Frederick Trestrail, Cork, to the Committee of the Baptist Mission, 6 Fen Court, Fenchurch Street, London, 3 December 1842.

Cork:  Decr 3rd 42

Dear Brethren

      The tidings that the war in China—one of the most unjustifiable, bloody & atrocious wars wh ever disgraced a civilized country—is happily ended have filled all Xn minds with joy. God will doubtless overrule this event for good; and it behoves that Church to meet the intimations of His Providence. As our Jubilee year is not yet closed, and not withstanding the pressure of the times, the fund will amount to much more than was expected, it has been deeply impressed on my mind, that a mission should be commenced for China!  Nothing could be more delightful that the Jubilee year of Missions, should be connected not only with the termination of unprincipled wars, but with missions to those countries which our Nation’s arms have spoiled & laid waste. I intrust you therefore, dear brethren, to take up this proposal. I doubt not that others have suggested it, but should the same idea occur to many minds who have had no opportunity of concert in the matter, it will give to such a proposal a greater degree of interest, and render it more worthy of serious consideration.

                                          I am Dear Bn

                                                            Your [illegible]

                                                                              Fred Trestrail

To the Come of the Baptist Mission

Text: Timothy Whelan, Baptist Autographs in the John Rylands University Library of Manchester, 1741-1845 (Macon: Mercer University Press, 2009), pp. 277-78 (annotated version); also MAW, Box 39 (BMS 2026), John Rylands University Library of Manchester. Trestrail’s letter was presented before the Committee on 8 December 1842. See BMS Committee Minutes, Vol. H (Oct. 1841-Dec. 1842), f. 215. Frederick Trestrail (1803-90), Baptist minister in London and Clipston (1831-36) before serving as secretary of the Baptist Irish Society and the BMS (1849-69). Enthusiasm for missionary activity in China ballooned after the Treaty of Nanking in August 1842. The General Baptist Missionary Society announced plans to establish a mission in China in March 1843. It was not until 1859 that the BMS, urged by Edward Steane, then secretary of the Baptist Union, resolved to open a China mission, led by Charles Hall and Hendrik Kloekers. See Brian Stanley, The History of the Baptist Missionary Society 1792–1992 (Edinburgh: T. and T. Clark, 1992), 175-78.