Maria Grace Saffery, Salisbury, to Anne Whitaker, Bratton, Tuesday, 22 October 1811.

Tuesday October 22nd 1811 

ye Comet at an equal distance from ye Earth & Son

My dear Anna

   You are not yet the responsible person; but perhaps I shall succeed best if my petition for fresh intelligence goes thro’ your hands.  Three posts have passed since my expectations have prepared me for a letter from Bratton and tho’ I am not apprehensive of anything amiss I begin to be in great want of news from or rather of Mamma and the baby.  Beg our dear Bror to write immediately with all needful and interesting particulars of the Mamma for instance how she eats, & sleeps, whether she is grave or gay, and in what proportion.  How the people seem to suit her; and especially how she likes the Nurse.  I could mention a few more things, and think of many, that I should deem it vastly agreeable to be told of this personage.  Concerning little Master I would be more moderate, a general bulletin of his health would nearly suffice yet if he has any obvious sentiments; any originality of manner, or should be seen now and then by another light looking a bon mot pray as all these facts be transmitted for my amusement of which I am in great need thro’ these dull days of languor and partial captivity.  I wish also to know if the name of mon petit ami be chosen and what it is and whether he like pap.

   Some other anxieties not strictly relative occur to me when I think of Bratton.  Dear S– communicated a private conjecture on his return that has of course excited some concern for the peace of my very fair and not less delicate friend who is I fear likely to suffer from that indiscriminate censure which confounds character with consanguinity.  She is surely least vulnerable at that point to which the arrow of reproach seems directed  at all events I would have you avoid any excess of solicitude at this period and await the denouement patiently.  S. is assuredly quite free from suspicion I scarcely think he’s quite at ease as to the whole affair.  Will you present my kind regards to the Gentleman with congratulations on his safe arrival that is if you deem this expedient –

   I sent a Message to Alfred last week by Mr Oakly respecting yours & his baby Brother. I hear from various persons of his good health and spirits.

   As I imagine my dear Bror will have the picking into this, for the purpose of reply, I will compassionate his Eyes and hasten my adieu or as Lovegrove of Wallingford when he preached at Trowbridge allowed that part of his congregation to retire that could plead a passing engagement when his Sermon was half over, so I will promise to say nothing more that will require his attention if he should choose to take of the spectacles and lay down the epistle.

   My beloved S. & the children and the Ladies are pretty well. I am better and walk out a little not far yet I seem just now to have no greater news   Adieu then dearest Anna with prayers yt are frequent fervent and I trust answered in your multiplied mercy grace and peace I remain in very sacred bands, your’s faithfully

                     Maria Grace Saffery

If our good Brother does not get to the postscript pray tell him that Mr S—y will send the Sacks or bags for the cheese and potatoes on Friday or Saturday next if possible; at any rate he will find them on Saturday week at the Red Lion or Osborne’s warehouse they will be sent by Osborne’s Waggon directed to the Red Lion – I have not been able to match the grey cloth there is nothing like it. I will return the piece ye first opportunity – do you want more biscuits?  and of what sort?

Text: Timothy Whelan, gen. ed.,  Nonconformist Women Writers, 1720-1840, 8 vols. (London: Pickering & Chatto, 2011), vol. 6, pp. 319-20 (annotated version); Saffery/Whitaker Papers, acc. 142, I.B.2.(13.), Angus Library. Address: Mrs Philip Whitaker | Bratton Farm, | near Westbury, | Wilts | 22nd October.  Postmark: Salisbury, 22 October 1811. The Great Comet was at it brightest in October 1811. Robert Lovegrove (1757-1813), formerly a solicitor, served as the Baptist minister at Walllingford, Oxfordshire, 1794-1813. He was baptised by Robert Davis of Reading in 1794 and built the first Baptist chapel in Wallingford on his own property.