Thomas Thompson, Turpentine Distiller, Bill Quay, near Gateshead, Durham, to the Committee of the Baptist Missionary Society, [London], 26 November 1842.

Bill Quay Novr 26th 1842

Gentln

      Having recently heard that you contemplate the erection of a small steam ship, to convey the messengers of the glorious gospel of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, along the banks of the Niger, and into the interior of Africa, the thought occurred to me that you might have some difficulty in getting an individual competent to manage the steam engine, and one that is willing to go to that unfavourable clime, I trust that I am enabled by the grace of God, after very serious consideration to say “here am I send me, should none more efficient be found willing to go.”  I esteem it a very great honour and privilege to be engaged in any humble way to promote the interests of Christ’s Kingdom among men, how much more to be able to leave my native land, to be the humble instrument in the hand of God of conveying the heralds of salvation to the dark places of the earth which are full of the habitations of cruelty. My heart bleeds for Ethiopia & that she may soon stretch forth her hands unto God. But you will be wishful to know my capabilities as it respects steam engines, I have not served an apprenticeship to the erection of them. At the age of 17 I completed the erection of a small steam engine, which I sold. From 17 to 19, I had the charge of a low pressure steam engine, with the charge of the works and the machinery. From the age of 19 to 22, I had the charge of a high pressure steam engine between 30 & 40 Horse power, with machinery and hydraulic presses for the purpose of extracting oil from Linseed. From the age of 22 to the present period being 2 years I have had the management of a Turpentine distillery with machinery, which situation I now hold. The above situation I have filled under the same Compy which I now serve. Should you determine upon me, please inform me as soon as convenient the conditions on which you would engage, also should it so happen in the Providence of God that I should fall a victim to the climate, whether my wife and two daughters the one nearly 3 years old, and the other 10 months, would in any way be provided for, also what articles we might be providing suitable to take out, also that I may give my present employers sufficient notice. I have a turning lathe and a good many tools suitable for machinery which will be at your service if they can be taken out.

                                          I am your Obt Servt in Christ

                                                            Thos Thompson

To the Committee of the
Baptist Missionary Society

N. B.
              Please direct for me

                                          Thos Thompson

                                          Turpentine Distiller

                                                            Bill Quay

                                                            near Gateshead

                                                                              Durham

Text: Timothy Whelan, Baptist Autographs in the John Rylands University Library of Manchester, 1741-1845 (Macon: Mercer University Press, 2009), pp. 269-70 (annotated version); also MAW, Box 39 (BMS 1980), John Rylands University Library of Manchester. Thomas Thompson would have to wait until 1845 before leaving for Fernando Po; he died there the next year. Thompson’s letter was presented to the Committee on 1 December 1842. The Committee would not act upon Thompson’s request for some time. Richard Pengilly would recommend Thompson in letters to Angus dated 11 January 1843 and 27 February 1843 (see letters 212 and 232), showing increasing frustration with the Committee’s inaction. Finally, on 6 April 1843, the Committee voted to accept Thompson’s request to work as an engineer on the new vessel that the Committee was preparing to purchase for work in Africa. See BMS Committee Minutes, Vol. H (Oct. 1841-Dec. 1842), fol. 212; Vol. I (Jan. 1843-May 1844), fol. 53, Angus Library, Regent's Park College, Oxford.