T[homas]. Smith, Tiverton, to John Saffery, Salisbury, [Saturday], 28 December 1811.

Tiverton  Decr 28, 11

My dear Brother,

   I am glad you have the B. M. from hence, as it will give me the opportunity of writing to you, and I hope provoking you at times to reply – My present is on –

1.  Parcels – None yet arrived – why? – You will remember I want them large, without holes – and all of a thickness – & very soon.

2.  My daughter Sarah – (my second daughter, 16 next July) – she has a great wish to qualify herself either for a School – or for the situation of a private Teacher in a pious genteel family. We feel half inclined to commit her to the care of your good Lady for a little time – but I apprehend she had better learn French here, if we could find a teacher amongst the Parole Gentry. –

   I wish you would answer this at your first convenience – and say what are the Terms of Mrs S’s School – and be a little particular as to the Minutiae of any extra Expenses about Tea, &c. &c

   Observe, We only ask for Information – Have you any Native of France in Sarum who teaches French? Does any Dancing Master attend your School? (You know my opinion of dancing, but I ask for information).

   Our affectionate respects to Mrs S and yourself.

         I am dr Bror

                     Yours Cordially

                                T Smith

Text: Saffery/Whitaker Papers, acc. 142, I.A.26, Angus Library, Regent's Park College, Oxford.  Address: Rev. J. Saffery. No postmark. For a complete annotated version of this letter, see Timothy Whelan, gen. ed., Nonconformist Women Writers, 1720-1840 (London: Pickering & Chatto, 2011), vol. 6, pp. 322-23. Thomas Smith was at this time pastoring the Baptist congregation at Tiverton and editing the Baptist Magazine, in which Maria Grace Saffery published many poems and hymns. He moved to London in 1812.