John Thomas, 22 Devonshire Road, Liverpool, to Mr. Harkinson, 23 April 1894.

Dear M.r  Harkinson,

       I am exceedingly sorry that you have been obliged to make repeated application for the MS I promised you.  You will regret to know that I have not been able to preach since the beginning of last October.  Indeed, I have only preached 2 sermons since July, having been laid up with a grave & tedious affection of the knee.  I had previously consented to the publication of a weekly sermon, & it is with great difficulty I have been able to supply the publisher during this long interval of illness.  Had it been possible for me to do more than this, I would long ago have sent you a sermon.  I hope to resume my work very soon, & have delayed writing in the hope that I might see my way to promise you the MS at a definite date.  But I regret to say that I cannot yet do this, and can only assure you that I will send it as soon as I possibly can.

                     Believe me

                                 Yours very cordially,

                                                         John Thomas

Text: ENG. MS. 861, fol. 60, Thomas Raffles Collection, John Rylands University Library of Manchester. Thomas was the minister at this time at the  Myrtle Street Chapel, Liverpool.