Maria Grace Saffery, Salisbury, to Anne Whitaker, Bratton, [Friday], 1 April 1808.

Sarum  1st April 1808

My beloved Anna,

   The return of my dr S. last night accompanied as it was with many circumstances of mercy & enjoyment wch is safety health and a better state of spirit was wanting in one essential to me of the higher order, in point of happiness.  I need not say, that his answer to my first question communicated the indisposition of my sweet friend and that while I blessed God yr malady was not more severe it diffused the pensiveness of regret over my spirits for the remainder of the eveng. Yr dr children too are some of them on the invalid list.  In fact I suppose you are all suffering from the state of the atmosphere from wh both the delicate & the robust have endured much in the neighborhood.  I have had various sore throats myself, but have reason to be thankful to Him, that heals our sicknesses for present health.  May this mercy in the full sanction of its blessedness, be speedily restored to you and yours with every blessing in my Mind’s Eye be assured I make mention of you daily in my prayers –

   I shall be very anxious for a letter from you, but do not think I shd have written to day in wh I have been even particularly engaged but for the following circumstance – I told my S. that we were in great want of potatoes on wh he observed that Smith might have brought us some from Bratton on Monday if my information had been timely if therefore my Brother can forward us a sack or two by this means we shall be much obliged as the article we obtain here is bad.

   Adieu Ma douce amie with love in due proportions to yr whole circle and dearest Self.  I am

                     yrs as Ever

                                 Maria Grace Saffery

The Rylands and Mason beg remembrances of respect and love the latter thanks you for the kind invitation wh I want her to accept in vain.  When I have to take her place in School Room tell yr dr little Phil. I will do what I can to send him his beloved Miss Mason.

Text: Timothy Whelan, gen. ed.,  Nonconformist Women Writers, 1720-1840, 8 vols. (London: Pickering & Chatto, 2011), vol. 6, pp. 260-61 (annotated version); Reeves Collection, Box 14.4.(h.), Bodleian. Address: Mrs Philip Whitaker | Bratton Farm | To be left at the | Red Lion | Warminster | 1st April. Postmark: Salisbury.