Harriet Frances Ryland, Winkfield Row, to Maria Grace Saffery, Salisbury, [Monday], 20 June 1808.

Winkfield Row. June the 20th 1808.

   I have delayed from day to day writing to my dear Mrs Saffery, wishing to inform her when she may expect again to see us, and it is with very great pleasure I tell you, that we hope to return to our very dear home by the Night Coach on Friday next. We have thro’ the medium of a Lady who is visiting here, secured our place in London to be taken up at Bagshot – therefore unless any thing unforeseen in the Providence of infinite Wisdom shd occur, you may rely on seeing us. I pray we may meet you all in good health – & if I have not to rejoice in reestablished strength, may I have a heart to be thankful for the very many mercies I so richly enjoy. I am indeed perpetually reminded of the almost entire loss of that “Vigour” of Constitution – when it is boasted I once possessed –

   I am now suffering sadly in consequence of fatigue incurred on Saturday I went with my dear Salter & the family here to Richmond and perhaps enjoyed more real pleasure than any of the party from my very great admiration of R & its Vicinity – but the exertion necessary for such enjoyment is too great for me & I fear I shall long feel myself the worse for it – I trust I shall be better by Friday or I shall illy support my Journey – I shall have this pleasure in contemplation – that I am going home – to that home where alone I have to look for Kindness and affection. I have not yet heard from Lucy.  I shd be happier if I had – My mind is occasionally perplexed & terrified with Surmises respecting her – I feel however a persuasion that there is in the keeping of an all kind & allwise God – & my prayers are up unto him for her – Excuse my scrawling to you in so unconnected & illegible a manner – but I am so poorly as to be scarcely capable of this exertion – Accept my thanks for yr very welcome letter – I sympathize with you in the Indisposition I am sure you felt when you wrote tho’ you do not actually say so – & I am very much vexed indeed at the loss you say dear Mr S. is likely to sustain – I hope the wool will be better than your fears – Give our united love to him & Mason – & all our friends – Kiss the dear Children for us – & accept our most affectionate remembrances yourself.

                     Believe that I am

                                 Your sincere & obliged friend

                                             H. F. R.

Text: Timothy Whelan, gen. ed., Nonconformist Women Writers, 1720-1840 (London: Pickering & Chatto, 2011), vol. 6, p. 269 (annotated version); Saffery/Whitaker Papers, acc. 142, II.D.5.b.(7.), Angus Library. Address: Mrs Saffery | Castle Street | New Sarum. Postmark: Staines, date not visible.