Anne Andrews, Portsmouth, to Maria Grace Andrews, Salisbury, [Friday], 21 July 1797.

   I am pain’d when I think on the disappointment my beloved Friend will feel tonight at findg no letter by Rook this determines me to shorten the duration of your uneasiness as much as possible indeed my dr love I was not much in a frame for writing yesterday but was rather glad to walk out and endeavor to dissipate the anxious gloom whh spite of every exertion to the contrary hung over my Mind but I must proceed immediately to narration as time is short & my engagements are numerous –

   I told you < > Amie left us Monday to go to the Island Tuesday Morng I wrote to you, in the aftn found myself a good deal indisposed but was obliged to prepare for company – Mr & Mrs Griffin, Mr Cornelius Winter (Mr G’s Tutor) Mr Adams fm Salisbury & a Mr [Anchit?] drank tea with us.  Mr A–  preach’d in ye Eveng at Whites Row – Wednesday I arose in sickeng expectation poor E– not much better – I was not able to go out because of the ironing or shd have spared myself this Interview whh indeed was dreaded but you will say why? – The conversation whh pass’d on Monday convinced me yt I must have recourse once more to those painful expostulations whh have cost me so much in times past   the morng pass’d & no Mr – but about 1 in ye Aftn he came  E–  was irong with me in the back parlor she cd not deny his seeing me.  He enter’d – I was speechless for some moments.  He enquired if I were ill – hoped my Mind was better than when we parted that I was more favorably disposed towards him – I spared him that as to thinkg favorably of him it was what I had always done but I cd by no means think so of his pretensions I endeavor’d to change the Subject, but as he was fix’d on departing that aftn he was not to be diverted from it.  While I was a few minutes out of the Room he said to E– What an obstinate young Lady you have got for a Friend.  Don’t you think so? Esther after some hesitation replied, She is not too much so I think – he only said I think she is a great deal – He afterwards beg’d Mrs Horsey to permit us to be alone five minutes.  She said she had no objection if I thought proper – while I pitied him I dared not comply – he was sensibly hurt – while E– went into ye shop he snatch’d one hasty embrace then ask’d me earnestly if he must for ever relinquish all thoughts of such a connection – I replied in ye affirmative & he soon after took his leave – He ask’d me to write but I declined it entirely – my feelings were shock’d with the abrupt & unpleasing manner in which we parted & I was trying to recover myself when I saw him reenter the shop – Esther met him in passage when making a pause & taking both her hands he said, Miss Horsey do ask Miss Andrews to promise to burn my letters – He stay’d a moment while she enter’d ye Room & repeated his request but soon followed & waged it himself.  I was at first silent since I feel and still feel reluctant to compliance – at length I enquired the reason, & ask’d what injury they could do him while in my possession, & proposed in preference to return them to him; this as you may suppose he did not choose & said but little except that they could afford me no satisfaction – fearful of encouraging him by ye appearance of tenderness I said that if he wish’d it, if it wd make him more comfortable I would, but as he made no answer & I do not believe really wished it, I think I am not bound by such expressions if I were I am sure my resolution would fail I never thought of offering it on condition that he wd destroy or burn mine – he then left me & soon after Portsea doubtless resenting a visit attended with such disappointment –

   But I must leave him & my feelings respecting him for the present & turn to Mr A– I was exceedingly pain’d at what you said in your’s last night particularly in connexion with the tidings I heard fm M– last Lord’s Day as he was returng with me fm Meetg  he ask’d whether I thought of returng to Isleworth – I replied not to the latter except I recd information  of Mr A’s wishes – he said I should not he believed receive any intimation fm that Quarter, & then proceeded to say that my Father had declared he would not ask me to come home at the same time adding that I had been fishing for an Invitation; that was his liberal expression – in such circumstances judge how I feel notwithstandg if you think it best I will write to him as I hope I can rise superior to such insinuations –

   As to pecuniary affairs we must do the best we can – Have been looking at some prospects this morng whh I think will please as they are genteel & have a very cool appearance am sorry you cannot change your mourning next Lord’s Day, for myself I do not lament it as we are all going to Den Mead & ’spect to go to Newport to spend a few Days, hope you will be able to send my silk skirt by Rook on Tuesday as I shall be much in want of it will send your Gown [on Monday] –

   My love & duty await my dr Papa & Mama & very kind love to our dr Hannah & to all beloved friends – Grandpapa & Grandmama & Esther would be affectionately remember’d to all – Mary who has been making some stay here begs love – I breakfasted this morng with Mrs Shoveller they are all pretty well, by the way do remember the verses I am quite impatient.

   Adieu & believe me yours most tenderly

                     Anne Andrews

Pray let me know what you think of sending for the plain Muslin to Mr W—s

Text: Timothy Whelan, gen. ed.,  Nonconformist Women Writers, 1720-1840 (London: Pickering & Chatto, 2011), vol. 6, pp. 148-49 (annotated version); Reeves Collection, Box 14.2.(b.), Bodleian Library, Oxford. Address:  Miss Andrews | Exeter Street | Sarum | 21st July1797.  Postmark: Postmouth. Anne’s suitor in this letter is not Philip Whitaker but rather a Mr A–, most likely someone from Portsmouth. Anne is clearly not thinking marriage to Philip Whitaker at this point; most likely, due to her difficulties with her father, she is contemplating instead a position in a home, most likely as a governess. Another reference here as well to Maria Grace Andrews's consistent effort in composing poems.