10 October 1753

42. Mercy “Cleora” Doddridge, Daventry, to Mary “Belinda” Doddridge, Northampton, 10 October 1753. [f. 65]

Daventry Oct 10 Wednesday

Morning 11 oClock

how much my Dearest have you oblig’d me by your yesterdays Charming Letter. Happy indeed are you Mad^m who can with so little trouble entertain & please your friends but still Happier your Cleora to be rank’d in that number.

I thought your Letter would have had a bad effect on Little [Sappas?] intelects when I read your Consenting paragraph never did I see actions expressive of more sincere Joy. We should be all so happy so merry she said. & then as if anticipating the pleasure she Danc’d she sung then flew about the roome & seemd indeed quite in her eliment.

I say nothing of M^rs S [Sturges] as she sais she intends writing herself & sais she wont write trust me tho indeed she might, for to say the truth not one of them all longs more impatiently to see you than your polly. I wish my Dearest you could come on Friday as then we might return return so much the sooner & perhaps have an opportunity of worsening our pritty Scheme which I cant give up without some regrett, tho I give the preffiance greatly to the Daventry one. as for all the rest doe but come to me & we will then settle it.

You have oblig’d me greatly by your inteligence from Glasgow, how agreeable it was to me I have you to guess, tho I will for once say that I have not heard a line of news these many many month[s] that has given me so much Joy.

I suppose Mamma will be set out for S^t Albans before this reaches you if not I beg you will give my most affectionate Duty to her & my best wishes that her Journey is agreeable & advantagous to her Health.

I waited on Miss Floyd yesterday she inquired after you & all our Family very Obligingly. She has had a Cold of w^h she is not quite recoverd. M^rs & M^r Floyd & Miss Mot (you guess why I cant spell the name) are all well. Adieu my Dearest Belinda

till I have the Joy to see you I am your impatient but most affectionate

Cleora

my kind love to Dear Celia who we shall be all be very glad to see here

my comp^ts to M^r Neal & all M^rs Clarks family & kind love to Dear Betsy if Mamma is not gone

once more Adieu

Yours intirly

The inconvenience w^ch so large an addition to her Family will we fear occasion however as you are so kind as to Desire to see, we cant withstand, the agreeable Tempar.

Address: To | Miss Doddridge | in | Northampton

Postmark: none

Note on address page: Oct 10 | 1753