Philip Whitaker, Bratton, to John Saffery, Salisbury, [Saturday], 6 January 1798.

Dear Sir,

   I take the earliest Opportunity of answering your Letter recd Yesterday, and of fixing the earliest Day (after you can receive this) for coming to Sarum, which (if God permit) will be Monday next perhaps a little after your Dinner Time; can only render my warmest Thanks to Dr Mrs S. and yourself for your kind Solicitude and very friendly Offices, may God reward you. 

   The Sentiments in yr Letter express’d by the surprized and timorous Damsel, join to convince me that I have not form’d a wrong Opinion of her but I must forbear expressing what I feel – It is no Secret to my Family and I have their good Wishes and full Approbation  May God direct, influence and bless us both, I know a good Wife will be to me an unmeritted Blessing, but I hope my Soul is in some Degree form’d for social Happiness, and that my Situation will not be disagreeable to a humble, pious, Partner –

   If the Clerk once gets into the Parson’s Study I hope much Fire will not be wanting – We are glad to hear Mrs S. is better may her Health be soon establish’d and her valuable Life long spar’d. 

   You’ll be pleas’d to present my every Expression of growing Affection to Miss A. A. My kind Respects to Mrs S & Miss A. My family also join in Respects, wishing you a happy new Yr and a stolen Sheep in it.

                                 I remain Yr Oblidg’d & sincere Friend

                                             Phil Whitaker

Bratton  Janry 6.  1798

Text: Saffery/Whitaker Papers, acc. 142, I.A.(18.), Angus Library.  Address: Revnd Mr Saffery |Exeter Street | Sarum.  Postmark: Warminster. For an annotated version of this letter, see Timothy Whelan, gen. ed., Nonconformist Women Writers, 1720-1840 (London: Pickering & Chatto, 2011), vol. 6, p. 151.