John Saffery, Salisbury, to Philip Whitaker, Bratton, [Monday], 2 January [1798].

Dear Sir,

   As Mrs Saffery’s Illness prevents her writing, in compliance with her request I address you on the subject you desired – Satterday morning she took an opportunity of mentioning to our youngest Daughter Miss AA, your intention respecting her; & of informing her so much of the contents of your Letter, & what had passed, as she judged prudent – She was surprised at the proposal as that of which she had not the most distant suspicion – After much conversation on the subject, I find she in general said, Your circumstances, & religious Character was such as claimed her respect, & did not furnish the least ground of objection; but she never could think of marrying a man, because he was a good man, or his Circumstances good, & far preferable to her own: that she must be satisfied his attachments to her are such as to promise that she should in all respects make him happy; & of course possess feelings not Dissimilar, as necessary to her own happyness – But of the probability of this (her very slight acquaintance with you, & the unsuspected manner with which she has been made acquainted with your wishes) she felt very incompetent to judge – However, while she gave us no room to afford you the least positive encouragement in any thing we may say to you on the subject, she did not object to further acquaintance with you –

   After what has passed, she will of course expect a visit from you; & I should think it ought not to be far distant – It will be impossable from the nature of her present situation, that you can see her at Mr Hardings; & our house must of necessity be the place of your meeting – Perhaps she may feel some delicacy, & difficulty on this head, as if she knows you are here, it will look like coming to you; but we will do what we can to obviate this –

   Tho’ I think it would not be so well for you to write to her on the subject before you see each other; I submit to your consideration if it would not be best to drop us a line that we may know when to expect you – You say, why? That we may accommodate you – You know we have but one Parlor, but if we knew of your coming, by having a fire in my Study, you will have that to yourselves without interruption – We know something of the embarrassments of a first interview in this way, & that it’s very desireable to be under no foreign restraints or apprehension – But we leave all this with you – Do as you please –

   To say we are indifferent as to the Issue of this business we cannot – Our esteem for her & her Sister is very great; perhaps it almost borders on Parental affection; & we are deeply interested in their happyness – We have reason to respect you; & can say, Yourself & Family stand high in our esteem also – We shall be sorry if this matter should ever in any way contribute to your distress, or hers – If our good wishes, & poor prayers are of any use to you, you both enjoy them, & however it may terminate, we say, may the Lord direct & bless you –

   Thro’ mercy Mrs S– is better than when you left us; she has been able these two days to get up before Dinner, but is still very weak & low – She joins me in affectionate rememberances to Yourself, Mother, Sisters, Bror, Mr & Mrs Blatch Anna &c &c

   Bror Steadman preached to us last night, & set off this morning with his Wife for Exeter in his way to Dock – He recd a Letter Lords day from Mr Hugh Williams a fellow Student of his is lately come to Cheltenham from Leeds in Yorkshire, in which he inquires if he knew of any destitute Church that would be likely to sute a fellow Student of theirs of the name of Rowland who is at present at Newcastle in Cumberland – Williams says he is a sensible good Preacher – If you should think it prudent to make any inquiries respecting him, I suppose Mr Williams would be able to give you as much information as any one respecting him, as I find they have been in habits of intimacy, & lived near each other for years –

   Wishing you a happy New Year, & the enjoyment of a good Wife in it, & every thing which can contribute to your happyness I remain Your Sincere Friend

                                                                     J Saffery

Sarum Jany 2, 1797

Text: Saffery/Whitaker Papers, acc. 180, A.5, Angus Library, Regent's Park College, Oxford. Address: Mrs P Whitaker | Bratton Farm near | Westbury.  Postmark: Salisbury, no date.  For a complete annotated version of this letter, see Timothy Whelan, gen. ed., Nonconformist Women Writers, 1720-1840 (London: Pickering & Chatto, 2011), vol. 6, pp. 149-51. The date provided at the end of the letter is incorrect. 

William Steadman (1764-1837) ministered to the Baptist congregation at Broughton, Hampshire, 1789-98. Hugh Williams was the Baptist minister at Bethel Chapel, Cheltenham, having recently succeeded Samuel Dunscombe, brother of Thomas Dunscombe who had married Mary Steele in January 1797.