Anne Whitaker, Bratton, to Maria Grace Saffery, Salisbury, [Thursday], 17 February [1825].

My dear Maria

   Your welcome letter was received this morning and I should gladly send you an encouraging history of the progress of that much desired assistant the Gout in return but we are hitherto completely foiled in every attempt to keep up the attack and therefore though I do not know that any means to that end have been neglected, the muscles of the leg are painful and we suspect from the same cause he had those doctors yesterday by the addition of Edward who as usual did not add to our comfort being as you know always prone to look out for the worst – he has just seen our invalid for the second time and thinks the symptoms more favorable today indeed I cannot but fancy that he is better every other day – his nights are rather less distressing than they had been at Bath and last night he supposed himself to have had six or seven hours sleep of which I have no doubt – the only stubborn unmitigable symptom is the appetite which I am sorry to say does not amend – he takes the arrow root pretty well perhaps four times in the twenty four hours, the eggs he takes less frequently and less willingly – of broth I can say nothing, it has gone quite out of fashion – cold fowl he tried but his stomach soon rejected it – pouched eggs he has tried but could not eat a whole one – Sago he has had once, did not object to it but liked arrow root much better – < > two or three nights but is tired of it – I ventured a whole glass of Madeira about two hours ago and think from his not ringing that he is getting now a comfortable nap in his easy chair. Nothing can exceed his patience and composure – he certainly collects his internal resources more in your absence still I cannot but wish you with him on your own account.

   I certainly do not think the result of his present severe illness is to be calculated by us – We all know what must be the consequence if the tone of his stomach does not improve – but we still hope to see the change we so much desire in the mean time we hope he likes enough to prevent any immediate injury from manition [malnutrition?]. He would be tenderly remembered to you and the dear children and affectionately to enquiring friends.

   You will be aware that in my letter you have the whole truth – and have nothing more to learn by pressing on your arrival  fervently wishing you the support you so much need and a preparation for the divine will supporting you and yours

                     I am with sincerest sympathy

                                 Your Anne Whitaker

Text: Timothy Whelan, gen. ed., Nonconformist Women Writers, 1720-1840 (London: Pickering & Chatto, 2011), vol. 6, p. 400 (annotated version); Saffery/Whitaker Papers, acc. 180, A.2.(g.), Angus Library. Address: Mrs Saffery | Castle Street | Salisbury.  Postmark: Warminster, no date.