Anne Steele, Broughton, to William Steele IV, Haycombe, 29 November 1736.

Dear Brother

         It seems a great while that providence has detain’d you at a distance from us; I long to see you; while with an anxious care I partake of your grief’s, tho’ as yet a stranger to the particular circumstances.  Alas what a scene of distresses have you been witness to, and exercised under, since you left us!  You saw your friend, under all the agonizing tortures of a cruel disease, which baffled the utmost skill of Physicians, the care & tenderness of his mournful friends, and at last consign’d him to the cold arms of Death! ah what are all the advantages of youth fame or riches! Where are all the promising hopes of an ancient family, and the flattering prospects of future years.  All are buried with the remains of the lov’d youth in the silent grave! How mournful is the reflection?—And yet what new scenes of horror rise to my imagination: The distracting sorrows of an indulgent Parent for an only Son! Her self siez’d with the same dismal distemper, which put an end to his life.  How it may be with her at this time I know not.—

         But the moving distress of his disconsolate Sister, more nearly touches me; here I sympathize with the tenderest grief and compassion! The fatal accident which threatened your Life represents her despair to me in the most lively colours! I might have been before this time in the same deplorable circumstance, and with the most poignant sorrow mourn’d the irreparable loss of a Brother & a friend!  However blest be that Allmighty Power that preserv’d you from the gates of death: and oh may the grateful remembrance, of this fresh instance of the Goodness of God dwell on our thankful hearts, and engage us more to a future willing devotion to his service.  This I doubt not is your desire: but ah what distracting cares must engross your thoughts? How melancholy must be the situation of your mind at this time? with a friendly concern,  I sympathize in, tho’ I can only imagine your distresses: I am sometimes ready to fear, we had not a perfect account of my Aunts case, yet by turns flatter my self with the hopes of her recovery, and that ‘tis possible my Cousins may scape the infection: tho’ these are only conjectures, and I know nothing of the present circumstances, nor whether you are perfectly recover’d; but I would fain hope the best, and in this hope entreat you to hasten your return home as soon as possible; all earnestly desire to see you, and none more then,     

                                 S.r

                                             Your affectionate Sister and sincere friend

                                                                     Anne Steele

29 Nov.r 1736.

We long to hear how things are and earnestly expect a letter to morrow –

I write very bad but ’tis late and cold –

PS  The small-pox increasing at Salisbury and John Kent not thinking it proper to go any longer makes your presence at home necessary and my Father bid me tell you he would have you be at home if possible to go next week

We all indifferent well and join in due commendations.

Text: Timothy Whelan, gen. ed., Nonconformist Women Writers, 1720-1840, 8 vols. (London: Pickering & Chatto, 2011), vol. 2 (ed. Julia B. Griffin), pp. 262-63 (edited version); STE 3/8/iv, Steele Collection, Angus Library, Regent's Park College, Oxford. Address: M.r William Steele Jun.r | at M.rs Gays at Haycomb | To be left at the Catherine Wheel in Bath | in Bath.

References above include Henry Steele (1655-1739), brother to William Steele III; Henry's daughter, Clemence (d. 1766), who married Thomas Etheredge (d. 1752), and their daughter, Sarah Etheredge (d. 1791), who was a cousin to William, Anne, and Mary Steele. Sarah Etheredge married John Kent (1707-96), assistant pastor to both Henry and William Steele III at the Broughton church for nearly seventy years (see Broome, A Bruised Reed, pp. 80-81, 221).