Maria Grace Saffery, Holcombe, to Jane Saffery, Salisbury, [Monday], 13 May [1833].

Holcombe  May 13th

How truly how tenderly I love thee my sweet Child, needs not now be told and surely should not be boasted of since we know what thanks are due for loving “those who love us.”  It is delightful to hope however that beyond the dear natural ties, – beyond the common sympathies of sweetest human friendship, – beyond even that romance of sentiment, we are both prone to cherish, there is a band of union unobscured, unendangered by the subtleties of selfish passion, a link to bind us in the love of Him, whose love indeed is wonderful, “passing the love of Mothers.”  The season smiles at last; – and while I see the sun beams glittering on the woody uplands of the Mendips, I rejoice to know that your own beautiful Village landscape is glowing in the gladness of the ray. And yet much more my Jane do I rejoice in your sublimer blessedness, more ardently wojld I praise the God of our mercies that to the gay and happy attitude” of things around you, in the world of nature, you are not left to find a contrast in a rude, cold, heartless, prayerless home; but that there is seen and felt the loveliest and the sweetest of all household joys, in the companionship of wedded love.

         Our kind Annie writes to own dear Mamma, and she has so much of the merciful to communicate that I do not even wish to spare her the details from the Nursery &c &c. I imagine the removal, or rather the visit to Hutton will take place in about a fortnight. There is no obstacle that can be pleaded for delay, for only the children are all but quite well. Candy is mending rapidly, and the sweet Lady herself with suitable caution may profit by the change. And now my love please to let me know every thing. Fetch a little water from the till if you can find it and send hither a draught of consolation for her who is pleased to be alike the Mother and the Friend

                                             M. G. Saffery

Text: Timothy Whelan, gen. ed., Nonconformist Women Writers, 1720-1840 (London: Pickering & Chatto, 2011), vol. 6, pp. 423-24 (annotated version); Saffery/Whitaker Papers, acc. 142, I.B.5.c.(14.), Angus Library. No address or postmark.