William Ward to Thomas Raffles, Thursday morning [1819].

Thursday morn.g

Rev. & dear Sir,

         I have heard with much concern of your late accident, & of the present state of your health, & should have availed myself of your kindness in giving you a call this morning, but have been obliged to resort to medicine myself, & am now confined. I shall be happy to hear that you are better this morning; & hope you will soon be again in your delightful work. May you be long preserved & long prospered in it.

         Governor Raffles was at Serampore a short time before I left home; both he & his lady: they were then well. They have since proceded to Darusslam.  My nephew is gone with Sir Thos taking with him a printing press,— I hope he may be a blessing to the country, as he is a pious young man, & Sir Thos enters into all his missionary plans.

                                             Yrs very very truly

                                                               W. Ward

Rev. T. Raffles.

Text: Eng. MS. 386, fol. 3015, John Rylands University Library of Manchester.  This letter was written while Ward was still on furlough in England. Darrussalam was located in the northern tip of the island of Sumatra, where Raffles had been serving as governor.