Maria Grace Saffery, Salisbury, to Anne Whitaker, Bratton, Friday, 30 August [1805].

Sarum  Friday Eveng Aug: 30th

Dearest Anna

   My knowledge of your maternal feelings is too experimental to permit my yielding to any slight inconveniences that might be considered as an obstacle to a less sympathising correspondent.  The fact is your dear Boy is quite well, & I have determined on telling you so tho I have not been sure the past day or two whether I shd be able to employ more than one Eye in yr service on this occasion.  I have had an inflammation of the lid similar to what I endured when you were here only I think attended with more pain.  Had it not been for this circumstance I think I shd have been Alfreds amanuensis & you might probably have recd a more interesting Epistle. 

   It is however very great mercy that I can afford you ample Satisfaction as to our general welfare.  My dr S. wd write I know but he is need I say entirely engrossed.  The Box &c &c came safe under the convoy of yr Aunt & Mr Thorn except a few of the eggs which made their escape rather prematurely.  I have fulfilled yr commission @ the Bed – Wood says it will be 8d pr yd – & he will scour & glaze it if I understand him he says this shd be the price of a stuff where there is no glazing.  He said the binding is usually 1d pr yd – but added in his odd way something @ giving it into the bargain. Yr other Gown is come from Mrs Silvester & the lace nicely mended looks extremely well.  Here is a fine bustle with the general mourning & I suppose you will experience something of this sort at B –  but adieu Jane is squalling & I shall gladly withdraw from this candlelight exercise. Accept of duty love esteem &c &c from all quarters & believe that with stronger & finer sensations of the heart than these can offer you, I am yours as ever,

                     Maria Grace Saffery

Alfreds letter pleased him much & some of us more

Text: Timothy Whelan, gen. ed.,  Nonconformist Women Writers, 1720-1840, 8 vols. (London: Pickering & Chatto, 2011), vol. 6, p. 203 (annotated version); Reeves Collection, Box 14.4.(p.), Bodleian.  Address: Mrs Philip Whitaker | Bratton Farm | To be left at the Red Lion, Warminster | Wilts.  No postmark.