Maria Grace Saffery, Salisbury, to Anne Whitaker, Bratton, Tuesday, 5 February 1811.

Salisbury Feby 5th 1811

Tuesday Morng –

My ever dear Anna,

   You will be I am aware considerably anxious respecting the dear Invalid on whose account my pen yesterday I fear betrayed symptoms of alarm.  Doctor Fowler saw her soon after Mr Edminson’s departure and tho’, by one of those masterly efforts of which alas! she is so capable.  Harriet was his sole companion in the chamber, of the Sick, and afterwards received his instructions, I gather that his opinions were quite favorable as to the Event.  It [is] evident nevertheless that he thinks the fair Patient’s sufferings are exquisitely severe.  Her malady he still calls a disease of the nerves.  I wish it were possible for her to visit you with prudence.  It has even occurred to me, that if Stapleton paid a long visit in the Spring, it might be accomplished.  For her sake & perhaps for his too I could rejoice at his making the tour of the kingdom.  Sometimes I think a certain tender embarrassment aggravates her nervous distresses, but more generally I suppose that her state of feeling with regard to her Sister is the hostile emotion.  Whatever is wrong on either side in this melancholy exhibition of maternal character,  Lucy is emphatically the Sufferer, and therefore censurable, has not consequently an advocate which rectitude and delicacy would only have obtained her in such a warfare if it can deserve the name.  I am, & have long been wearied with unprofitable investigation and longing for the comparative repose of my own family or at any rate this united only with a School.  Lucy is better and down Stairs to day.  She begs me to say so – Harriet is all attention, so that I can scarcely tell whether I am most inclined to smile, or sigh. Let this go no farther than my dear Brother – I will let you know how we are going on if Lucy cannot write in a few days.  Poor S.– we were much obliged by the labours of yr good Pastor. Mr Mursell I fear had reduced his hearers by his previous visit, remember me very affectionately to all your Circle.  I expect my dear S– in two or three days.  Account[s] from him have been pleasing & served greatly to alleviate my many cares.  I believe I shall beg a few weeks visit for Carey shortly – he is far too much out of my direction just now and I cannot well interfere either with discipline or indulgence that I do not like after the attention, wh has been shewn him where I always feel the cruel force of obligation you know that I like for him a mild & vigilant restraint wh might just now cast less trouble at Bratton Farm than here.  His diet is now become natural, except that he eats more and with a greater selection in his animal food & very little vegetable and is accustomed to an egg at breakfast and tea time – I can give no account of yr Cousin Philemon later than you have recd – this I know was highly favourable – Adieu ma douce amie the Lord multiply mercy grace & peace to you and the loved ones that make a part of yourself.  It seems already a long time since your society refreshed the spirit of

                     Your ever faithful, ever tender

                                 Friend and Sister

                                             Maria Grace Saffery

I have written in the School Room with ye Girls about me I saw dear Alfred for a few minutes tolerably cheerful say if, & when you hear fm him

While folding my letter I add one more yt Fowler has no idea of danger whatever

Text: Timothy Whelan, gen. ed.,  Nonconformist Women Writers, 1720-1840, 8 vols. (London: Pickering & Chatto, 2011), vol. 6, pp. 247-48 (annotated version); Saffery/Whitaker Papers, acc. 142, I.B.2.(7.), Angus Library. Address: Salisbury February 5th 1811 | Mrs Philip Whitaker | Bratton Farm | near Westbury | Wilts.  Postmark: Salisbury, 5 February 1811. Philemon Attwater (1787-1832) was from Nunton, a village adjacent to Bodenham; he was the youngest son of Gay Thomas Attwater, and he, his wife, mother, and sisters were close friends of the Safferys and the church in Brown Street.