Richard Ryland, London, to Maria Grace Saffery, Salisbury, [Saturday], 30 August 1806.

London 30 August 1806.

Madam

   The Young Lady whom I troubled you about in July 1805 has been lately in the family of a Dissenting Minister in Somersetshire from whom I have heard just now very unexpectedly that he is about to quit his present Situation & to leave Housekeeping, so that a fresh Asylum will be wanting for her in about 3 weeks.  Will you do me the favour to say in a few lines the beginning of the week whether your Views continue the same as when I last heard from you.  Your References would be quite sufficient & at the same time that I applied to your friends you would have opportunity to know from them of me, what it would also be proper that you should be satisfied in.

         I am

                     Madam

                                 Your mo. obed. Servt

                                                         R Ryland

Text: Timothy Whelan, gen. ed., Nonconformist Women Writers, 1720-1840 (London: Pickering & Chatto, 2011), vol. 6, p. 203 (annotated version); Saffery/Whitaker Papers, acc. 142, II.D.5.a.(3.), Angus Library. Address: Mrs Saffery | Castle Street | Salisbury.