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

Sarum  Wednesday Morng –

   Mr Head has promised to call this Morng for the purpose of taking a few lines to my dearest Anna, to whom I should have written several times since the reception of her last but for various indescribable hindrances – to day I have only to say we are in health, & that my heart bears you as constantly as tenderly in remembrance as when the soft indulgences of leisure allowed  something to the eloquence of friendship.  If you do not contrive a personal interview very shortly, I shall be quite overcharged for communication by letter, especially as the press of engagement both foreign & domestic enforces an almost Spartan brevity.  My Father who is here wishes me to say that he will be at Warminster on Monday pr Coach (that he has written to Miss Poole of Road respecting a farm directing their reply to Bratton – & that if there be an answer he wishes Mr Whitaker to open it & reply if necessary –

   We suppose now that yr other dr Children will not prove to be infected with the measles so that I do not see what obstacle to your coming hither remains, you have not indeed much to attract you independent of the powerful claims of that affection wh while it glows in my bosom ensures a reciprocal interest to

                                 Your ever faithful friend

                                             And Affecte Sister,

                                                         M G Saffery

Yr Bror has a black eye in consequence of an accident but is otherwise pretty well  he unites in affecte remembrances –

Text: Timothy Whelan, gen. ed.,  Nonconformist Women Writers, 1720-1840, 8 vols. (London: Pickering & Chatto, 2011), vol. 6, pp. 236-37 (annotated version); Reeves Collection, Box 14.4.(q.), Bodleian.  Address: Mrs Philip Whitaker | obliged by | Mr Head. No postmark.  This letter continues the saga of the measles outbreak among the children at the Saffery home; Road [Rode], Somerset, was about five miles from Trowbridge, Wiltshire; a Baptist meeting was established theree in 1786, with John Matthews the first pastor (1790-1826). The Miss Poole mentioned above was most likely a member there.