Anne Steele, Bath, to Anne Cator Steele, Broughton, 18 May 1751.

Hon.d Mother,

         This evening after I had almost given over the expectation of hearing from you I received your kind Letter for which I thank you though it brings me an increase of pain in my fears for you.  Fain wou’d I shake off these inquietudes and gloomy apprehensions & imitate your example in a cheerful submission to and dependance on the hand of God, but this I can hardly do even in the most lucid moments, & those are few and when my fears suggest that perhaps your illness maybe fatal how can I bear the thought – and yet I wou’d hope the best if I cou’d, you say you are better, you have had advice and I hope you will not be averse to any means that can be thought of for the removal of this dreadful disorder  O may the Great Phisician [sic] in whose Hand are all ye springs of Life and Health and comfort, direct and attend all with his Blessing, & restore you to perfect Health – I am sorry I cannot send you a more agreeable account from hence I think the scene is not much mended since my last  My Sisters foot is better but she has had a very bad cold and cough attended with a fevourishness she has talk’d to an Apothecary who advis’d her not to drink the Waters nor Bathe while the cold continues & I have hitherto refrain’d on the same account my cold is now much better and I hope my Sister begins to mend a little tho’ her cough is yet bad.—’Tis a melancholy reflection that perhaps the trouble and expence of this journey will be all lost, but I hope I desire to suppress every repining thought and look up with humble hope & reliance to that Sovereign Hand which fulfills or frustrates mortal expectations as best suits the purposes of Infinite Wisdom and Goodness.—I have reason to be thankful to the indulg[ent] Providence which mingles comforts with my grief’s in blessing my [gap in paper] Father & Brother with health, and my Sister too you say is better, these [gap in paper] I desire gratefully to you and wait on God for more.—Just after I had your Letter a Messenger came from my Aunt with another pressing invitation  I hardly know what to say to him but I think we again put it off ’till my Brothers coming I wish I had wrote a line for I am afraid she will be displeas’d my Aunt is pretty well and Mrs Gibbs I think he said has been down stairs once or twice – I must again entreat the favour of you to write as soon and as often as you can.  I suppose W.m Futcher can send to Sarum sometimes twice a week and if you recieve this Tuesday perhaps you might send Friday or Saturday – Sister joins with me in Duty to my Father & y.r Self   Love to Bro.r and Bro.r & Sis.r Wakeford and to Mrs Hoskins – I am Hon.d Mother,

                                                                                 [Anne Steele]

Bath May 18th 1751.

P.S. I believe I forgot when I came away to desire you to take out my best gowns in a fine day and spread them on the Bed with ye Window open lest they shou’d be mildew’d as my shade was and to tell Betty to set the Drawers a little off from the wall – but I fear you are too ill to be troubled with such trifles now & beg you will excuse my mentioning it.  I have thought of it since & design’d to mention it when I wrote but blame my self now I have done it –

Text: Timothy Whelan, gen. ed., Nonconformist Women Writers, 1720-1840, 8 vols. (London: Pickering & Chatto, 2011), vol. 2 (ed. Julia B. Griffin), pp. 277-78 (edited version); STE 3/7/xi, Steele Collection, Angus Library, Regent's Park College, Oxford. Address: To | M.rs Steele at Broughton | To be left at the three Lyons in | Sarum | Wilts | By the Cross Post. Original signature has been cut out.