Harriet Frances Ryland, Salisbury, to Maria Grace Saffery, Bratton, [Friday], 15 July 1808.

Salisbury 15th July 1808

My very dear Mrs Saffery,

   Persuaded that you will be anxious to hear of our welfare, I hasten to communicate the pleasing Intelligence of the continued well-being of the dear objects of your affection – Carey is so much improved that I hope ere you return, he will have regained his usual health & spirits. Poor little fellow we succeeded in bathing him this morng but he does not exactly like it – he has entreated to have the water warmed – & enquires anxiously “if bathing is dangerish?” we will endeavour to accommodate matters as much to his satisfac[tion] as possible, if by any means we may but accomplish our purpose. This morng we had a long & pleasing letter from our respected & beloved Pastor – It had its effect I assure you, in reanimating my Spirits, wh were sufficiently depressed by the encreased indisposg wh this tremendously hot weather produces. It is needless to inform you of dear Mr S’s preserva[tion] – as you have the satisfac[tion] of recg such Informa[tion] from himself – I feel much for him in this hot weather – of wh he complains sadly  do not fail when you write to say how much we value his kindness – we had hardly expected such an early attention to our wishes.  I did not bid poor Ford farewell without considerable Exertion. I regretted (perhaps unduly) her having your protection – foreseeing that she will be exposed to a thousand tempta[tions], wh here would not have assailed her.  I hope I shall not cease to pray, that his hand who guides unseen may lead & preserve her in a right path, & that she may reap eternal advantages from her residence with you. Oh! may she with myself (unworthy as I am!) – bless God eternally that we ever knew you! – She appeared on Tuesday Night & I hear she was on Wednesday morng perfectly composed. I rejoice that she bore her Journey so well – I much feared the reverse would have been the case I wrote to Mason by Mr S– & gave her yr dear Sister’s Cruxificion.

   Do not let my hopes of a letter from you be daily raised & as constantly disappointed – but write shortly – I long to hear how you all bore the Journey – & how my dear Mary & Jane are delighted &c &c –

   Dear Mrs W.’s health is I hope the better for her Jaunt – I most sincerely wish it were established! – The dear Children send their love to dear Marianne little Sam cannot speak, but he makes as noise as any one – & prattles in his way exceedingly – he is much attached to our dear Salter – who romps with him about the ground – to their mutual Satisfac[tion]. Accept our united kindest love – & present it to yr esteemed Relatives – Pray for us – & believe me sincere in submitting myself

         Your very affectionate friend

                     Harriet Frances Ryland

Sally wishes to know if she shd change the Beds? – I have not heard from our poor Lucy.

Text: Timothy Whelan, gen. ed., Nonconformist Women Writers, 1720-1840 (London: Pickering & Chatto, 2011), vol. 6, p. 270 (annotated version); Saffery/Whitaker Papers, acc. 142, II.D.5.b.(8.), Angus Library. Address: Mrs Saffery | P. Whitaker’s Esq.r | Bratton Farm. No postmark.