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

My dear Love

   Your kind letter reach’d me Saturday Morng the occasion of the delay I am yet unacquainted with as Rook did not bring it – The pleasures I felt in perusing it obliterated the pain of previous disappointment & the interval of expectation was lost in the lively emotion of the moment – ah my Friend! how did I then, how do I now rejoice in your friendship – what delight does your tender & ardent affection inspire – the comfort you express fills me with mingled joy & admiration of the goodness of Him who hath dealt thus bountifully with you  oh may present experience of the faithfulness & compassion of your Covenant God lead you in future times of trial when Clouds intercept the rays of that glorious Sun whh now cheer you to confide unreservedly in his Grace: to stay yourself on your God & induce you to appropriate the language of the tempted Church when she cries out – rejoice not against me & mine enemy for tho’ I fall, I shall arise.  Tho’ I sit in darkness the Lord shall be a light unto me.

   The health you enjoy both in Mind & Body reconciles me more than anything else to the continuance of my Visit whh is already protracted beyond the intended limits and will not terminate this Summer if I listen to the kind persuasions of our Friends – my intention was to return the beginning of next Week but my design of bathing forms a fresh argument against my departure – I was to have begun last Week & actually went on Wednesday to the Bathing House, but was misinform’d respectg the time.  Saturday Morng was then fix’d I intended to have bathed & breakfasted with Mrs Shoveller but being in the mean time attack’d by a rather severe cold judged it prudent to relinquish my plan – Yesterday hoped to have been able but the continuance of my indisposition again prevented – in the Eveng Mr S– persuaded me to come this Morng & other of our friends thinkg it safe but my own mind being still unsatisfied I ask’d Mr Millard who advised me by all means to defer it till my cold was removed.  I feel quite disappointed as I fear I shall not bathe long enough to derive much benefit shd it agree with me however I trust it shall all appear to be right in the event & that notwithstandg these discouragements I shall return to you with an increase of health and spirits –

   Another disappointment I met with in consequence of my cold was of hearing Mr Bogue last Lord’s Day at Gosport when he preach’d for the last time before his departure for Scotland where he is going for the benefit of his health. I felt really mortified as I had pleased myself with the thought of hearing him ever since I have been at Portsea.  Mr Robinson was to have been my escort, who by the way is no small favorite of mine – Mrs R– & her sweet little Girl left us for Lymington Saturday Morng but I expect she will return before I leave P–

   Last Sabbath Day week I went out to Wish to hear Mr Shoveller who spoke in consequence of the Revd Mr Mallet & Mr Saffery both going to Barn Green where  however they met with little reverence as I suppose Mr S–  has inform’d you – Mr Shoveller is much liked as a speaker at Portsea some wish him to be call’d out thinking him qualified for the Ministry – While I have no mean opinion of his abilities in a general point I am not of this sentiment I think there is a very material difference between an ability to give in a judicious manner the sense of a passage of Scripture and the qualifications necessary for the faithful & honorable discharge of the ministerial office but I need not enter into an explanation of my views on this subject to you – there is a Person in this Church who tho’ perhaps not distinguish’d by brilliancy of genius will yet in my opinion one day give proof of his ability for this important Work – if solidity of Judgment habits of reflection or Steadfastness of Temper be favorable indications I think these are plainly perceivable in Mr Ivimey – add to this a language surprisingly correct for one who professes himself a Stranger to grammatical rules – and tho’ it be admitted that he speaks with some hesitation you will allow there is some reason for my conjecture that he is not intended for a Taylor.

   My dr Mrs Scott wrote to me fm Croydon where she has been staying with Mrs Unwin whom you have heard me mention.  She proposed returng last week – I think to write in a day or two if there is anything you wish me to communicate inform me in your next.

   I suppose you will have dr Mr Horsey with you tomorrow pray tell him his dr family are all tolerably well & unite with me in affecte remembrances – Remember me suitably to all friends with particular tenderness to my beloved Papa & Mama – Pray let me know the pleasing tidings you have to convey respectg the Church – the painful ones you allude to are the same I conjecture whh have already reach’d me thro’ another channel – I mean the reality of the suspicions entertain’d of Samuel Morris & Martha Williams – I hardly know how to credit it fm what pass’d just before I came hither – Dear Mr Horsey will find cause of sorrow on this acct on his return, but we do not wish his absence to be embitter’d by anticipation.  I shd have written Sabbath Day to have desired if Mr Saffery was inform’d of ye circumstances by his brother’s letter they might not be mention’d to Mr Horsey but on enquiry found he had not said anything on the Subject – I must lay down my Pen for the present & wait till the arrival of Rook before I conclude as I hope to have a long letter by him.

   Past nine & no letter – I think notwithstandg it is best to forward this – pray do not make yourself uneasy on acct of my health will write again in the course of the Week – I walk’d into Point this aftn with Grandmama Mr & Mrs S–  pretty well – poor little Mary in deplorable circumstances yet not apparently nearer Death than when our dr friends were here – Grandmama & Esther would be remember’d with best love.

   Adieu my sweet Friend

                     Yours most affectionately

                                 Anne Andrews

Please do tell Grandpapa to order some Tape of all sorts at Botley & that as the Timber is not come Mr Guyer says there is no occasion to hurry Richard back there being nothing particular for him to do.

Text: Timothy Whelan, gen. ed.,  Nonconformist Women Writers, 1720-1840 (London: Pickering & Chatto, 2011), vol. 6, pp. 145-47 (annotated version); Reeves Collection, Box 14.1.(c.), Bodleian Library, Oxford. Address: Miss Andrews. No postmark. David Bogue (1750-1825) was an Independent minister at Gosport from 1777 until his death in 1825.  Joseph Ivimey (1773-1834) was baptized by John Saffery at Wimborne, Dorset, in 1790, and became, like John Shoveller, a Baptist minister, primarily at the Baptist church in Eagle Street, London, from 1805 to 1834, the same church the Shovellers attended during their stay in London in the 1790s.