William Steele, Broughton, to Mary Steele, Yeovil, [Friday] 13 July 1770.

Brighton July 13th 1770

My Dear Polly

   I have sent Jos. Dewy with your Horse as I propos’d, but if the weather continues so hot as it now is, it can be of little use to you.  I fear a Journey to Weymouth on Horseback will be too fatiguing & wish if you do go, your Uncle & you will take a Post Chaise, if you do so, Jos. will return home of course.

   I think the Scheme I propos’d in the latter part of my last letter most suitable & I wish it may be agreeable to you & your Uncle, if you think of stopping a few days at Mr Scott’s, your Horse should be brought thither the day before you come away, & some person bring it to Shaston with you, who may return in the Chaise you come in, & I will send a Boy with my Chaise to bring it home, if Mr Scot and Miss come this way I will settle it with them; but after all I would leave it to your Discretion.

   Your Aunt is just come from Bodenham, the Family there have been in great distress, but Mrs Waters is recovering which has remov’d it.  We are all thro’ Mercy as well as usual, & join in Love to My Dear Daughter & Cordial Respects to her Uncle.

                     Yr affectionate

Text: Timothy Whelan, ed., Nonconformist Women Writers, 1720-1840, 8 vols.  (London: Pickering & Chatto, 2011), vol. 3, pp. 213-14 (annotated version); STE 4/5/ix, Steele Collection, Angus Library, Regent's Park College, Oxford. No postmark. Address: To / Miss Steele / at Mr Geo: Bullock’s / Yeovil.