Anne Whitaker, Bratton, to John Saffery, Salisbury, [c. end of December 1824].

My very dear brother

   We did not find the first part of Mary’s letter by any means satisfactory to your health and the letter has created much anxiety.

   We shall be expecting to find a letter in the office at Westbury Wednesday as you will receive this in time to post a few lines on Tuesday –  I should be most happy to spend two or three days with you if I felt adequate to winter traveling – but this does not appear to be the case at present though the amendment of my health is far beyond my expectation –  I hope we shall soon hear of the improvement of yours – in the mean time should you not seek for some mitigation of your labours you really ought not to preach three times – if you have not a supply for the afternoon do let the people pray for themselves and you –

   Our best wishes await you and our feeble supplications are offered to him who is able to do for you above all that we can ask or think and who never fails those who trust in [him].

   Be assured that among all the changes of this changg world I am my dear brother

                                 Your affecte friend & Sister

                                             Anne Whitaker

My love to those of your family that remain at home – I hope dear Maria will return the better for the journey

Text: Timothy Whelan, gen. ed., Nonconformist Women Writers, 1720-1840 (London: Pickering & Chatto, 2011), vol. 6, p. 396 (annotated version); Saffery/Whitaker Papers, acc. 142, I.A.7.(d.), Angus Library, Regent's Park College, Oxford. Address: Revd John Saffery | obliged by | Mr Attwater. No postmark.