Maria Grace Saffery, Salisbury, to Anne Whitaker, Bratton, [Friday], 15 March [1805].

   Since the departure of our dr Bror & Sister &c, we have experienced in our family a vissitude something like what has befallen the City at ye exit of ye Judges & all their pig-headed brotherhood. Only that I think with regard to change we have the worst of it – such a blank in the parlour on my return home that I really walked myself almost into a fever in the course of ye day to get rid of the vexation I felt on entering it – my dr S– returned @ 10 oclock tolerably well except weariness  yesterday aftrn he had another excursion & did not reach home till half past 11 – he was much exhausted & consequently dispirited this morng but I perceive is growing better to night & I hope by to morrow we shall have less of the grimalkin in our looks & carriage of whose characteristic gravity we have exhibited an extraordinary share ye 2 or 3 past days –

   After such a flat transcription of the flat state of our spirits you will not expect anything by way of anecdote to sharpen yours  indeed I have been thinking whether I had any agreeable trifle to communicate & can accurately find nothing except a visit or two from Mrs Batten to the no small embellishment of my little Daughter – in particular – while writing this last sentence I am reproved by a reflection on the many mercies wh even in this short space of time I might have enumerated both individual & relative that I have nothing painful to recite or to conceal of family distress is indeed an unspeakable mercy.  That I have nothing to interest or awaken ye sadder feelings of my beloved correspondent ought to be regarded with livelier emotions of gratitude than my experience at this moment can I fear produce  you will I know be thankful & I hope I am so too. –

   I was exceedingly displeased at the sight of yr greatcoat in the Window when I came back from the Coach but all my vociferations of regret would not dispatch it & here it was forced to remain, in order to accompany the hat to night  I hope you borrowed something at Warminster equally worn, pray write soon immediately if you can let us have all the particulars of yr Journey – the Wedding visit ye state of yr pulse with an account of all yr questions &c &c –  nothing is insipid relating to you & your affairs & we sincerely hope to find yr recitals pleasurable  I don’t think I said anything @ yr dr Boys when we parted  remember me kindly to Senior Gents & kiss the one who would make nothing of my Messages –  P– was much pleased with his book –  Adieu my dr dr Anne I can only say that we are yrs unitedly & truly & that with as much tenderness as ever I subscribe myself in the bonds of nature & friendship

                                 yrs M. G. Saffery

Present our very kind remembrances to Mr Claypole – Nurse is I hope a little better – it is almost 9 oclock & no hat is come. I have sent but they seem to know nothing @ it.

Text: Timothy Whelan, gen. ed.,  Nonconformist Women Writers, 1720-1840, 8 vols. (London: Pickering & Chatto, 2011), vol. 6, pp. 197-98 (annotated version); Saffery/Whitaker Papers, acc. 142, I.B.4.c.(21.), Angus Library. Address: Mrs P. Whitaker | Bratton Farm | Westbury |Wilts | 15th March. No postmark. References above include two of her children, Marianne and Philip. Also a reference to Thomas Claypole (1772-1825), who served as the Baptist minister at Bratton from 1804 to 1809 and who was also known to Benjamin and Eliza Gould Flower.