Maria Grace Saffery, Salisbury, to Anne Whitaker, Bratton, [Wednesday], 22 November 1820.

Novr 23d 1820

My dear Anne,

   I am able to write so little, and it is so long since I have written where I have much to say, that I hold my pen suspensively, when I find it in my hand and inquire what use I can possibly make of it.  My head is strangely disqualified to reply and my heart has long “dwelt in silence.”  There is however an affair of small moments, on which I venture a few words to night.

   The old house that occupied a portion of the ground we call a garden is taken down principally I believe to prevent its falling, an event for some time probable now the space it covered must on various accts be planted. Your recollection will I dare say supply all imaginable causes – and perhaps too you will remember a conversation about trees during my late visit to Bratton.  I think I heard from Joshua that your plantations could without inconvenience furnish a few of a lasting and graceful foliage the “Turkish Oak” was mentioned, but you will readily understand what drapery of nature will best contribute to the comfort of a spot where no artifice of concealment will produce a vision of “les Champs Elysees” – if however the slightest difficulty or disadvantage plantations I shall be quite distressed if one is forwarded.  Is there any expected meeting of   if not, we will gladly pay the carriage from Warminster of anything you can with entire convenience spare.

   I can hardly come down from a Turkish Oak to Caroline of Brunswick, but I am glad you were spared the excitement of a town residence on a late occasion.  With a revolting heart, I ordered candles into the windows on the first Evening of ignoble triumph taking care to specify as widely as possible that by doing this I intended no honour to the “Queen” no concession to the Mob, but a simple token of respect to the absent master of the family who wished his house to be protected by the illumination of its windows. Of course it was his house & not mine a great measure of outrage was consequent on this mockery of rejoicing wh I have no time to specify.  Before the expected illumination of Thursday Evening the Magistrates interfered forbidding the public processions & strongly urging on the inhabitants all due regard to the public safety by refraining to illuminate &c &c – but the Processions came and furnished a very tumultuous mob for the Evening exploits of three or four hundred Men selected from their various clubs.  As it grew dark lights appeared in the windows.  With only a few exceptions in our street, but after some deliberation I determined to abide the violence of the Mob at my windows. I took care to close the inside shutters & to keep a bolted door.  The least I feared was a demolition of the windows, but not a pane was broken tho the angry multitude roared out their imprecations at the door & promised me “light enough before the Morning” – Mr Harding had his house assailed early in the Eveng & as slight damage done to his windows this was the case with his fathers & Mr Blackmores &c &c &c  damages for both nights £800!!!

   But I must post this hurried line  very affecte regards to your whole circles enlarged as it now is from Bodenham!

                 Adieu your’s Maria

Mr S. thinks Dye’s wagon would be least expensive

Text: Timothy Whelan, gen. ed.,  Nonconformist Women Writers, 1720-1840, 8 vols. (London: Pickering & Chatto, 2011), vol. 6, pp. 385-86 (annotated version); Saffery/Whitaker Papers, acc. 142, I.B.3.(18.), Angus Library.  Address: Mrs Philip Whitaker | Bratton Farm | near Westbury | Wiltshire. Novr 22nd 1820. Postmark: Salisbury, 22 November 1820. The aboe letter is misdated on the first page. 

References above include what appears to be a relation of Maria Grace Saffery on her grandfather Harding’s side; also Caroline of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel (1768-1821), Queen Consort of George IV. They were married in 1795, but lived mostly apart. In 1806 rumours circulated that she was having affairs, but a parliamentary investigation declared her innocent. In 1814, she moved to the Continent, but returned in June 1820 to assume her place as Queen. Caroline was popular with many who were seeking governmental reforms at that time. Nevertheless, George IV immediately introduced the Pains and Penalties Bill, seeking a divorce from Caroline. The trial in the House of Lords opened on 17 August 1820, and on 6 November the vote was taken. The Bill was upheld by a narrow margin, 123 to 95; on 10 November, after the final reading of the Bill, the vote was even narrower, 108-99. The Prime Minister, Lord Liverpool, considered the vote too close and certain of being overturned in the House of Commons; accordingly, he withdrew the Bill. The verdict was warmly received by the general populace, with some mobs exhibiting considerable anti-government anger and, at times, destructive and violent behaviour (as the above letter makes clear). The King’s anger was not lessened, however, and he refused to allow the Queen to attend his coronation.