Letter from W[illiam] Dowson, Port of Spain, Trinidad, to Reverend Dr [Thomas] Coke and the [Wesleyan Methodist] Missionary Committee, with enclosure of extract from the minutes of the Council of Trinidad

Letter addressed to Mr Tho[ma]s Blanshard, City Road, London. A number of 'unfounded and infamous' accounts being circulated suggesting Mr [Thomas] Talboys is a disturber of the peace, etc. When he arrived on 14th March unable to land until the intervention of Mr [Thomas] Tyler. Upon landing he foun...

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Order number: MMS/Special Series/Various Papers/FBN 45
Date(s) of creation: 30 Apr 1811
Level: Item
Format: Archive           

collection SOAS Archive
id MMS.17.03.03.06.03.49
recordtype archive
scb_item_location Archive & Special Collections
item_location Archive & Special Collections
scb_loan_type Reference only
scb_order_with MMS/Special Series/Various Papers/FBN 45
callnumber MMS/17/03/03/06/03/49
callnumber_txt MMS/17/03/03/06/03/49
callnumber-sort MMS/17/03/03/06/03/49
prefix_number 49
title Letter from W[illiam] Dowson, Port of Spain, Trinidad, to Reverend Dr [Thomas] Coke and the [Wesleyan Methodist] Missionary Committee, with enclosure of extract from the minutes of the Council of Trinidad
scb_date_creation 30 Apr 1811
scb_level Item
level_sort 8/Collection/Sub-Collection/Sub-Sub-Collection/Sub-Sub-Sub-Collection/Series/Sub-Series/Sub-Sub-Series/File/Item
scb_extent 4 pages
format Archive
description Letter addressed to Mr Tho[ma]s Blanshard, City Road, London. A number of 'unfounded and infamous' accounts being circulated suggesting Mr [Thomas] Talboys is a disturber of the peace, etc. When he arrived on 14th March unable to land until the intervention of Mr [Thomas] Tyler. Upon landing he found the chapel shut, Talboys on a charge, not permitted to preach, and being vilified by press and public. Has asked Governor for permission to preach but denied. On 20th March Governor and council met and placed charges before Talboys (who denied them). Talboys allowed to preach but under restrictions (including only preaching or meeting three times a week) as enclosed [see below]. Entreats Coke and committee to use influence to remove restrictions on them, particularly with regard to preaching to 'negroes'. He and Talboys are generally in good health except that his eyes weakened by the 'excessive heat'. In postscript mentions there may be an opportunity to preach in Martinique. Enclosure is entitled 'Trinidad. Extract from the Minutes of His Majesties Council held by adjournment at the Government House the 20th April 1811' and considers a petition accusing Talboys of 'holding forth Doctrines destructive of the good order and peaceable conduct of the free coloured inhabitants & slaves [enslaved people] of the Islands', not complying with his license to preach, extracting contributions from poor followers and promoting 'dangerous principles of equality'. Petition requests he is expelled from Colony. Talboys denies all charges and supported by Mr Camm. Until clarification is received from Crown Talboys is permitted to officiate in his chapel under the following restrictions: (1) Obeys section 5 of the Act of Toleration, (2) confines sermons to the Gospel without alluding to politics, (3) not administer the sacrament, (4) only three divine services a week and no later than 8 o'clock.
scb_access_status Open
scb_conditions_gov_access Only to be viewed on microfiche
scb_copyright Copyright held by Methodist Missionary Society
scb_use_restrictions For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
language English
language_search English
scb_file_number 4
hierarchy_top_id_raw MMS
hierarchy_sequence MMS.0017.0003.0003.0006.0003.0049