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Taunton Oct. 3 1778

Rev’d dear Sir,

This introduces to your hands the charge &c & bespeaks your candour. I have sent for your lectures on nonconformity, from which I promise myself much pleasure. When are we to see the last vol. of saurin & Claude on compositions for the pulpit? I take pleasure in the prospect, that an history of the Baptists will become the subject of consideration by the Fund. I could wish it to be laid before the general Baptist Fund & the general assembly at Barbican which meets in Whitsund week. Indeed it ought to engage the attention & encouragement of all the associations thro’ the kingdom.

When I shall be at London is very uncertain; & it would answer no end for me to attend on this business, I find myself so incompetent for giving advice, & for expressing, my thoughts in a large company, especially pro re nata.

Since writing the former part, I have read your plan of lectures, with which & the design I am much struck; as far as I have seen it is very comprehensive and judicious and may be very serviceable, as a guide. At present I am much determined to do something in the way; but am thinking that it will be most eligible here to make it an open public lecture, and shall propose to some of my brethren to join in it and conduct it alternately. If this proposal doth not meet with their concurrence I will according to present intentions do it myself. I wish you could convey to me the minutes of the Eastern Association for this and last year; the latter I have seen and wish heartily to see the hint adopted, of a general Association of all the denominations. Has any step been since taken towards carrying in to full effect? These papers, or any little packet at any time, may be conveyed to me, if left at Mr. Buckland’s directed for me to be forwarded in the next parcel to his correspondent in Taunton.

I have enclosed two other things for your acceptance. That on Baptism has had very little sale. Great part of the impression I have given away. Perhaps the sight of it may be agreable to you. I printed it, partly at the importunity of our friend Mr. Turner, of Avingdon.

But I must conclude, with every assurance of regard and

best wishes from

Dear Sir,

Your affectionate and sincere Fnd.

& Bror. Joshua Toulmin

Ps. I wish to see the plan of lectures filled out by the same Author. Shall I recommend it to the same pen to draw up a like Analysis of lectures on the evidence of natural & reverted religion; if not on the doctrines of both?

Page 1 of 4 of October 30, 1778 letter written in Old English from Taunton, England by Joshua Toulmin to Rev. Robert Robinson of Cambridge requesting copies of Rev. Robinson's lectures on nonconformity to use as a guide for Tulmin's own lectures. Credit: Joshua Toulmin

See below.