Anne Whitaker, Bratton, to John Saffery, Salisbury, [Monday], 13 March 1809.

Bratton   March 13. 1809

Attached to the letter below is a letter from Philip Whitaker to John Saffery, dated same as above.

  As Mr W– seems to have promised on my part that I should fill up the blank paper, I do not wish to appear deficient in good will and tho I have nothing important to communicate in addition to what is already written I take the pen to express the satisfaction I feel in the [news] of your welfare received the past week – Your good lady’s epistle has indeed some of finesse about it that I do not quite approve and her declarations respecting herself are couched in terms of such ingenious ambiguity that if I were not so much amused I think I should be downright angry – She would have me however believe that she is a great performer in the eating of which fact nothing perhaps but occular demonstration would serve to convince me.  I am pleased to find dear Ryland is able to ride and in an open carriage & that she appears to derive some benefit – do not forget to remember me kindly to her – William waits to take the letters so that I can only say that I am my

                     Dr Brother

                                 Affectionately yrs

                                             A Whitaker

Text: Timothy Whelan, gen. ed., Nonconformist Women Writers, 1720-1840 (London: Pickering & Chatto, 2011), vol. 6, pp. 282-83 (annotated version); Saffery/Whitaker Papers, acc. 142, I.A.7.(b.), Angus Library.  Address: Revd John Saffery | Castle Street | Salisbury. Annajane Blatch would die of consumption on 28 July 1809 at the age of sixteen.