Maria Grace Saffery, Salisbury, to Anne Whitaker, Bratton, [c. early June 1807].

Dearest Anna,

   I have only time to say that we are all thro’ great mercy pretty well.  dr little P. much better, tho’ he has suffered twice lately with bad falls. Since his father left on Wednesday Morng he has had a very severe one down stairs, tho’ you know has been sadly against such a set of nerves, but my anxious aching heart is quite at ease for ye last 10 days @ his general health wh is evidently restoring – Jane you know has had ye measles & is comfortably as cd possibly be supposed – dr Sam has escaped uninfected – Ann has left me in a hurry & as yet I have no Nurse hir’d.  I do not think her strength was equal to Nursing & perhaps a vacancy at Longford has at its influence but I wish to say nothing as we part very amiably  I have sent for Esther.  I cannot give you any just idea of my haste company, nursing &c – beyond even my usual proportion: but Phil’s recovery relieves my head & heart & hands of many laborious exercises. I said very little to you when I felt much but indeed his appearance was formidable to parental eyes so my dr S. & I found it.

   How are yr dr little ones? I hope you will like the bonnet.  Return it to me for Jane if you do not ’twas made by Miss Cape at my express order for the following reasons. I called on Mrs Elderton last week, who could not then make the bonnet as you requested, & I was convinced from subsequent conversation that she would not do it  this, that is I found she wished to perform in her own way rather than yours  she said she was sure the bonnet wh by ye way is now sold wd shrink to the proper size & so forth besides all wh this kind of chapeau is getting vulgarly common. I therefore went in pursuit of a bonnet for dr little E to my own taste & think it will please you & Papa & as it is pink ye little Lady herself – it is not expensive is truly genteel & will work –

   But I must say a word on a more important subject.  Mason & Salter are to be baptized next Friday Eveng do come & see them  M– begs love & I am to say something @ verses – & have had another long and interesting letter from Ryland  pray let me have ye former  adieu, ever yrs

                                 M G Saffery

Text: Timothy Whelan, gen. ed.,  Nonconformist Women Writers, 1720-1840, 8 vols. (London: Pickering & Chatto, 2011), vol. 6, p. 234 (annotated version); Saffery/Whitaker Papers, acc. 142, I.B.4.c.(26.), Angus Library. No address page or postmark. References above to Ann Horsey