Maria Grace Saffery, Salisbury, to Anne Whitaker, Bratton, Friday, 17 May 1816.

Friday May 16th 1816

My dear Anne

   I could be I think even more than poetically sad, (tho that is saying a great deal, in my opinion,) at our neglected correspondence.  Now I am quite sure of having written last, by one letter at least, but it is time for somebody to write again, and therefore I shall put this expostulatory line into the parcel.  Why are you so silent? you cannot suspect me of so forlorn a state of mind, as would prevent my sympathies in the better state of yours nor be so sad yourself, as to render it difficult for me to try the depth of your despondencies.  Alas! it is generally from the Deeps I have to utter my complaining or supplicating cries, and I should probably bargain by a participation in yr distresses, “The Selfish heart deserves ye pain it feels more gen’rous sorrow while it sinks, exalts &c

   At all events I desire as particular replies as possible to these queries – What is the tone of your spirits? what is the condition of your health? and what are your intentions about your visit to Salisbury? It is long indeed since I had so large a measure of communication from you as would suffice to compose these answers. I should like to understand also more about my little friends in the nursery. The interview with dear Alfred (it cd scarcely be called a visit) was pleasant to me, but I fear he found it very dull.  You know that Mr S. is from home on a begging expedition. I have but poor accnts of his success, but happily very pleasing assurances of his personal welfare  I am sure he would be affectionately remembered to you & our good Brother my Children too are mercifully well.  Pray tell Joshua I thank him for the long loan of his books.  It was quite proper that “Aunt Saffery” should “give the price for binding.” I beg therefore there may be no dispute either by word or letter on this Subject  Adieu.  I am still, your’s faithfully & tenderly

                                 M G Saffery

Dear Salter & Mason would send love the latter is not in good health  I heard from dr Philip to day he is quite well.  Poor Carey has been suffering once on twice from what he calls his “old attacks”

Text: Timothy Whelan, gen. ed.,  Nonconformist Women Writers, 1720-1840, 8 vols. (London: Pickering & Chatto, 2011), vol. 6, pp. 350-51 (annotated version); Saffery/Whitaker Papers, acc. 142, I.B.3.(2.), Angus Library.  Address: Mrs P. Whitaker | Bratton Farm.  No postmark.  Letter is incorrectly dated on the first page. Quotation above from Young’s Night Thoughts, ‘Night the First’, p. 14.  John Saffery's "begging expedition" was his wife's expression his trips took around England raising funds for the BMS. Her son, Philip, would later perform the same function, but unlike his father, would serve as a full-time employee of the BMS.