Maria Grace Saffery, Salisbury, to Anne Whitaker, Bath, Saturday, 30 January 1808.

Saturday Night Jany 30 1808

My very dear Anna

   I last night dispatched an Epistle to my old friend the Red Lion conceiving that my Bror wd visit Warminster to day & of course immediately forward said Epistle to you, but yr letter to Alfred agreeable as it was in all other respects has completely overturned this ideal arrangement by informing me that Mr Whitaker was with you this Morng – now what plan will best remedy this mistake I know not in the present moment of indescribable haste my letter contained various good things of yr dr boy all wh I now affirm to be true.  He was greatly delighted with the expression of yr maternal love as indeed well it might – you will find when you receive my former letter that I have had very interesting employment in hurting my poor Carey the last 10 days & that to this has been added the exquisite satisfaction attendant on success.  He continues better, & will I hope be downstairs to morrow – May the Lord make us humble, & grateful amid these lessons on our dependence & our obligations – My dr S– writes with me in affectionate regards to our dr Bror & every suitable remembrance to yr amiable Friend kiss Emma for dr Carey’s sake – Adieu & believe me

                                 Ever yrs

                                             M. G. Saffery

Pray walk out < >

Text: Timothy Whelan, gen. ed.,  Nonconformist Women Writers, 1720-1840, 8 vols. (London: Pickering & Chatto, 2011), vol. 6, pp. 256-57 (annotated version); Saffery/Whitaker Papers, acc. 142, I.B.1.(34.), Angus Library. Address: Mrs Whitaker, | Miss Glasier’s | Mr Russel’s | Church Street | Johns Street | Bath. Postmark: Salisbury.