcliff’s Academy at Olney,” Baptist Quarterly 4 (1928-29): 276-79. He would later pastor the Baptist church at Gold Hill, Bucks., c. 1811-23. Along with Sutcliff and forty-three other ministers, he attended the initial meetings in London on 24-25 June 1812 that led to the formation of Baptist Union. See Seymour J. Price, “The Early Years of the Baptist Union,” Baptist Quarterly 4 (1928-29): 58, 131.  The total received from Biddulph came from Miss P. G. Smith of Bradford, and amounted to £52.10. See Periodical Accounts, vol. 3, p. 128.