John Croft Ryland,[1] London, to John Saffery, Salisbury, [Wednesday], 30 November and [Friday], 2 December 1808.

Savage Gardens No 3

30th Nov 1808

Sir

   Some Letters have passed within these few Days between Mrs Reeves (who lived formerly near Buckingham and is well known to my Sister Harriet) and myself – in which a request is made on the part of Mrs Reeves for the restoration of “some things” lent to my sister – this could not have been since May 1806, but may have been before.

   I have promised the Lady to endeavour to obtain these Articles for her if they are in Existence and I trouble you now solely for this purpose. I feel humiliated in the highest degree that any one bearing the same name with myself should have brought herself into a Situation, wherein to receive such an Obligation. But still more that two years and a half should have elapsed since Harriett had in it her power to return what she borrowed, and not have done it.

   Harriett knows full well I doubt not what she borrowed of Mrs Reeves and when she borrowed them, and I may add what she now professes to be her religious principles should have taught her not to forget past obligations however wrongfully incurred, at any rate they should have taught her to return what was but lent her.

   I request that you Sir will learn from her if what she had of Mrs Reeves is to found, & if so, that you will see them returned to Town from whence I will send them to Mrs Reeves who has twice changed her residence since Harriett last saw her.  I have hitherto kept this unpleasant and disgraceful circumstance from the knowledge of her father & Family being convinced they have had trouble and anxiety enough already on her Account.

         I am Sir

                     Your hum. Servt

                                             JC Ryland

I request you will give me an answer so that I may satisfy Mrs Reeves.

London 2 Decr 1808

Sir

   The foregoing is a copy of what I found it necessary to trouble you with the beginning of this week, and which probably has not yet been shewn you, I beg the favor of you to obtain an absolute answer from my Sister whether she has anything of Mrs Reeve’s, formerly of Winslow in Buckinghamshire, or not. I wish to save my Father the vexation the knowledge of this matter will cause him, but considering Mrs Reeve’s request I must get him to write himself to Harriet on the subject if you are not able to satisfy me – The articles were wearing apparel &c – I have a list of them, but I should suppose Harriett will be able to recollect them without my sending it to her.

   It is surely an easy matter to give an answer – yes or no – as to the existence of what has been lent her

         I am Sir yr most hum Servt

                                             JC Ryland

Text: Timothy Whelan, gen. ed., Nonconformist Women Writers, 1720-1840 (London: Pickering & Chatto, 2011), vol. 6, pp. 275-76 (annotated version); Saffery/Whitaker Papers, acc. 142, II.D.5.c.(2.), Angus Library.  Address: Revd & Mrs Saffery | Salisbury | Wilts. | Decr 2d / 8. Postmark: 2 December 1808. The first portion of this letter was written on 30 November, then copied again with the attached note and sent on 2 December. John Croft Ryland (b. 1788), brother to Harriet and Lucy Ryland, had recently married. He and his wife, Maria, had a son born on 1 April 1809 and a daughter born on 22 March 1810, named Harriet Frances Ryland. Both children were christened in their home church, the Hanover Chapel (Independent) in Peckham, Camberwell, London, where W. B. Collyer was the minister. Richard Ryland brought his family to this church after his departure from the Weigh House in 1805.