Notes on some Letters by Dan Taylor, Mile End, London, to William Birley, St. Ives, 1771-1808.

#27—Taylor to Birley, June 20, 1792—he sends bill for Towgood, Wakefield’s Strictures, and Baxter’s Dying Thoughts, among others.  He says, “It is said that Mr Ryland Junr  declines the acceptance of Bristol Academy, but his Dissenting Baptist friends think he ought to attend to it.  A Gentleman who has finished his Studies at that Academy, spent about an hour with me last Saturday, and seems to think that Mr Ryland would on the whole be an useful person there.” 

#36—Taylor to Birley, April 23, 1793—“I went directly to Payne for Barbauld, which was sold.  The others are not to be had, except Paine, & I don’t think it prudent to ask for that, if it sh.d come into my hand, by accident, I will endeavour to reserve it for you.”

#38—Taylor to Birley, July 10, 1793—He hopes to visit Cambridgeshire soon; he says “I have been at Johnson’s; but the pamphlet you mention is not to be had, except by chance.  I wish I may find it for you.”

#42--Taylor to Birley, 1793?—

Dear Sir,

               I wish I could send you all the information you wish.  But you don’t know my circumstances & embarrassments.  9 children around me, an afflicted wife in the Country, for whom I have to care.  Shop Business, & to be continually, almost, talking or writing to one & another.  Preaching 6 times a week, & the care of a numerous people, Hymn Book printing, etc.  Mr Freeman is Son to a Member, I think a Deacon of D.r Stennett, was educated with D.r Evans, does not, I think, profess to be quite settled in Sentiment, only has totally relinguished Calvinism.  But I apprehend he is a Socinian, am afraid of the worst kind.  Has no people, nor preaches any where, that I know of.  I think he lives near Enfield.”

#55--By August 1794 his wife is dead, and he hopes to remarry soon.

#57--Taylor to Birley, Sept. 13, 1794—He says, “A Clergyman has this day been with me who informed me he has heard it said that the late Mr Robinson of Chesterton, near Cambridge, put an end to his own life, by cutting his throat.  I could wish to confront the Report, on good grounds.  I hope it is without foundation.  Should be much obliged to you, to inform me whether you ever heard it, and what can be fairly said against it.”

#59--Taylor to Birley, May 8, 1795— “The trials of last winter, several of which still continue, (especially in the dearness of provision, the deadness of trade, & the scarcity of money) are such as I never before experienced, nor any thing like them.”  [He has had to move his family to Mile End Road and the expenses have put him back 70 or 80 pounds.]  At the end of the letter, not in Taylor’s hand, maybe Birley’s, is a list of books sold and their prices and dates when sold, including Frend’s Address to the Inhabitants of Cambridge.

#96--Taylor to Birley, Oct. 28, 1806— “You asked, in your last, my thoughts on ‘Foster’s Essays.’  I think they evidence a great strength of mind, & penetration, & compass of thought.  But many of his sentences are awkwardly constructed;  & in my opinion they discover a turn of mind, not much adapted for general usefulness, as a minister; to the common people especially.  I suppose you know the man.  He is the Son of ‘Jone at Lee.’  I called upon his father, when in Yorkshire, at Midsummer.  Both his Father & Mother were then living, & I apprehend, are so still.  They both have strong natural powers, tho’ both aged; the father is 80.”

#97--Taylor to Birley, Aug. 27, 1807— “Mr. Hall’s conduct, in marriage, is, I think, inadvertent, on account of his disorder.  But God knows how to overrule for the best.”

Text:  D/Hus  1/6/15, Hughes Collection, Angus Library, Regent's Park College, Oxford.