John Ryland, Bristol, to John Saffery, Salisbury, [Wednesday], 27 July 1808.

Dear Sir

   Not being able to hear of any person coming to Salisbury, we think to send Betsey to Bath on Friday, & thence by the Bath Coach to Salisbury on Saturday Morning – A Studt will see her into the Coach, & we hope divine Goodness will convey her safely. Please to let her be met at the Coach – We have been to Plymth D. & my Wife is going up next week wth John who is about to settle in Business there.  We unite in best Respects to yourself Mrs Saffery &c.  Remember us to Miss Norton – I will write to her by Betsy and send you some Money – Excuse great haste – I am

                     Your cordl Bror

                                 John Ryland                                                                                

27 July 1808

We shall be glad to hear of Betsy’s safe arrival.

& wd be much obliged to Mrs Saffery if she could at the same time draw up a short Advertisement, as formerly proposed, to be put into the Evangl Magazine respecting a situation for Miss N.

Text: Timothy Whelan, gen. ed., Nonconformist Women Writers, 1720-1840 (London: Pickering & Chatto, 2011), vol. 6, p. 272 (annotated version); also Saffery/Whitaker Papers, acc. 142, I.A.25.(a.), Angus Library, Regent's Park College, Oxford. Address: Revd Mr Saffery | Baptist Minister| Salisbury. Letter concerns Ryland's daughter, Elizabeth, who was a boarding student at Maria Saffery's school in Salisbury.