1794 March 27 (Anne)

Anne Andrews, Chapel Street, London, to Maria Andrews, Salisbury, [Thursday], 27 March [1794].

Chapel St Mar: 27^th

I fear my d^r Sister that I am at this time laboring under your displeasure indeed my apparent conduct so highly deserves it that I cannot flatter myself with the idea of your entertaining a more favorable impression – I wrote to you y^e 18^th & gave reasons for my previous delay which letters I enclose in order to save me the trouble of relating those incidents wh^h it contains my business now is to account for my subsequent delay it has partly been owing to a difficulty in procuring the Counterpane which I did not get till after my arrival in Town on Saturday last – other circumstances that will ever occur when dependent on the will of others have constrain’d me to exercise Patience in this particular – & I am now obliged to send you the Parcel with numerous deficiencies which I know your kindness will excuse & which I think I shall be enabled to supply in a very short time – essentials being settled I shall now consult my own inclination.

In the mean time, my beloved Grace let us turn our attention to some things of a more interesting Nature I received your real letter with a delight not easily expres’d I found much sweetness and satisfaction in the perusal tho’ not unallay’d but this will appear as I proceed.

I was much pleased to hear the favorable Sentiments dear M^r & M^rs Saffery expressd of our much valued Friend and feel equal pleasure is assuring you that they meet with a suitable return of regard & esteem – Do not forget to remember me to them with that respect & affection I so sincerely feel.

I will take the subjects as they are placed in your letter – I am not surprised at the interest you take in the plan for rebuilding your Meeting house & hope to enable you to contribute to the execution of so laudable a design – but you ask my advice I conceive with regard to the largeness of that contribution – I will give it fully – You know my d^r love the want of Ability is no crime either in the light of God or of Good Men – I < > the question < > is how to estimate your ability < > In the first place the money is not given you for that purpose but you will say I do not injure the Person by a different manner of Expenditure it is given to promote my comfort – I cannot be blamed for using the most certain means – but it is not advanced on so disinterested a Plan it is with a view to such & such uses & the supporting such appearances as may suit the Credit & feelings of the Donor A Second and very powerful argument I think is that you may bring a reproach by giving too much which you are in no danger of by a prudent moderation – the first part requires no explanation but perhaps you may dispute the certainty of the latter assertion you may suppose that your situation and apparent circumstances demand a considerable subscription for the honor of the Gospel but your dependance is well known to most of your friends and you went as far as was in your power for the support of the Baptist Mission wh^h you must allow has if any thing a superior claim – & they equally admit of a second supposition. If you judge from my Father’s circumstances you will find in them a very fallacious Guide – What he can afford & what he might afford are two things which differ I fear irreconcilably but I shall tire you – I hope however you will not suspect from what I have said my good will to the Cause.

I am much obliged to you for your kind and earnest admonitions & to this your prayers for I stand in great need of all especially in the situation to which I am about to remove when I leave my d^r friends – I seem to have a peculiar dread of this Visit the reasons I think I need not mention to you –

I must tell you one thing which hurt me in your last &c which was that you should direct it to M^rs Ford without remembering yourself in the most common manner I am sorry to say that I believe she felt it – M^rs Sansom and all your friends would be kindly remember’d to you –

I drank Tea last night with Miss Ovenden and attempted to make my peace – I can hardly say with success she desires affectionate regards pray return them in the best manner – it is a duty –

I intend seeing little Matthew & if possible M^r Shoveller – Adieu I must add no more write soon my d^r Grace I should like to hear from you while in Chapel S^t – I am with the sincerest prayers for your present & everlasting felicity

Your affec^te Friend & Sister

Anne Andrews

Will you excuse me if I tell you of the little imprudence of badly filling three Sheets of Paper when every Sheet is charged Sixpence I wish you would adopt Foolscap Paper

I forgot to bring any of the Cheyt Sing’s to Town

Text: Reeves Collection, Box 14.2.(e.), Bodleian Library, Oxford. Address: Miss Andrews. No postmark; for a fully annotated text of this letter, see Timothy Whelan, gen. ed., Nonconformist Women Writers, 1720-1840 (London: Pickering & Chatto, 2011), vol. 6, pp. 68-70. Anne is visiting with the Scotts at the home in Chapel Street. Maria Grace Andrews made a contribution to the work of the Baptist Missionary Society in 1794, probably through an offering taken up by the congregation at Brown Street.