William Steele III, Broughton, to Anne Cator, Trowle, 15 April 1723.

Broughton  April ye 15 1723

To My best beloved

         My Dear as intire union of affection is ye foundation of mutuall happyness, to Satisfaction of that union dos give me foretast of it, which (tho it encreses my desire for enjoyment dos yeald that calmness and serenity of mind that is sometime past I was too much a Stranger to I intend only as a means for God in the Spring of all comfort and I desire he may have all the glory) I now rest Satisfied in ye good Providence of God, and in the pleasing prospect of the near approval of the answer of my prayer, as I trust to our mutual joy. My dear I both wish and hope you may enjoy ye same pleasant frame of mind, for tho I am sensible yt ye thought of removeing from your parents may sometimes oppress your mind (and am willing to simpathise with you) yet as I doubt not but you have ben sincere and ardent in your desires to God for guideance and can now clearly see ye wise direction of his Providence in answer to your prayer, so I can’t but hope (through ye Grace of God amidst all your difficultys) you also sometimes tast ye sweatness of this delightfull frame. I thus communicate of my experence unto you, and desire what you please of yours in return to me concluding my happyness is yours, and yours is mine. I am with my family in good health (through ye goodness of God) and should be glad to hear your pains removed and that you enjoy the same mercy as part of the happyness of united lovers consist in free conversn, to tell ye passage of each passing day, to share their griefs and joys or make them one, so to pleas my self and you I would acquaint you that I came to Sarum about 10 of Clock met with Elye Harris but could not deal for his timber (which is since sold to another man) and spake with a woman called in as expected about his timber ye third or fourth came did not deal but appointed to see ye remotest part in order to deal for the whole, went accordingly (after I had stayed at home one day and done my bissness at Redbridge that Day) from Redbridge to Ringwood thursday in the evening, from thence to ye wood near Christchurch friday, and to < > later in the afternoon, and returned to John Webbs house, and made a good tasting supper with ye < > and good friday return’d home  Saterday a long and tedious journey to little or no purpose, having not dealt but only brought it a little nearer and defer’d it till another time. I passed through all without any considerable disturbance of mine (and I hope with a holy indiferance) having resined the matter to the wise providence of God, who orders all things for his peoples good.  But I forbear that I may not be too tedious, and request you’l pleasure me with a few lines, which if you order to be left at ye 3 lyons will come safe to my hand. I depend to see you ys Saterday if God permit and stay ye holiday with you as proposed. Pray give my duty to Father and Mother and love to Brother Gay’s family (if you see any of them) and accept my best respects to you my dear from your

                                 intended Loving Husband  William Steele

Text: Steele Collection, STE 1/3/iii, Angus Library, Regent's Park College, Oxford. Address: For | Mrs Anne Cater | at Trowel near | Trowbridge. No postmark.  For an annotated text of this letter, see Timothy Whelan, ed., Nonconformist Women Writers, 1720-1840, vol. 8, pp. 38-39.