Wonderful original autograph letter by James Montgomery, (b. Irvine, Ayrshire, Scotland, 1771; d. Sheffield, Yorkshire, England, 1854), the son of Moravian parents who died on a West Indies mission field while he was in boarding school. Montgomery inherited a strong religious bent, a passion for missions, and an independent mind. Alone with other socially conscious heirs of the Great Awakening, he joined Wilberforce, Shaftesbury, and others in protesting against slavery, the lot of boy chimney sweeps, and many other social ills of the day. A large-hearted Evangelical, Montgomery supported various missions and the British Bible Society.

He published eleven volumes of poetry, mainly his own, and at least four hundred hymns, over 100 of which are still in use. This puts him in the same field as Isaac Watts and Charles Wesley. His Angels from the Realms of Glory, According to Thy Gracious Word, and Go to Dark Gethsemane are among the most popular. 

The present letter, in his usual large, sweeping hand, is addressed to the wealthy financier of missions and publisher, Peter Jackson Esq. 

"Sheffield
Mar 30, 1826

Sir,

Please to send six copies of Mr Ellis's Account of Hawaii directed for me to the enclosed in the weekly parcel, sent off every Saturday from Messrs Baynes & Son, Paternoster Row, to Mr. Blackwell, Booksellers in this town. I expected to have had a large order, but I find several of the persons whom I intended to supply have already got copies elsewhere. I will be answerable for the amount of these at the trade price as they are to be ****** bookseller's hands. 

I am, with best respects to W Drew and M Fisher, your friend, J Montgomery

PS. If you cannot get them enclosed on Saturday in the parcel mentioned, they must be forwarded to me in a separate parcel by Coach, no later than Monday if possible."