Anne Andrews, Portsmouth, to Maria Grace Andrews, Salisbury, [c. June 1797].

   I sincerely hope my dr Grace was not grieved & flatter myself she could not be angry at not receiving the promised letter indeed I am sure the latter would not be the case if she knew the principal cause of the neglect  I was so much distress’d all Day Tuesday with the pain in my Teeth & Head that I had little ability or inclination for any engagement that required attention.  I however obtained relief in the Evening & have continued tolerably easy since.  I have for some days past suspected that one of my Teeth tho’ by no means the primary source of the Disorder was yet a sort of lurking place for it on Esther’s examining it she discover’d two small specks in it  Chamberland was here this afternoon  I ask’d him to look & on applying his probe he assured me it was diseased.  Yet I am unwilling to have it extracted without it was worse as it may be useful many years –

   But let me turn to some more interesting subject.  For my own part I know not any I am more inclined to converse of than your dear Self.  I want to know a great deal about you both as to Mind & Body am delighted you are so comfortable as to the former hope I really do feel some emotions of gratitude to him who is the Author of all peace and consolation on this account & at the same time fervent desires for an increase of your joy – I want much to know how you go on in your studies what progress you make in Guthrie’s whether you have begun the intended poem or form’d any Plan respectg it, also whether you have done anything towards arranging your Miscellaneous Pieces or have any new plan in contemplation have been led myself to wish you felt an inclination to undertake afresh the history of Elijah think it would be a very acceptable Work do give it a little consideration  But let me entreat you to do something I am grown quite impatient of Delays  it really seems too much like wrapping a Talent in a Napkin –

   Tell me in your next how you are in health tho’ I am ready to conclude favorably when you are silent on this head  I shd be much better satisfied by the pleasing assurance that you are well – I hope you do not embarrass yourself with work – I shall rejoice when I am again permitted to embrace you trust it will be in circumstances calculated to excite exultation & gratitude – I know it will afford you pleasure to hear that I am exceedingly comfortable find myself perfectly at home whh is one of the most agreeable feelings as to outward things we can have.  My dr Grandmama very kind & my Child on the whole very dutiful & affecte by the bye you must write her a nice long letter the very next time or else I am afraid she will totally forget her duty to her Aunt & lose sight of all that respect she is in other instances so well inclind to manifest –

   Grandmama who would be remembered was much pleased with her Buckler whh she has sported already. I wish’d them a little larger but Mrs H– thinks them quite large enough – We are in the midst of Washg but all goes on pretty well.  Mrs H– is in good spirits & my dr Esther charmingly all things consider’d –

   I suppose you have enough to do to reconcile your feelings to this welcome separation with our dr Mama but you must endeavor to remember that the joy of meeting pays the pang of Absence – does my dr Papa continue with you next Sabbath? –  if not who do you expect to preach?  let me know how you enjoy’d last Lord’s Day –

   But I must leave room to say a few words on business – first then you will find enclosed ten pounds for a Mr Rake Tobacconist from a Mr Pearce, whh if my dr Papa has already paid you will give him to reimburse himself if not he or Mr Marsh if Mr S– shd be fm Home you must request to pay it immediately – You must also tell Mr Marsh that Mr Serjeant has paid this week nine pounds for the Cloth whh he says was what Mr Horsey agreed to leave it for –

   Kind love to all friends Hannah in particular suitable remembrances to Mr H– I am thinking what I shall say to convey some idea of that affection whh glows in my breast towards you but find all expression injurious  must therefore trust to your sympathy have no doubt of its faithfulness  adieu ma douce Amie! 

                     Anne Andrews

Am quite pain’d at not hearg from Chapel Street

Text: Timothy Whelan, gen. ed.,  Nonconformist Women Writers, 1720-1840 (London: Pickering & Chatto, 2011), vol. 6, pp. 136-38 (annotated version); Reeves Collection, Box 14.2.(l.), Bodleian Library, Oxford. Address: To my beloved Sister. No postmark. Further indications in this letter that Maria Grace Andrews has continued to  write poetry throughout the 1790s, although only the 33 poems, nearly all of a religious nature, entered by her into the thin bound volume now in the Attwater Papers, acc. 76, II.A.2, have survived.  She would later write poems about Elijah that were included in Poems on Sacred Subjects (1834).