Harriet Andrews, Shaw, to Philip Whitaker, Bratton, [Friday], 3 September 1819.

Shaw   Septr 3d 1819

   I should think my dear Sir that my Brother Wm would embrace the present opportunity of writing to request the favor of your assistance in the settling of our affairs: in which we have as yet made no progress whatever. I am as you may suppose at times exceedingly uncomfortable respecting it, and do therefore say whether he writes to you or not, that I should esteem it a particular mark of kindness if you and Mrs Whitaker would oblige me by a visit as soon as Mrs Whitaker returns from the sea coast. You know not how much good you may be doing by such a step, for I verily believe we never shall come to a right understanding without the kind interferance of friends, and I know of no persons as congenial to my mind as you and Mr Matthews. My Brother Wm do not at present seem to object to this tho: he may not perhaps take an active part in writing to you.

   I know it will give you pleasure to hear that I am upon the whole more comfortable than I have been since the death of my poor Father; the Lord has been very gracious; for while the old man is in a measure subdued by the trials he experienced, the new man is I trust growing into the fulness of Christ Jesus my bleessed Redeemer.  I am sorry to hear so unfavorable an account of your Mothers health, I hope the Lord will bless her, and then she shall be blessed, both as it respects this life; and that which is to come; pray make my kind regards to her, to your Sister likewise, and to my Uncle James, from whom I recd a few lines, but to whom I have not at present time to write  be kind enough to say as much to him and believe me to be dear Sir in the bonds of christian friendship yours respectfully

                                             Harriet Andrews

If my Brother should not write to you, we can you know speak on business as circumstances may arise when you are here, he knows I intend to give you an invitation. My dear Leah begs to unite in being kindly remembered to all.               

Text: Reeves Collection, Box 14.6.(e.), Bodleian. Address: Mr Whitaker | Bratton Farm | Wilts.  No postmark. William Andrews, recently deceased, was the father of William and Harriet Andrews and the brother of James Andrews (see next letter below by William Andrews). The reference above to ‘your mothers health’ is most likely to Anne Whitaker's mother-in-law, Caroline Whitaker, whose health was not robust at this time and who die in October 1824. She is always referred to as ‘mother’ by Anne Whitaker, as would have been the social norm at that time. "Leah" is the younger sister of William and Harriet Andrews, named after their mother.