John Saffery, Salisbury, to Philip and Anne Andrews Whitaker, Bratton, [Tuesday], 19 November 1799.

Sarum  Novr 19th 1799

Attached is a letter by Maria Grace Saffery to Anne Andrews, dated the same as above, is the following note from John Saffery to Anne and Philip Whitaker:

My Dr Br & Sisr

   While I unite wth my dr M in congratulating you on better health, thanking you for yr late attention, & expressing the warmest affection, I have little more to add.  One thing however I recd a Letter yesterday from our Bror Rowe in which he informs me it’s his intention to come home for a few days at Xmas – yt his plan is to spend a Sab. at Bratton come to ye Hut Monday & be at S– ye followg Sab.  I suppose these things he has intimated to you.  But he then enquires what I think of his being at Bratton ye Sab. after on his return to Bl?  And wishes my sentiments – For several reasons it’s his desire to do it, & I suppose among others it wd be a desireable assistance to him in a pecuniary way – I know not what to say @ it, & both as to yourselves, & him feel very delicately  I supposed in truth he feels it difficult to propose it to you, & would be glad for me to do it.  I know you wd as soon some other Fd would supply you, & yet on some accts I cd wish you to ask him – However I beg you will not be influenced by me in opposition to yr own judgt – I shall write him in a day or two, & must say something @ it, & think to obse that as there can be no impropriety in his preaching at B– if agreeable to ye people, I must leave it with him to propose it, or wait your invitation as acquainted with his circumstances – But I shall weary you with this business – Hope this fine weather will continue – I have only time to add

                     I am yrs

                                 very affectly

                                             J S

Text: Timothy Whelan, gen. ed.,  Nonconformist Women Writers, 1720-1840, 8 vols. (London: Pickering & Chatto, 2011), vol. 6, p. 172 (annotated version); Saffery/Whitaker Papers, acc. 180, A.1.(a.), Angus Library, Regent's Park College, Oxford. Address: Mrs P. Whitaker | Bratton Farm | near Westbury | Wilts.  Postmark: Salisbury, no date.  William Rowe, formerly of Salisbury, was now engaged in ministerial studies at Bristol Baptist Academy. He had enquired of Saffery whether he [Rowe] could supply at Bratton, which was a common means whereby ministerial students were able to procure some desperately needed preaching experience as well as monetary assistance.