Jane Attwater Blatch, [Bratton,] to Mary Steele Dunscombe, [Broughton,] Friday morning [undated, c. 1807].

Friday morng

My beloved Friend

   Tho I have but a few moments for writing I must embrace ym to thank my dear Friends for ye assurance they gave us of the favorable construction they put on our late Conduct.  Be assured it rejoices my heart to have such a convincing proof of your friendship & claims my future confidence & gratitude. I knew appearances may be against us but Reality to a partial friendly Heart must be a powerful plea – suffice it to say Mr D & yourself has by your Lenity endeared yourselves to our heart. My good man is happy to have it in his power to add our mite to your abundance.  Excuse its not being more.

   I hope he will have a safe unmolested journey he has had a cold for several weeks & is not quite well, therefore I wish him to be careful of himself.  Accept Annas & my united Love & duty Mr B will acquaint you with particulars of Health &c fare well in ye utmost haste may every blessing await your wishes your ever

                                             Affecte B

Utmost haste as I always make it a point not to make Mr B wait

Text: Timothy Whelan, ed., Nonconformist Women Writers, 1720-1840, 8 vols.  (London: Pickering & Chatto, 2011), vol. 3, p. 368 (annotated version); Attwater Papers, acc. 76, Angus Library, Regent's Park College, Oxford. Attwater Papers, acc. 76, Angus Library.  The above letter is undated but clearly from this period, just after the Dunscombes returned to Broughton and prior to the death of Jane Blatch’s daughter, Anna, in 1809. During this period, Thomas Dunscombe borrowed a sum of money from Joseph Blatch, a sum not repayed until after his death through monies provided in the will of Mary Steele. Jane Blatch’s comments above may be in reference to that loan.