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

Lords Day Aftn

   Tho the time is too short to admit of much conversation with my dr Grace I am induced to scribble a few lines lest any disappointment shd arise to her or my dear Papa by a failure of intelligence fm Portsea tomorrow Eveng  Mama does not seem much disposed to write herself & is at the same time anxious on your acct – .  Yours my dr Love whh I recd last night afford’d me the truest satisfaction the assurance of your health the traces of that amiable vivacity the loss of whh I so frequently deplore together with the explicit stile made use of inspired me with inexpressible pleasure.  I rejoice in the chearful courage you express & have no doubt but your confidence will be fully justified by the event.  If we do indeed love God we are assured that all things shall work together for good & that no good thing shall be with-holden from us – I trust my dear friend has been this day favor’d with Sabbath rest I am pain’d when I remember how many things you have to interrupt it, but Grace is all-sufficient. I hope one Day we shall be favor’d with the peaceful enjoyment of all the privileges connected with these sacred seasons and by a spiritual improvement of them experience an anticipatn of yt Eternal Sabbath whh I trust thro Sov’reign mercy will be ours.

   Remember me with dutiful affection to my dr Papa tell him Mama is in possession of a tolerable measure of health more sick to see him than any other way  I left her this Aftn to drink tea with Mrs Shoveller who is in much affliction with poor little Mary.  I was there myself till late last night endeavoring to give some small assistance.  I thought & indeed hoped ye dear child wd not have seen another Sabbath on Earth we supposed for some time yt she had for ever closed her eyes on ye miserable world.   But she is once more revived & may yet perhaps linger long enough for Mr Saffery to see one of ye most affecting pictures of patient suffering imagination cold form – ye sweet creature longs earnestly for her eternal Home & frequently breathes out when in great extremity of pain & langour the religious language of the Poet –

Then shall I sing more sweet more loud

And Christ shall be my Song.

No tenderness of Affection tho so exquisitely felt by her, no proposed gratification in the renewal of health can for a moment tempt her to express a wish for recovery & continuance in this Vale of tears.   But she is invariable in her preference of Death the approaches of whh have for her no terrors  I could spend hours in thinkg & < > but must forbear –

   Your dear Mama & Niece desire to be remember’d most affectionately to you & join with me in love to Hannah & suitable regards to the dr friends.

   Adieu my beloved Friend & Sister may every good & perfect gift be bestow’d on you by him on whom is fullness of Grace & who delighteth to communicate blessings to his Children in the number of whom I hope will be found you & your ever affecte

                                             Anne Andrews

I thank you for your counsel whh perfectly accords with my views of the subject

Text: Timothy Whelan, gen. ed.,  Nonconformist Women Writers, 1720-1840 (London: Pickering & Chatto, 2011), vol. 6, pp. 141-42 (annotated version); Reeves Collection, Box 14.2.(d.), Bodleian Library, Oxford.  Address: Miss Andrews.