While managing the increasing volume of business at the press Pearce was also active in the outside community, planning, writing and persuading others to action. In the early years he addressed Bengalis in the city's different native chapels, though he mostly taught, preached, and did good 'in a more private manner.'

Previously, in 1819, William Pearce had decided to get involved with female education in India. He drew up a paper and exerted influence to form a Society under the care of Mrs. Lawson and Mrs. Pearce and in May the Calcutta Juvenile Society for the establishment and support of Bengali Female Schools was formed. Rev.D. Corrie (later Arch-deacon of Calcutta and Bishop of Madras) gave the address at their first meeting.

In 1823 William Pearce's health began to fail and it was decided that a short sea voyage to Penang would help to restore it. He sailed with his sister Anna, who had recently arrived from England to help Mrs. Lawson and Mrs. Pearce with the Ladies' Boarding School. At Penang he stayed in a convalescent bungalow on Government Hill, 2,500 feet above the town and 'felt uncommon delight in the scenery of the islands as viewed from Government Hill.' After several months he returned to Calcutta with his health greatly improved.

There follows an account of the progress of Baptist Mission Press said to be about twenty years after its foundation, and probably written just before William Pearce returned to England at the start of 1837.

'It was in the year 1818, that the Baptist brethren in Calcutta first commenced a press. It was designed to extend the usefulness of the mission, by furnishing facilities for the printing and publication of the scriptures, religious books, school books and tracts; and by raising funds for its benevolent operations through the execution of general business.

Its commencement was very humble: one wooden press alone, with two founts of types, being first purchased. It has gradually acquired extent and importance, and at the end of last year possessed sixty-two founts of types, in eleven different languages, and had seven iron presses constantly engaged.

Soon after its establishment, a type-foundry was found necessary to its usefulness; and it being deemed important to bind works which were printed, on the premises, a number of workmen in this department also were engaged. In December last, the establishment, consisted of four European or Indo-British assistants, and upwards of one hundred compositors, pressmen, binders, or other servants. Besides the New Testament, and other parts of the sacred scriptures, in several languages, the Mission Press has executed many thousands of religious tracts, school-books, and larger works in English, Sanscrit, Bengali, Hindui, Uriya, Arabic, Persian, Hindustani. Siamese, &c. Indeed during the last year only, not less than two hundred and fifty thousand copies of various religious publications in the native dialects were issued, independent of numerous works in English, executed for Government, Societies and individuals.

In all the languages above enumerated, except the English, founts of types of various sizes have been cut at the mission foundry for its own use. It has also supplied founts of types in these languages, as well as Mahrathi, Guzarathi, Burman, Bugghese, Malay, and other characters to Missionary brethren of other denominations at Calcutta, Bombay, Surat, Moulmein, Penang, Singapore, and elsewhere.

In thus aiding the operations of our own and other brethren, by affording them important facilities for labor among the heathen, and in increasing the funds available for the benevolent operations of our own mission, the Baptist Mission Press, under the divine blessing, has been of great use. It has also exerted a beneficial influence in other respects, which should not be overlooked. By giving employment to new converts, who were deprived of friends and home, it has afforded an opportunity, without expense to the mission, of ascertaining their sincerity and capabilities of mental improvement. By declining to print any work, unless permission was granted by the author to omit all oaths, and other objectionable expressions, it has been the means of raising the moral tone of the Press in India: it has also, doubtless, improved its typography.

The office is situated close to the Mission House, all the lower apartments of which are entirely occupied with paper, printed sheets and books, and other things connected with the business. Mr. Penney's house is to the West; Mr. Yates's to the N.W.; and the English Chapel to the North. The office has been erected about ten years. It originally consisted of but one story, the lower one containing four rooms in a long range, with three smaller rooms at the S. end; but in consequence of the increase of business, about eight years ago, an upper story, consisting of three rooms was added. The whole is now appropriated as follows: --The room below to the left of the entrance, is the English composing-room; and the one on the left of it a ware-house, containing printed sheets and an hydraulic press for pressing them. The two rooms to the right of the entrance contain nine presses in use, (two of them for proofs) and, generally, some on hand for sale. Of the upper rooms, which are entered by a stair-case, the one to the right hand is appropriated, chiefly to the Armenian, Sanscrit, Hindui, Bengali and Oriya characters; and the two rooms on the left, to the Arabic, Persian, and Hindustani. The type foundry is also on the premises: it is a separate building.'

Pearce is described as having 'for about seven years occupied a Native Christian pulpit in the city.'

It gives an account of his background in England and goes on to say that: ' In this city he commenced business, in connection with his brethren, on a limited scale, giving his establishment the designation which it now bears of the 'Calcutta Baptist Mission Press.' The superior style in which works were issued from this press, secured for it a large share of business, which, with the publication of the Government Regulations, rendered it a profitable establishment. It is understood that the proceeds are placed at the disposal of the Baptist Missionary Society in England, and appropriated to the purposes of the Mission. It may be added that the property of the Press is made over to them by a deed of assignment; and that Mr. Pearce disclaims all right to it.

Though the concerns of the printing establishment have always been sufficient to engross Mr. Pearce's attention, yet from the philanthropy of his character he has been constantly engaged in various attempts to promote the intellectual improvement of the heathen. He took an active part, in conjunction with Captain Irvine, Mr. Hare, and other gentlemen, in the formation of the Calcutta School Society and the Calcutta School Book Society, with the latter of which he stands connected in the double capacity of Cash Secretary and Depositary.

The idea of educating the native females of India, it is now conceded, originated with the Calcutta Baptist Missionary Society, and not with the Episcopalian Mission, as the late Bishop Heber erroneously supposed. The first female school was placed under Mr. Pearce's superintendence, and it was to his care as Secretary of the School Society that Mrs. Wilson, the great instructress of native females, was sent out from England.'

His knowledge of Bengali meant he could assist 'Rev. Mr. Yates in completing his version of the New Testament... ...and has 'been co-operating with Mr. Yates in the preparation of the a new version of the Old Testament...' He had 'the oversight of the native church gathered by the Calcutta Baptist Missionary Society... ...and became their pastor.' He 'received no pecuniary compensation for his labours.' 'It was a frequent practice with him to take home after service, some of the younger members of his charge, in order to examine them on the leading points of the subject preached.' 'In time of sickness he was constant in his visits to them in their poor dwellings, administering to them such remedies as a competent knowledge of medicine enabled him to prescribe.'

His 'aptitude for business caused his advise to be sought by many... ...and his opinion was generally solicited by the Missionaries, both European and American, on their arrival in this city with regard both to secular and ministerial matters.'

'Mr. Pearce was eminent for his hospitality. It was general practice with him to entertain at his house, for months, one or more Missionaries with their families on their arrival from England or America, while preparing to proceed to their destined stations.'

The article concludes by saying that 'Mr. Pearce had by no means a hardy constitution, his exterior showed a delicate frame and he was frequently subject to severe indisposition. During these past two or three years particularly he felt his health declining.' 'Though long advised to undertake a journey to Europe... ...he at length determined on taking that step, and is now on his way to his native land.'

William Pearce sailed from Calcutta on 1st January 1837 on board the 'Mount Stuart Elphinstone', and arrived in England on the 4th May. His feelings on arrival in England were expressed in a letter dated 29th May, 1837.

'You may be curious to know the impression made on our minds after so long an absence from our native land. The spring having been excessively backward this year, we have not yet seen it in its beauty. We saw the shore first in a fog, which had nearly proved fatal for our vessel, by causing us to go ashore near Dover, and have only yet had two days which may be denominated truly fine ones. My dear Martha has already had influenza but is recovered, and we are both inconvenienced (as all Indians are) by the perpetual changes of the temperature. Saying nothing at present of nature I shall confine myself to art. Here improvement meets us at every step. Darkness is dispelled by gas, time economized, and fatigue prevented by steamers, omnibuses and other cheap modes of conveyance. Superior elegance or convenience marks the coal-hod, the grate, the chimney-piece, the tongs, the shovel, the fender, and indeed every article, however minute, on which the eye can rest in your habitation. All seems incessant effort on the part of tradesmen, to merit support by superior elegance in the arrangement, or neatness in the manufacture of their wares, while the publicity given through the press to every improvement, makes it known and adopted almost instantaneously at the extremities of the kingdom. Trade and commerce are, however, universally said to be in a very happy state: a complete contrast to what they were last year. The failure of many American houses appears to be one of the principal causes, and it seems much to affect the spirits and hopes of the people both in London and the manufacturing towns.'

In 1837 the Serampore Mission and the Calcutta Mission combined under the direction of the Baptist Missionary Society. The Serampore Printing Office was closed and the work was transferred to Baptist Mission Press, Calcutta.