Maria Grace Saffery, Salisbury, to Anne Andrews Whitaker, Bratton, [Thursday], 22 May 1800.

   It is with liveliest sensations of pleasure or rather shall I say of affection yt I find myself at liberty to comverse with my beloved Anna. The satisfaction indeed arising from such sort of communications is of so limited a nature yt it is impossible but that our enjoyment shd be blended with upset, when ye scanty productions of ye pen are left to convey ye lavish effusions of ye heart. There is however no small reason for thankfulness yt this alleviation to ye sorrows of absence is afforded us & while I reflect on ye probable relief it will be to ye solicitude of my dearest Sister I pursue my letter with renew’d satisfaction.  But you will expect a Journal & not a mere sentimental harangue. Perhaps it will be better to pass by yt part of ye relation w.h has more especially to do with ye conflict of separation in w.h my present experience informs me I have too deep an Interest for dissension  you I am persuaded are fully acquainted with its inexpediency.  I wanted Mr Ferguson at my Elbow or his principles in my heart during ye time we were ascending yr Hill, but was comforted notwithstanding ye Rain by ye distant sight of you on Horseback convinced yt ye little necessary exertion wd be useful  we tho’t also yt we cd perceive you render ye Hedge in ye Westbury Road & were in hopes yt you had been induced to take advantage of ye returng sun-shine by riding a little farther in a more shelterd spot. Let me see I had left yrself I believe just on ye summit of ye Castle from whence we proceeded with tolerable expedition & very trifling inconvenience from ye Weather to our first place of resort. Mrs Long was at home wm we scarely expected & we were of course comfortably & kindly entertain’d.  I wanted you with me while taking part yt we might comment together on ye manner of those @ me. There appears to be a certain kind of interesting warmth attendant on Village Simplicity at Shrewton not always to be found among ye Rustic inhabitants of such rude abodes, where nature sometimes appears torpid, in a still greater proportion than it is uninform’d. A little before six o’clock we repaird to meeting, & my mind something calmed by recollection & yet particularly susceptible by ye late exercise of its sensibilities was I trust profitably engaged in Worship of ye Eveng ye Congregation are composed of ye poor villagers who evidently listen’d with delight & whose attendance was pretty numerous (ye hour consider’d) pleasingly affected me. My dr S–  addressed them from yt beautifully interesting passage, “I will arise & go to my Father.” As ye Preacher was very happy ye service was not remarkable for its brevity w.h I had not much cause to lament as I found my mental complacency was on ye decline immediately after we ascended our vehicle yt I relapsed into my former melancholy as we proceeded on our Journey. ye Image of yr Sorrow in ye parting Moment haunted my fancy & became according to ye Idea of a certain Poet whose description we have often admired “sad & passionate” you know ye peculiar emphasis of this expression & will not mistake for ye vulgar agitation wh it might be supposed to intend. It was late before we arrived at our little home (I believe 10 oclock). Cleanliness had given it all ye grace of w.h it is capable & excited those comfortable sensations w.h might be expected, in an admirer of ye virtue but it was ye smile of my beloved S– w.h made me tolerate ye Idea of a residence eight & twenty Miles from ye spot w.h you inhabit.  I was but little fatigued with my Ride & my health continues so yt I am saluted with very abundant congratulations on my alter’d looks &c &c.  We have recd no tidings from Portsea since our return  I intend writing to night.  yr dr Bro.r is gone to Stratford. Bain supplies at Bo—m.  We are still in hopes of Dr Ryland preachg on his way to P. after some difficulties w.h have been stated are removed @ Coaches & so on by a letter recd yesterday fm Rowe we find yt he goes into Devonshire next week.  Mr S– wrote to him ys morng.  I have been fashion hunting ye past hour or two in order to execute my commissions.  Have seen ye Village Bonnet ye Gipsy hat &c &c – I wd recommend to my dr Anna a white Chip hat in preference to all others  it is fit for aft:ns when drest, for riding with a veil, is not expensive & exceedingly becom:g they are of a far more durable make yn mine as ye Chip is laid on like ye dunstable for Jane[8]  I see nothing so pretty as a Bonnet of ye same kind. ye charge when trimmed will be more by some shillings hers wd cost 12s or 13s   Mrs Green is very willing to sell ye hat but fears it will never be sold for anything like its value & persuades me to take it   I have left it with her to do ye best she can.  I do not see any brown chips yt are likely to please – blue Ornaments are mostly worn – I am sorry yr Gown was not bro’t & wish Bro:r to forward it on Saturday yt it may be put out of hand. I have by mistake got ye pieces of Cambric with me will return ym by Waggon – I hope you will write on ye receipt of ys w.h I shd have forwarded yesterday but for obtaining ye above important articles of Intelligence let me have more Commissions for it gives me pleasure to be employ’d @ yr concerns besides yt it is very amusing.  Tell yr Sister Mary yt I expect to see something new in ye Straw way next week.  Don’t you wonder at my Sect in this sort of Information?  I believe however yt just now I can transact business of ye sort with impunity  there is little danger of my being enamour’d with modish frippery while my revolting heart is disposed to quarrel with every thing yt is not in unison with ye sentiment of yours – but adieu my love my fingers are almost tired & my Eyes ache sympathetically for you over ye bad writing.  I must entreat you to pardon it amid ye innumerable defects of

                     Yrs with increasing Esteem & tenderness

                                 Maria Grace Saffery

Sarum   May 22nd 1800

love to my dr Bro.r & kind regard to each of yr Relatives I believe I did not kiss Alfred when I came away but you will know how to acc.nt for ys as far as I am aware of ye sensation I love him with maternal kindness, & shall be very very anxious to hear of him. Be sure & be sufficiently explicit @ yourself – I said yr Bror was not at home but be assured he unites in every kind remembrance

NB. Mr Moody will endeavour to be with you the 22nd of June  You will see by the above yt Bror need not write to Dr Ryland as I requested

Text: Saffery/Whitaker Papers, acc. 180, A.1.(c.), Angus Library, Regent's Park College, Oxford. Address: Mrs P. Whitaker | Bratton Farm | near Westbury | Wilts | 22nd May 1800. For an annotated version of this letter, see Timothy Whelan, gen. ed., Nonconformist Women Writers, 1720-1840 (London: Pickering & Chatto, 2011), vol. 6, pp. 176-78. 

William Rowe was itinerating at this time in various churches and communities in the West Country, primarily Cornwall. Anna Jane Whitaker (1784-1838) was the youngest sister of Philip Whitaker; she lived at Bratton with her mother, Caroline Attwater Whitaker, and older sister, Mary (1773-1800), mentioned further in the above letter. Jane Attwater Blatch also lived at Bratton by this date. Joshua Moody, a tailor, was a member at Brown Street in Salisbury.