Maria Grace Saffery, Salisbury, to Anne Whitaker, Bratton, [Monday], 23 December 1811.

Salisbury  Decr 23d 1811

My ever dear Anna,

   I must have answered your very tender inquiries if I had not been indulged with such mercies as will make a letter the channel of some comfort to you, but indeed I am better; so is my beloved S–  tho’ we are both on the Invalid list as yet, he went thro’ his usual round of exercises yesterday and sustained as little injury as could have been supposed after so recent an attack from a very severe cold – as to myself I have been stepping out of doors to short distances, in the three past days – and my cough is much quieted, but I will not pretend to a greater progress than I can honestly maintain in the way of amendment.  I am still indebted to opium for my repose, from the interruption of my troublesome malady and my strength, and spirits seem brot just equal to the claims of every hour.  The two younger children also have heavy colds of the common kind – this has been the case too with their Nurse Anne, the other children have been more slightly affected  Marianne indeed has drooped somewhat in her old way but is again better.  Lucy and Salter are just tolerably – Ryland after suspecting a nervous attack and treating herself accordingly, was forced to apply leeches for inflamation of the windpipe late on Saturday Night, and a blister to day you know she is liable to this sort of attack, and in my opinion to inflamation in general – admit of the cordial system without hazard. –

   I believe now you have all the home news – your Cousin Sarah is returned from Lyme I saw her on Saturday, just before her return to B.  Mr Head was nearly in the same circumstances of mind as we have collected from former reports.

   Adieu my dear Sister, my valued friend, whether I am gay or sad, in every season, & under every influence I feel how much you have been, & must be to

         Your faithfully affectionate

                     Maria Grace Saffery

Text: Timothy Whelan, gen. ed.,  Nonconformist Women Writers, 1720-1840, 8 vols. (London: Pickering & Chatto, 2011), vol. 6, p. 322 (annotated version); Saffery/Whitaker Papers, acc. 142, I.B.2.(15.), Angus Library.  Address: Mrs Philip Whitaker | Bratton Farm | near Westbury | Wilts.  Postmark: Salisbury, 23 December 1811.