D. W. Witton, Vice Chairman, West African Company, Levant House, St. Helens Place, London, to Joseph Angus, Baptist Mission, 6 Fen Court, Fenchurch Street, London, 9 March 1843.

Levant House, St Helens

9th March 1843

My dear Sir,

   I have laid before the Committee of Management of the West African Company, your two letters (addressed to me) of the 3d inst and this day respectively, the former offering on behalf of the Baptist Missionary Society the sum of £1500 for the Company’s Possessions in the Island of Fernando Po.

   In reply, I am desired respectfully to inform you, that the Committee decline accepting the offer in question.

                           I remain

                                       My dear Sir

                                               Yours very truly                                                                                         W. Witton

                                                               Vice Chairman

Revd Joseph Angus

Secrety to the Baptist Missionary Society

A note in pencil, opposite the signature, in an unknown hand, reads: 

I fear that the Government are likely to offer. I have not however seen Mr Witton.

Text: MAW, Box 39 (BMS 2852 1/2), John Rylands University Library of Manchester. Witton’s letter was read before the Committee on 22 March 1843. Within six weeks, however, Witton and the West African Company would change their mind and agree to the purchase price of £1500. See BMS Committee Minutes, Vol. I (Jan. 1843-May 1844), fols. 42-43; 67.