Anne and Philip Whitaker, Bratton, to Maria and John Saffery, Salisbury, [c. November 1809].

My dear Maria

   I cannot think of sending away the things without a line or two yet I greatly fear their sole recommendation will consist on the date they bear as I feel not only a dearth of intelligence but what is far worse of sentiment yet I am aware that in acknowledging this I publish my own disgrace since to be destitute of sentiments while writing to you certainly argues a very undesirable state of the heart and affections but you must and will forgive it, when you recollect how often this alas! is the case in an intercourse vastly more interesting & sublime where infinite obligation on our part, and infinite excellence on that of the object, concur to heighten the guilt of indifference –

   I have every thing, of a domestic kind that is satisfactory to communicate I am on the whole better than when you were here – my shay being returned I am free from anxiety on this account and indeed am surrounded with great & unmerited mercies, but I want and I trust earnestly desire an enlarged participation of those spiritual blessings by which temporal favours are best enjoyed and by which alone they can be improved to the glory of the giver.

   I am sorry to hear that our dear Brother is yet troubled with gouty symptoms  I hope he has before this time used means for their removal.

   The dear little ones I hear have coughs I would advise you to try the vinegar syrup for them adding a small quantity of opium if their coughs should prove obstinate.

   I am much pleased with the continuance of good news from Cheltenham  O that every thing in future respecting that interesting person may be agreeable to our wishes, to our hopes. – Health & prosperous circumstances combine to form the touchstones the application of which to her character I contemplate in prospect with no small anxiety – with such a number of melancholy instances of self-deceptions such a fear should not I think be considered – Paul knew what it was to be jealous over some with a godly jealousy[ii] – and I trust what I feel is of this nature. –

   I will thank you to get me a yard of decent cambric for boys shirts – don’t forget to forward the Bibles – Adieu & believe me

                                 Yrs tenderly

                                             Anne Whitaker

Dear Bror,

   I have sent 24 Skins – 4 Sacks Potatoes one of which are kidneys, 1½ thro Cheese 8 in number – a basket & Umbrella for you – 3 Cheeses for Mrs Attwater, and a little hamper for Alfred to be forwarded by Anderson, also a hamper and bottles for Mr Wyche which you will be pleased to let them know is at yr house – Brother’s Sack of lamb Wool which he has weighed please to return the Sacks (except Mrs Attwater’s) [you] will have to take at your house a < > of candles from Mr Marsh’s the two bibles & a little parcel from Targetts – my love to Maria and the children – Mr Claypole is to be at H Norton 2 more Sabbaths  I had a letter from him in his usual style of ambiguity, I don’t know any thing of his future plans but should think if the negociation was broken off he would demand his passport.

         I am yrs affectionately

                     P Whitaker

Text: Saffery/Whitaker Papers, acc. 142, I.A.10, Angus Library. Address: Revd J. Saffery | Castle Street | Salisbury.  For an annotated version of this letter, see Timothy Whelan, gen. ed., Nonconformist Women Writers, 1720-1840 (London: Pickering & Chatto, 2011), vol. 6, pp. 289-91. This letter can be dated by the references to Harriet’s visit to Cheltenham, and the impending resignation of Thomas Claypole.