Letter from Richard Reynolds to William Allen

              Bristol 25th of 9th Month 1809.

Esteemed Friend--

I was from home when thy favor of the 4th Inst. arrived at this place, & tho' I have been returned rather more than a week the intervention of our Quarterly Meeting & some other engagements, have prevented a more early acknowledgment of it.

I hope this will meet thee safely with thy Family returned from Brighton, the better for having been there. I have frequently remarked to my Friends that I had heard that on certain occasions Pounds mean Guineas. I think it always should when to be applied to charitable purposes, & send the inclosed accordingly; which I shall be pleased to hear is duly received by thee, as I am that thou approves of its being entered in the Societys report in the manner suggested by me.
I presume the Cash will be received for the inclosed before the next meeting of the directors of the African Institution, or I would have sent it at a shorter date than a month--As it is, the Bankers acceptance of it will ensure the payment at that time. Do not mention the Sum but only the bill when thou answers this letter.

I hope the African Captain (Cuffe) will meet with sufficient encouragement to prosecute his intention of going to Sierra Leone, & that he will find it expedient to encourage some sober families of black People in America to settle among the Africans, believing it would importantly coincide with the views of the African Institution. If by encouragement he means pecuniary remuneration--tho' his present acquisition & his high respect among Friends, with his late admission into our religious Society inclines me to form a different opinion--but if that is his meaning, I so far think with thee that this is an opportunity not to be missed, that I shall freely contribute thereunto. I think this same Captn. Cuffe was at Liverpool some years ago & that his Crew were negroes. I have received the Book on Capital punishments, the Rules &c. of the Castle Gaol at Oxford (not the Gloster Jail as mentioned in thy letter) & Geo. Harrison on Education, for which I am obliged to Thee--but I really have not had time to read them--when I have, I shall as thou requests it, give thee my opinion of them, remaining in the mean time--

Thy affectionate Friend
Richd. Reynolds