William Steele, Broughton, to Mary Steele, Bradford, [Monday] 8 March 1773.

Broughton Mar. 8 1773

My Dr Polly

   Your Letter to Lucy is just rec’d by which I find you have heard of my having the Gout, you need not be alarm’d at it as I hope it will not be a lasting fit. – Mr Rawlings is so good as to offer to go for you, he will stop at Trowbridge where you will call for him Wensday morning, he will pay the Exps on the Road.  I inclose two Guineas lest your Money should be gone. – Your Aunt is much the same as usual the rest thro Mercy well.

   You will sleep at Deptford Wensday Night if you get away from thence at 7 o’Clock next Morning you may breakfast at Sarum & be home by dinner time I commit you to the Care of Providence & wish you a safe & pleasant Journey.  We join in affectionate tenders to all the family & am My Dr Polly’s

                                 affect Far   

                                             W Steele

Text: Timothy Whelan, ed., Nonconformist Women Writers, 1720-1840, 8 vols.  (London: Pickering & Chatto, 2011), vol. 3, p. 228 (annotated version); STE 4/5/xxv, Steele Collection, Angus Library, Regent's Park College, Oxford. No postmark. Address:  Miss Steele / at Mr Geo: Head’s / Bradford.