1.     Richard Ryland, London, to MGS, Salisbury, [Friday], 13 November 1807.[1]

London 13 Nov 1807

Dear Madam

   I now enclose you a Bank post Bill for the amount mentioned in your’s of the 9th for Harriet to Mickelmas – I shall chearfully concur in the proposed Encrease in the Terms of their Continuance with you – I doubt extremely as to Harriet’s receiving any Benefit in point of Health from protracted musing & giving way to slight Indisposition when she is poorly, any more than from full living particularly with regard to strong Drink when she is well – I am persuaded her Illness in Town was in a great Degree produced by the latter – that she was much the worse for much medical Application – and I am quite sure she would have been better sooner if she would have allowed herself to be better – the Sisters are much contrasted in this Respect – the One is quite apt to complain too soon & too much & too long – and the other too late & too little – having said so much in Development of their Characters respectively I can trust them to your kind Direction there, the greatest of all Anxieties is that their Hearts & minds should be turned aright – and humanly speaking they have the means, where they now are – their personal Expences I feel inclined to try a little longer under your friendly Inspection, as has been done hitherto, with the allowance for pocket money – but that pocket money should defray little charges of all Sorts, especially when amusement is concerned & enable them to deal out Societies as a little Charity also – if my Situation allowed me to deal out more liberally to them, they would not be the last to share in it – but the Expences of Life to so large a family in this City and with the Taxes of it are enormous – and Trade feels it in almost all its Branches – I beg my best Respects to Mr Saffery and my love to the Girls – wherein Croft joins very heartily and remain  dr Madam

                                             Your assured Friend & Servt

                                                                     R Ryland

we have never heard anything of the Trunk nor do I expect to be able to fix the Loss upon Innkeeper, where I think it ought to fall – or at least my Attorney tells me not – Lucy herself is old enough to have paid more attention – as well as her Brother. She the oldest of the 2 – it is a mighty absurd way of sacrificing £20 – I will write again after a few Days more Enquiry &c

Text: Timothy Whelan, gen. ed., Nonconformist Women Writers, 1720-1840 (London: Pickering & Chatto, 2011), vol. 6, p. 250 (annotated version); Saffery/Whitaker Papers, acc. 142, II.D.5.a.(14.), Angus Library. Address: Mrs M G Saffery | Salisbury | Wiltshire | Nov 13 / 7. Postmark: 13 November 1807.