Richard Ryland, London, to Maria Grace Saffery, Salisbury, [Thursday], 28 July 1808.

Dear Madam

   Enclosed you have Bank Post Bills per the amount mentioned in your’s of the 26th – I am grieved that Harriet is the Subject so much of medical applications, not merely on Account of the Expence, but because I think that continued medical treatment & medicine never yet did anything but leaven; when once it becomes Habit there is an end of its Use – & still worst of all because it is a misery to a life still young & which I hoped would have been constitutionally happy. Mrs R. has weaned her little Girl – the child quite well – & I hope we shall all be the better for a little Trip to the Sea we are meditating for next week.

   I have paid Bailey & Leo £2.6.6 for a pr of Stays for Lucy 30 Novr last. I suppose they made no Claims upon you for this.

   I beg my best Respects to Mr Saffery and am < >

                                                                     R Ryland

28 July 1808

Richard was quite well yesterday  returned from the North Sea & about to sail for Lisbon, much approved on board.

Text: Timothy Whelan, gen. ed., Nonconformist Women Writers, 1720-1840 (London: Pickering & Chatto, 2011), vol. 6, p. 272 (annotated version); Saffery/Whitaker Papers, acc. 142, II.D.5.a.(22.), Angus Library. Address:  Mrs M. G. Saffery | Salisbury | July 28 / 8. Postmark: 29 July 1808.