William Steele, Andover, Wiltshire, to Mary Steele, Yeovil, [Friday] 22 October 1773.

Andover Oct. 22d 1773

   My Dear Polly’s Letter of the 18th came to hand Yesterday. I am sorry you should be uneasy at not hearing from home by Monday’s post. Lucy’s Letter should have been with you that day but I suppose lay on the Road as is the case frequently I hope you have rec’d it since.

   I have nothing new to write you now. Your Aunt is I hope not worse than you left her, tho’ she has been bad for 2 or 3 days before yesterday but then grew much better. The Doctor was with her Yesterday & has order’d a new Medicine but I have no great hopes that Medicine will have any good Effect on her.  Your Mama has been ill in a Cholic but is thro’ Mercy well again & is here with me, the little Lasses are quite well & happy as else as well as usual.

   I wish you would enquire of Mr or Miss Burton about the Edinborough Powder, where it is to be had & what are its Virtues & what known Effects it has had. – Shou’d be obliged if your Uncle will send half a peck of Hempseed by you & you will mind 5 or 6 cuttings of the White Elder if a few pease can be brought without much incumbrance I should be glad of ’em. – Let me know in your next when your Uncle intends to go [on] his Journey, that we may settle about your coming home. 

   You forgot to say a Word in your Letter about your own health, let me know in your next how your Cough is & whether you are quite well. – Am very sorry Miss Scott is so ill hope to hear better news in your next about her.

   Mrs Steele joins me in affectionate Remembrances to her & your Uncle.  May the Blessings of a kind Providence attend my Dear Daughter prays

                                 her affectionate Far

                                             Wm Steele

Dr & Mrs Jay are just come in to drink Tea & desire their Compts to you.

Your Uncle Wakeford & Coz Billys Service to your Uncle & Miss Scott & Love to my Polly.

Text: Timothy Whelan, ed., Nonconformist Women Writers, 1720-1840, 8 vols.  (London: Pickering & Chatto, 2011), vol. 3, p. 238 (annotated version); STE 4/5/xxviii, Steele Collection, Angus Library, Regent's Park College, Oxford. Postmark: Andover. Address: Miss Steele / at Mr Geo: Bullock’s / Yeovil / Somerset. References above include Dr. Jay, the Steele family physician and family friend; and Joseph Wakeford and his son, William (Mary Steele Wakeford was already deceased), the letter suggesting that they also knew Mary Scott, an indication of the breadth of the Steele circle.