Maria Grace Saffery, Salisbury, to Anne Whitaker, Bratton, Friday, [c. early August 1811].

Friday Night

   I am quite at a loss how to make myself agreeable, (as Lucy terms it) in the character of a correspondent this Eveng so far indeed as the testimony of my own heart ensures me the tenderest reception from your’s tho’ I appear before you in the worst style of my worst days, I sit down in all the despair of intellectual exigency, to assure you that neither worldly care, nor mental depression nor all the train of impertinent vexations that harass me at this moment can affect your interest in my bosom – and besides this declaration I find I can say little more to night.  I think I will try to send a few lines by dear S– whose present situation will readily account to you for my complaints – in addition to this I have some other griefs that you know are now and then occurring in a large household without I was going to say reproach to any Individual – Your Lucy deserves praise for every thing but health of wh she cannot certainly boast just now – my poor Ryland has had another letter & is I think worse than ever – especially because she will take her own opinion & answer him say nothing that can be helped @ it – I have no sure method at present to determine on the nature of dear Alfred’s depression & yet because I observed his countenance influenced by a serious remark I hoped it might partake of religious concern I am glad you have written as you describe –  Sarah Drewett’s arm is certainly better and she continues to take his medicine but she is yet a great Sufferer  Anne has been considerably indisposed with a cold in which little John seems now participating  the rest are well except a tooth ache of Carey’s –

   Adieu  ma chere amie it is, with still increasing gratitude I call myself

                     Your friend & Sister

                                 M G Saffery

Text: Timothy Whelan, gen. ed.,  Nonconformist Women Writers, 1720-1840, 8 vols. (London: Pickering & Chatto, 2011), vol. 6, pp. 312-13 (annotated version); Saffery/Whitaker Papers, acc. 142, I.B.4.c.(22), Angus Library. Address: Mrs Philip Whitaker. No postmark.