Maria Grace Saffery, Brixton, to Jane Saffery Whitaker, Bratton, Tuesday, 3 September [1844].

Tuesday Septr 3d

No 9 Park Terrace Brixton.

“Dearly beloved & longed for”

         To you my Jane, I may venture to use this language of an Apostle, though on my part, in the far humbler sense, yet blending I trust, the maternal triumph with the spiritual rejoicing. Yes, “to love one another in the Lord” is blessedness indeed. To which the truest and the tenderest Earth-born love may not aspire, without the association of the Heavenly. I long for your companionship, with a Mother’s heart; but I would not forget “whose love alone, can make communion sweet.” I came hither on Saturday Evening; and set down yesterday, to inform you of my locality – interruption occurred – of which I am somewhat fearful to day, and have adapted my paper to the probable extent of my Epistle.

         Mrs Whitchurch the kind Mistress of the Mansion would be I know, affectionately remembered to you. Her sons and daughters are all absent, and with the exception of her Brother  John West, we are quite alone. I saw Dr Steane last night who made inquiry for you and yours – and talked of your Sylph-like form when he saw you in the “Light of other days.” I am hoping to hear of our dear Joshua’s increasing health in your next and let that be very soon immediate if you can indulge me. I need not say how deeply I sympathize in your solitude for his Brother Philip; nor how much I regret the disgraceful stubbornness of poor John.

         My stay here will perhaps extend through the week – when I shall endeavour to arrange for Kingston. You will be hearing of Peckham from the dear namesake & sister during my visitings, so that I need not communicate on that subject just now.

Forgive my scanty return for your dear Epistle  I enclose a letter from Leeds by way of compensation written by the gentle Anne after a long silence consequent on much sorrow – Say all that love wd dictate for me and believe in all that I must now leave unsaid from

                                             your fond & grateful Mother

                                                         Maria Grace Saffery

Return the letter when you write Anne’s letter – I am in very tolerable health of which it seems needful to assure you, when I look at my blotted pages – and more especially, at the blank one left by mistakes on this side.

Text: Timothy Whelan, gen. ed., Nonconformist Women Writers, 1720-1840 (London: Pickering & Chatto, 2011), vol. 6, p. 443 (annotated version); Saffery/Whitaker Papers, acc. 142, I.B.5.c.(8.), Angus Library. No address or postmark.