Mrs. Martha Goddard Steele, Broughton, to Mary Steele, East Knoyle, [Wednesday] 10 December 1777.

Broughton Dec. 10 1777

   Mr Steele intended writing to my Dr Maria this morning but is rode out & I believe forgot it, nor did I think of it till this moment, & fearing you will be very unhappy not to hear from us till another post I scribble a hasty line just to tell you that Mr Steele return’d in health & safety Saturday evening to the joy of all of us he has advertised the Timber to be sold the 31 Instant & intends to be at Knoyle the day before: we hope & expect you will return with him. Sister continues quite bad tho’ I hope considerably better than she was some days last week

   John is rather worse the little Maidens are well & come home next week this is all the intelligence I can now stay to give you as I fear I shall be to late for the post

   I must only add our united tenderest love & affection to you & respectful Compliments to the family you are with that my Dr Maria may enjoy much pleasure in the society of her friends & experience every real good is the sincere wish of her

                     truly Affectionate Mother

                                 M Steele

Text: Timothy Whelan, ed., Nonconformist Women Writers, 1720-1840, 8 vols.  (London: Pickering & Chatto, 2011), vol. 3, p. 285 (annotated version); STE 4/5/lx, Steele Collection, Angus Library, Regent's Park College, Oxford. Postmark: Salisbury.  Address:  Miss Steele / Revd Mr Russ’s / East Knoyle / Wilts.