Maria Grace Saffery, Salisbury, to Anne Whitaker, Bratton, [Thursday], 22-23 August 1811.

Salisbury Augst 22nd 1811

   I saw Fowler yesterday that I might furnish myself with a night of correspondence with my dearest Anna to whom I well knew a letter would not be acceptable without this intelligence.  Judging from his prescription of bark I should think his opinion very coincident with your own after he had assured himself that I had no cough, could take a long breath and so forth – he appeared very solicitous to do me good, notwithstanding my inclination that I was by no means a voluntary Patient – My side has been better since you left, but I dare not say much about the languor and depression wh I have suffered in at least a very inconvenient degree – I have also had some exercises of mind in addition to the general extent – a letter from Cheltenham communicating the hope of longer stay and of an application made to that end. Her terribly distressed Letter, I believe too a letter which Lucy authorised her to open has increased the sorrow.  What it contains I know not as she has scarcely said anything to me on either subject and nothing respecting Mr R’s letter to Lucy – but the severity of her gloom and the abundance of her tears, excited my apprehension and the abundance of her tears, excited my apprehension and agonized my sympathies, which for her alas! have been ever readily awakened  I wrote to Mr R. a few days after your departure with the utmost regard to the delicacy of my friendship for his daughters, taking care he should suspect me of no weariness towards them, so that I have nothing to charge myself with, yet I am very unhappy when I see this interesting woman tortured by a sensibility the excesses of which seem to divest her of all the milder satisfactions of social life.  For Ryland and her lovely Sister my anxieties inflict on me a measure of suffering that corrodes perhaps in preparation to ye restraint necessarily composed on the expression of it.  How often have I wished that I had known these girls with as little expense of feeling as I could have known them exclusively in the character of friend, but of this I can say no more just now –

   I have been interrupted by various incidents, somewhat agreeably today by a visit from Young of Cornwall who wishes his time allowed him to look in Bratton.  My dear S– has a heavy cold the children are pretty well, but poor Sarah Drewett keeps her bed & is I think worse than I have ever seen her.

   [Several lines here are marked through and not readable] Salter begs her love and asks if Lucy retains her original plan of return; and bids me say that if so, she will accompany dear S. and myself to Bratton to morrow fortnight where he will leave us through the succeeding week, and call on us again on the following Monday or Tuesday in the car  her decision must be known for Salters guide who will I find since I began the preceding sentence write herself with a precision I despair of < >

   My beloved Philip had a letter this morning from your dear Boy, very well written & not badly composed indeed if the errors had been abundant I wd gladly have pardoned him for sake of one sentence wh bore testimony to the good state of his health and spirits – adieu I am weary with many efforts made for the comfort of Society to day.  My heart dictates more but it is time to take leave of you in Sukey’s language when she peeps in at the chamber door at Bodenham

                     Adieu ma douce amie

                                 Maria Grace Saffery

Friday evening Aug 23d 1811

Mason begs love

Text: Timothy Whelan, gen. ed.,  Nonconformist Women Writers, 1720-1840, 8 vols. (London: Pickering & Chatto, 2011), vol. 6, pp. 313-14 (annotated version); Saffery/Whitaker Papers, acc. 142, I.B.2.(10.), Angus Library.  Address: Mrs Philip Whitaker | Bratton Farm | nr Westbury. No postmark. During 1811-12, the Mr. Young mentioned above ministered to the Baptist congregation at Truro, Cornwall, and attended meetings of the Western Association. Also mentioned above are the two daughters of Richard and Harriet Ryland, Lucy and Harriet.