Maria Grace Saffery, Salisbury, to Anne Whitaker, Bratton, Thursday, [8 October 1807].

Thursday Eveng

My very dear Anna

   The dear little Patient continues in a state of improvement his vivacity & sweetness are quite astonishing when the recent attack of the disease & the discipline of the medicines are considered.  As to food the poor fellow has found me quite a Sangrido & has been consequently much rejoiced at the sight of a little gruel & has devoured mashed Turnips with inexpressible glee.  I shd not have adhered to so very spare a regimen but for the proofs he has given of plethora from the state of ye pulse an inclination to bleed at the nose &c as to evacuating doses he has been taking ym without intermission almost & he is to have calamel to morrow.  Mr F has been very attentive & I bless God the means have been succeeded even beyond my hopes.  He sleeps in my bed with me, & Mason has a bed beside us. He is highly pleased with the company of the Ladies who are admitted two, or three at a time.  He says they are all his Wives & thought a great deal of seing our dr Bror yesterday, but there was a great propriety in his objection – I will write again to morrow & direct my letter as usual on Friday night – I am glad my dr Carey is in such good hands tho I am sorry for the fatigue he will probably occasion you I am afraid he is not so good a boy as yr P.

   I am very stupid this Eveng or I wd endeavor to amuse you with ye remarks of yr little son who has diverted us exceedingly in his convalescence – perhaps I may enlarge more to morrow, till then adieu

         Yrs ever tenderly

                     Maria Grace Saffery

Miss Ryland desires me to mention her love  of Masons you may sure  remember me as you know I wish to all

If you could see & hear little P. W. now you wd hardly think him even slightly indisposed

Text: Timothy Whelan, gen. ed.,  Nonconformist Women Writers, 1720-1840, 8 vols. (London: Pickering & Chatto, 2011), vol. 6, pp. 243-44 (annotated version); Saffery/Whitaker Papers, acc. 142, I.B.4.c.(30.), Angus Library. Address: Mrs P. Whitaker | Bratton Farm | nr Westbury | Wilts | the Post Master will oblige by forwarding this immediately.   Postmark: Salisbury, 8 October 1807. Philip Whitaker, the "patient" above, was four years of age at this time.