Maria Grace Saffery, Salisbury, to Anne Whitaker, Bratton, [Tuesday], 19 May 1812.

Salisbury May 19 1812

My ever dear Anna,

   I must answer your tender, disinterested inquiries, tho’ the present moment seems unfavorable to decision. The little Guest you speak of, is not promised, or rather not fully expected til the close of the present month, & yet in seasons of pain and languor, I am ready to calculate on a speedier arrival. This afternoon has been somewhat of this description but my judgement, still inclines to the former date. Now I would rather meet you with this sweet personage in my arms than merely expected there because I shall otherwise regret perhaps your needless expence of feeling at the exact period of introduction. I think this may be avoided by your coming hither the day after the Association & proceeding to Southampton without delay. On your return with the dear boy I shall hope to meet you in circumstances of improved health and comfort, a participation which I greatly prefer for the indomitable spirit of my Anna – Lucy wrote to Colchester on Friday inclosing the Lines < > well & beg kindest remembrances – you must speak for her whole circle to Ryland in terms of suitable regard the delicacy of her health is a formidable source of anxiety which < > the Coach goes to Cheltenham again this summer – what do you think of her trying the air & waters for a few weeks? You know the gentleman is far through on the other side.  

   I have scarcely breathing time for writing from various interruptions – but I must express my regret for Percival! a passage from Shakespeare that I cannot correctly quote wandering in my imagination while I think of him, “[And death, tho’] by a villains hand.” My dear S. has a line for our dear Brother which he will reserve to himself. Adieu I am always

                                 Your’s Maria Grace Saffery.

You will say what shall I do with the Boys when I get to Sarum  it will be then the vacation here also or they go on to Bratton without you, especially as they will have been indulged with Mamma at Southampton – I am only afraid of my dear Brothers murmer here, but he must remember all my claims & I promise not to forget his –

For John Saffery's letter to Philip Whitaker, click here.

Text: Timothy Whelan, gen. ed.,  Nonconformist Women Writers, 1720-1840, 8 vols. (London: Pickering & Chatto, 2011), vol. 6, p. 331 (annotated version); Saffery/Whitaker Papers, acc. 142, I.A.30, Angus Library, Regent's Park College, Oxford. Address: Mrs Whitaker | Bratton Farm near |Westbury.  Postmark: Salisbury, May 1812.  Mention is made above to Maria Saffery’s last child, Edwin Cecil Saffery, who would die as an infant in March 1814. Other references are to Spencer Perceval (1762-1812), at that time Prime Minister of England, who was assassinated in the lobby of the House of Commons on 12 May 1812; also a line from Thomas Southerne’s Isabella; or, The Fatal Marriage, V.iv (1757).