Anne Whitaker, Bratton, to Maria Grace Saffery, Salisbury, [mid-August 1820].

My very dear Maria

   Many times since I last addressed you have I resolved on attempting to communicate with you by letter and as often relinquished my design from a conviction of my inability to convey by this medium either my sentiments or feelings and from a too well founded despair of obtaining from you any information on these points on which I was most anxious to obtain it. I was aware also of your being at this time more than usually occupied from the business of the School devolving on you which has occasioned me many painful feelings – I would however hope that the same kind & gracious hand which hath hitherto upheld you – I cannot express half of what I have thought and felt about you – my sympathy is feeble and inefficient but the divine compassion is both tender and omnipotent.  We have found of late many thorns strewed in our sequestered path but I trust we shall find that they have been scattered by the hand of love.

   We were much gratified by dear Philip’s visit and our people here much delighted with his pulpit exertions – I will tell you what a certain person most tenderly interested thought about it when I see you – We hope to see and hear more of him before he returns to Bristol – Shall we see you this vacation? will little Jane make one of our Christmas party? – I expect my great boys the latter end of this week they will be glad of an addition of females to their party. Our little folks are comfortably well & thriving – as to my own health it is very imperfect indeed – and has been peculiarly interrupted the last three weeks – I am scarcely able to cope with the labours of my little school – but desire in this to say Father not as I will but as thou wilt.

   We have as a neighbourhood been mercifully exempted hitherto from those contagious diseases by which so many places have been visited and some not far distant from us. – I have not heard how you have fared in this respect at Salisbury.

   I should be glad to receive a few lines when your Brother returns but not if you should be distressed over time or hurried with other engagements.  Adieu my dear friend & sister

                                 Yours faithfully

                                             Anne Whitaker

Text: Timothy Whelan, gen. ed., Nonconformist Women Writers, 1720-1840 (London: Pickering & Chatto, 2011), vol. 6, pp. 382-83 (annotated version); Saffery/Whitaker Papers, acc. 180, A.2.(o.), Angus Library. Address: Mrs Saffery | Castle Street | Salisbury.  No postmark. Anne Whitaker had begun keeping a school for about fifteen years previous and appears to have maintained it for some years after the above letter, although it may be there were periods when she did not keep her school.