William Ward, Madeira, to John Ryland, Bristol, 18 June 1821.

Madeira, June 18, 1821.

My dear M.rs Ryland,

         I omitted to write to you while in England, though I fully intended it.  I do it now, that I may have the opportunity of thanking you 10,000 times for your care of my things while at your house. I receive it as a great kindness.

         We arrived here this morning, all well.  Mack has had no seasickness.   Mrs Mack but little.  We have family worship twice a day, with singing in Miss Cook’s cabin, & preaching either on the deck or in the steerage passage twice on the Sabbath.  The captain is kind; the accommodations are good.  We are all very happy in one another.  As our Gen. Baptist friends could not go into open communion, we have resolved to have the communion twice a month.  I administered it on the first Lord’s-day in the month, & invited all the Missionaries: as they (the G. B.) could not sit down with Miss Cook, an Episcopalian, they did not come. They will have it next Lords-day, & invite as many as they conscientiously can; & thus we keep our principles, & still love as Brethren.  I have found a home here even at Madeira.  A dear young man, a Mr Laird, with Mr Blackburn, a merchant here, has manifested a most affectionate attachment; & I hope is a good young man.  The Protestant inhabitants here offered Mr Davis, now in India, 500£ a year if he would stay.  Leave would be obtained from the Portuguese Govt.  Mr Blackburn has invited Mrs Marshman & myself up to his Country house.

         Love to the dear children not forgetting Jonathan Edwards. With my very sincere love to the Dr tell him that I will try to send him the copy of my Journal while in America.

Address: Mrs Ryland |Care of Rev. Dr Ryland, | Bristol | England

Postmark: 27 August 1821 [with a note added in an unknown hand: “via Madrid & Paris”

Endorsed (by John Ryland): “dated June 18. Recd Aug. 28 } 1821

Note (in Mrs. Ryland’s hand): “From dear Mr Ward | dated Madeira June 18? |1821 |near Gibraltar

[The above letter was written on Ward’s return to India after his furlough in England.]

Text: NLW MS. 14348D, National Library of Wales, Aberystwyth.