Harriet Frances Ryland, Winkfield Row, to Maria Grace Saffery, Salisbury, [Friday], 27 May 1808.

Winkfield Row, May 27th 1808

My very dear Mrs Saffery,

         I thank you for the few lines of Intelligence I recd yesterday; & rejoice in the continued wellbeing of that dear to us at Sarum: you do not mention sweet Samuel by name – we therefore hope he is not worse. You can easily conceive, & I am sure you pity her caution occasioned by poor dear Lucy’s letter.  I was little prepared for such a denouement for thoroughly as I am convinced of my Mothers boldness in iniquity, I could not have imagined my Father would have assisted her in such a Scheme of Treachery & < >: this, however, must have been the Case for most certainly his Epistles to you – < > as they were – implied the necessity of her immediate return, to fulfil some important engagement. I sincerely lament that this wicked Plot has succeeded so fully; had I but suspected such Treachery, I would have used all my Eloquence to have persuaded poor Lucy to refuse them: As she is with them, I feel in some sort rejoiced that they have been permitted to shew her what they really are; no other person could have done it so effectually. I greatly admire her manner of reply to Croft, & must earnestly pray that she may be enabled to maintain equal Fortitude in continued Scenes of Violence & Treachery. We must close all our meditations on this painful Subject, with humble Prayer to God – he  & he alone, can appear for her; & will, in his own good time. I turn now to a less interesting Contemplation – that of my own more immediate concerns; & let me tell you, that we had upon the whole a pleasant journey; & arrived here about five o’clock in perfect Safety, notwithstanding my very frequent alarms. I have been much as usual, allowing for the languor, inseparable from Exertion & Fatigue. I am now nearly as when I left you, with this Exception, that my Expectoration is less frequent but more unpleasant in its nature – To prevent you any needless alarm – let me say in plain English that instead of dear Water, it is now tough & discoloured Phlegm. It has seemed to me that perhaps a gargle of Bark & Myrrh would cleanse & strengthen the glands of my throat wh. is frequently much enlarg’d – & is I think in great measure the cause of such Expectoration – What think you of this? write me your opinion shortly.  I have some prospect of procuring a Darkey, & anticipate much advantage from a < > wet nurse! I find myself very comfortable with my dear S–’s friends – we neither of us want anything but your Society, & Mr Saffery’s in his ministerial Character to render us quite happy.

   Do not fail to write to us very soon – we long to hear all about you – we talk of you often & think of you still and frequently – Give our kindest love to your whole Circle; & to all whom we love – accept our very best affection yourself & believe me

                     most truly Your obliged

                                 & sincere

                                             Harriet Frances Ryland

Text: Timothy Whelan, gen. ed., Nonconformist Women Writers, 1720-1840 (London: Pickering & Chatto, 2011), vol. 6, pp. 265-66 (annotated version); Saffery/Whitaker Papers, acc. 142, II.D.5.b.(5.), Angus Library. Address: Mrs Saffery | Castle Street | Salisbury. Winkfield  May 28th 1808. No postmark.  Winkfield Row is located near Bracknell, about six miles west of Staines, which today is just south of London Heathrow Airport.