1789 Letter from Beilby Porteus, Bishop of London – Exuma, Bahamas – £20 Treasury Bounty Fulham Palace – Reverend William Gordon – Colonial Anglican Mission History

A fine late‑18th‑century episcopal letter written from Fulham Palace, dated 25 May 1789, signed “B. London” (Beilby Porteus, Bishop of London 1787–1809). Addressed to the Lords Commissioners of His Majesty’s Treasury, Porteus requests the standard £20 royal bounty to assist the passage of the Reverend William Gordon, newly licensed to serve as a priest on the Island of Exuma, one of the Bahama Islands.

This is a classic example of the administrative machinery by which the Church of England established and maintained its presence in the West Indies. At this date Exuma had no stable Anglican clergy, and the Crown and SPG were working to strengthen the islands’ religious infrastructure following Loyalist resettlement after the American Revolution. Gordon’s appointment represents one of the early steps in the development of Anglican ministry on Exuma — a lineage that ultimately leads to the modern parish of St Andrew’s, George Town, within the Diocese of The Bahamas & The Turks and Caicos Islands.

Text (diplomatic): Fulham, May 25th, 1789. My Lords, The Reverend William Gordon being licensed to perform the Ministerial Office of a Priest in the Island of Exuma, One of the Bahama Islands, and on his departure thither, I make it my Request, that your Lordships will be pleased to order him his Majesty's Bounty of Twenty Pounds to defray the Charge of his Passage to that Island, and am, My Lords, Your Lordships's most obedient Thos humble Servt B. London To the right Honorable The Lords Commissioners of His Majesty's Treasury.

Condition as photos. Guaranteed Original. All items can be returned for a full refund if found to be not as described.

  • Beilby Porteus (or Porteous; May 1731 – May 1809), successively Bishop of Chester and of London, was a Church of England reformer and a leading abolitionist in England. He was the first Anglican in a position of authority to seriously challenge the Church's position on slavery.

  • Reverend William Gordon (fl. 1780s–1790s) was an Anglican clergyman


  • PROVENANCE:

    • One of c.2,500+ items once from the collection or dealer stock of Winifred A Myers (Autographs) Ltd, St Martins Lane, London, evidenced by the quantity of Myers pre-printed envelopes and paper folders and the general ‘presentation’ of the items, many having Myers identification notes in pencil. 

    Winifred Alice Myers (1909 - 1985) served as ABA (Antiquarian Booksellers Assoc) president, 1950-1952. See the ABA website for an extended article on Myers. Myers left her business, in 1985, to Ruth Shepherd, who traded from home until 2004. 

    Complete with digital .jpg CoA - as photo - for you to print if needed

    ______________________________

       Combined Postage 

    UK Based Customers:

    • I can usually combine UK postage, depending on weight and size, usually 50p for each subsequent purchase, on top of highest first post cost. Please ask if in doubt.

    Overseas Customers:

    • I Cannot combine postage on overseas items, as eBay Global Shipping rules don't usually allow it. 

       Shipping Information 

    • I will only post to addresses registered on eBay.

    UK Based Customers:

    • I aim to post items within 4 working days of payment being confirmed by eBay. 
    • I usually pack and post twice a week, so, depending on when payment is received, I may post same day, or, latest 4 working days later.

    Overseas Customers:

    • I will only post outside of the UK if the eBay global shipping programme is available on the listing. This service does not offer combined postage. 

       Returns 

    UK Based Customers:

    • Items can be returned if found not to be as described. 

    Overseas Customers:

    • No returns are accepted from overseas customers. If in doubt, please do not purchase. Sorry!
    Thanks for looking!