Mary Steele [Dunscombe], Broughton, to her niece, Mary Steele Tomkins, London, [Tuesday] 30 October 1804.

Broughton Octbr 30th

   It has pained me my Dear Mary I could not write to you as I intended long since – but want of health & a succession of Visitants has prevented me, but nothing can prevent my frequently thinking of you with the tenderest affection & wishing to see you. I have as you know the pleasure of Emmas Company here, we daily talk of you & constantly wish that you were with us & share our little amusements – She is a very good Child & much improved. She is now sitting by me & says I must tell sister about her little Kittens who are playing a thousand antics around us & who drest in their tortoise shell furs may rival in beauty some of their sisterhood who are exhibited as curiosities.  Emma is counting the Weeks to Christmas & anticipating the pleasure of your Society – I should be very glad to share it too, but whether it will be in my power or not I cannot yet tell  you have heard of Uncle D’s & my visit to Oakley – I was delighted with little Anne – & could understand all she said.

   I have been much entertained with Popular Tales – they all of them convey some instructive lesson. I hope my Dear Girl when she makes wishes of this kind is always attentive to the Instruction they are intended to give – the Amusement they afford is but a transient gratification but if they impress just sentiments or impart useful knowledge it will be a lasting Advantage to us.

   I did not send my Letter yesterday as your Aunt expected to hear from Wales – she received a Letter from your Momma with the good news of their health. They intended leaving Wales tomorrow visiting Mr Turbeville in their way home where they hoped to arrive this day Week – Aunt Steele sends her love to you & desires you would mention when you write home whether or not you have received some Biscuits she sent you from Andover – Lucy has just been here & begs me to add her & Uncle D does not forget his Dear Mary of whom we often talk & much regret that we cannot have her Company at Broughton sometimes – but hope in future we may yet have a run in the Garden together. Aunt & Emma talk of leaving us Monday sennight – Emma will add a line herself – which I know will gratify you.  You will present my kind regards to Mrs Biggs & believe me My Dear Mary your affectionate Aunt & sincere Friend

                     M Dunscombe

Beneath is the following note from little Emma:

I must tell my dear Mary that I went to Weyhill Fair & saw a great lion

At this point Martha Steele continues the note for little Emma:

& many other wild beasts & birds  I long to see you & am your very affectionate Sister

                                 Emma Tomkins

The postman came & Emma had not time to finish for herself so my dr Mary I was obliged to do it nor had she time to do it well  accept my love my dr girl

Text: Timothy Whelan, ed., Nonconformist Women Writers, 1720-1840, 8 vols. (London: Pickering & Chatto, 2011), vol. 3, pp. 364-65 (annotated version); Steele Collection, STE 5/13/v, Angus Library, Regent's Park College, Oxford. Postmark: Stockbridge, 1 November 1804. Address: To / Miss Mary Steele Tomkins / Mrs Biggs Peckham, near / London. Mentioned above are two younger sisters of Mary Steele Tomkins: Emma Tomkins (eight years old at the time) and Anne Tomkins, Jr. (1802-42); a new edition fo Popular Tales (1787), by Maria Edgeworth, appeared in 1804.