Maria Grace Saffery, Kingston, to Jane Saffery Whitaker, Bratton, [Saturday], 5 October [1844].

Kingston Octr 5th Saturday noon

         Ever dear as you are, my Jane, to the heart of your Mother, I find it sweetly soothing to my Spirit, during this long absence, to anticipate the renewal of our personal companionship by frequent meditation on the merciful appointment of my Bratton home. I was most cordially welcomed here on the past Evening – Dear John accompanied me to the Railway Station where I was met by Mrs Seely, with all her accustomed fervency of expression on similar occasion. Benton too, is most sincerely kind. Two of their four Children are at Tytherly with Grandpapa the younger are fine Specimens of health and comeliness – How I long to see my own lovely village group when I look at these! 

         I have always so much more to say than I can possibly write during the changeful character of my wanderings that I dare not even attempt sketches, either of the natural or moral scenery – I seem to myself something like an Locomotive carriage, crowded with a burden of intelligence which though I am taking up with railroad speed, I cannot with the same facility put down – I shall have much to tell you when we meet. May our heavenly Father make our communications blessed!

         You will be comforted I know by the assurance that I suffer very little from the effects of my recent fall; and hope soon to lose all impression of it – You have heard from dear Mary of Mrs Pope’s peaceful dismission, what is your opinion of your Sister’s immediate station? I am inclined to think favourably of it provided the arrangements can be made judiciously – I must close the Post leaves early here  Adieu then write if you can without delay – and convey every truer and tender Salutation to those who have a deep and abiding interest in the thoughts and prayers of

                                             Your own Friend and Mother

                                                         Maria Grace Saffery

Address your next for me to Mrs Seely Kingston upon Thames in Kingston Surrey – I believe the appellative Esqr is frequently used.

Text: Timothy Whelan, gen. ed., Nonconformist Women Writers, 1720-1840 (London: Pickering & Chatto, 2011), vol. 6, pp. 447-48 (annotated version); Saffery/Whitaker Papers, acc. 142, I.B.5.b.(5.), Angus Library. Address: Mrs Joshua Whitaker | Bratton | near Westbury | Wiltshire.  Postmark: Westbury, 6 October 1844.