Eliza Gregory [and her mother, Anna], Woolwich, to Maria Grace Saffery, Salisbury, [Friday], 29 May 1829.

Woolwich Common

May 29th 1829

My dear Madam,

   I must begin this letter by expressing my very great regret that I was absent from home when you came to Woolwich.  It was indeed a disappointment.  But my wish that I had returned from Kingston sooner is vain, as the time is gone by. Mamma requested me to write in her name and to say she is anxious to hear the result of the business about which you came to London.  Mamma did not hesitate to tell me the subject of your long discussion, as she thought I should be interested, and she was not mistaken, for every thing in connexion with your happiness and comfort is interesting to me.  Mamma says she thinks perhaps you may not be aware that Mrs Shepheard intends to settle in Hackney and take eight or ten young ladies.  A knowledge of this circumstance may perhaps alter your arrangements, and I should think Mrs S’s determination would be far from agreeable to you, should you take the school. It would seem (whether it really were so or not,) like a sort of rivalship.  I think Mrs Shepheard would be wiser if she removed from Hackney altogether, and I am sure my dear Mrs Saffery would be far happier. 

At this point her mother, Mrs. Gregory, takes over: 

Eliza has gone beyond what I said my dear Mrs S–  I merely wished you to know, of Mrs Shepheard’s intention of remaining in Hackney, because I cannot but think it might in some measure operate upon the friends of those young ladies now under her care; eventually, I should imagine it would be of no consequence because of the probable great difference in terms – If you are still hesitating, you will be kind enough not to notice that communication. I believe it to be correct, and if you have been dealt with honorably you have doubtless been informed < > late at night be loath to make the enquiry as to Mrs S’s intentions. Most sincerely do I hope my dear Madam that circumstances have arisen ere this to point out clearly to you the path of duty, and feeling yourself to be guided by wisdom from above, you may proceed with courage either way! – With our united kindest regards and best wishes believe me Yours very truly

                                 Anna Gregory

Eliza, the daughter, picks up again:

These few lines of Mamma’s have fully refuted my erroneous opinion, and so I need add no more on the subject.  I was glad to hear from Mamma that Mariann and her young daughter are now at Salisbury, and that my friend Jane is shortly to follow them, as I am sure they must enjoy your delightful neighborhood.  As it is so pleasant in the winter, in summer its beauties must be great indeed. I suppose Mariann will have the wish of her heart and go and see her very dear friend Mrs Conway and her old pupils.  It will doubtless be a happy meeting.

   I shall be very glad on some accounts if you do come to Hackney, you will be so much nearer Woolwich, and then probably I shall occasionally have the pleasure of seeing you. But at Hackney there are no nice retired walks, no hills and beautiful prospects! But dusty roads, noisy streets, and crowded footpaths in plenty!  I know little of Hackney, but I describe it according to my ideas gathered from the general character of the villages immediately contiguous to London. I suppose Mamma told you, were I was, when you came the other day. I was paying a visit to an old school fellow, who lives at Kingston.  I spent 3 weeks there.  Though by no means hilly it is < > pleasant fertile neighbourhood, abounding with thick luxuriant hedges and shrubs, shady lanes, tall stately tress and many other charms of rural scenery.  Indeed what can be more beautiful than the country at this season every where; all nature is arisen as it were into new life, and the overflowing bounties of our Creator call forth from every mouth the most ardent expressions of gratitude and praise.

   Be so good my dear Madam to give my kind and grateful remembrances to every member of your family.  It will be long eer the kindness I received when at Salisbury will be effaced from my memory.  When left to my reflections I frequently recall past scenes.  Among others to whom these kind speeches are sent, I hope Mary Ann Hall may not be forgotten for she was a very pleasant companion indeed.  I remember I did take your advice in one instance Mrs Saffery.  I took french leave of Miss Salter, not from intention but necessity, I went off in such a hurry that I could not stay to say farewell. 

   Did Mamma tell you how pleasantly Bos is settled? It is a great comfort to us.  And at present he comes home every Thursday eve and returns the next morning and every Saturday and stays till Monday. And then I have Anne for my constant companion, and she makes a very pleasant one.   There are a great many things in which we think differently.  But there is some pleasure in those kinds of differences. It is a common remark sisters are generally contrasts to each other.  I never saw that more fully exemplified than in Mariann and Jane Saffery, they are complete antipodies. My very kind love to them and a kiss a piece for Annie & Mary Bisdee.  When I was at Kingston I read Burke on the Sublime, and was much pleased, though an old book it was quite new to me.

   Now I have nothing to add but my appoloogies [sic] for troubling you to read so many disjointed sentences,

   and remain my dear Madam,

                     your grateful and affectionate young friend,

                                 Eliza Gregory

Text: Timothy Whelan, gen. ed., Nonconformist Women Writers, 1720-1840 (London: Pickering & Chatto, 2011), vol. 6, pp. 408-10 (annotated version); also Saffery/Whitaker Papers, acc. 142, II.A.4.(c.), Angus Library, Regent's Park College, Oxford. Address: Mrs Saffery | Castle Street | New Sarum. No postmark. As this letter and the subsequent letter make clear, Maria Saffery was considering a move to Hackney, where she would assume control of the school established by the Baptist minister and educator, F. A. Cox, converting it into a female academy. Hackney had long been a center for nonconformist boarding schools for young men and women since the early part of the eighteenth century. Mary Steele, Elizabeth Coltman, and, most likely, Mary Scott all attended female boarding schools in Hackney and its immediate environs, such as Stoke Newington. For more on this move and F. A. Cox, see Anne Whitaker to Maria Saffery, 11 June 1829 (click here to read this letter). 

Individuals mentioned above include Eliza Gregory's brother, Boswell Gregory, most likely named after Boswell Beddome; and the Bisdee girls, E. A. (‘Anne’) and Mary, who spent many years at Saffery’s school at Salisbury as students and possibly assistants, both at Salisbury and Bratton. Mary Bisdee was born in Van Deiman’s Land (now Tasmania), and when her parents returned there, they left their two girls in the care of Maria and Jane Saffery.  For Saffery’s poetic tributes to the Bisdees, see Whelan, Nonconformist Women Writers, vol. 5, pp. 119-20, 216.