1794 January 4 (Maria)

Maria Grace Andrews, Salisbury, to Anne Andrews, Isleworth, Saturday, [4 January 1794].

Saturday Morning

My dear Love,

I hasten to relieve you, from the uneasiness my silence has occasion’d, tho’ I feel somewhat embarrass’d with an explanation, of the Cause. I might recount a variety of particulars, which have tended to effect this delay, but y^e time forbids. – I have not indeed been free altogether, from indisposition, either as it respects Mind, or Body. Our dear G.M:^hr has been severely afflicted, several times since I wrote, poor M^r H– is very low & of consequence very unequal in his temper, a prominent feature this in our sin deform’d Nature, impatience of affliction. Very different is y^e experience of Man in general, from what our Fathers favorite Bard, confesses, when he say’s – “sweet are y^e uses of Adversity,” & tho unpleasant to our natural senses as a Toad, yet like y^t, “it wears a precious Jewel in its head.” – It will be a distinguish’d mercy, for us, if we are found among those who have felt it good, to be afflicted, while I possess a comfortable Evidence of this in my own bosom. I w^d unite with him, who addressing y^e Father of Mercies, said, “for all I thank Thee; Most for y^e severe.” –

Now pray don’t be dejected, on my acc:^t. I have been rather perplex’d in my Mind, & suffer’d from a cold in my body, but the malady of y^e latter, is subsiding. & tho’ the former is not dissipated; ‘tis very tolerable. I have been very anxious concerning you, my dear Creature, but hope springs up within me, when I consider the strength, & security of y^e Everlasting Arms which are y^e refuge of every believing Soul. Oh! when I am penetrated with this thought, I seem to rise above y^e weakness, & wickedness, of discontent. How ignorantly then do they presume who esteem true Religion, a gloomy discomfortable thing, which unfits its Votaries, for any usefulness in life. No, we may venture to say, the lives of true Xians, are y^e most profitable, to y^e World, while they live above it. Ah! but it is this living above, which moves its hatred because with Paul, inspired with sacred fortitude, they can say in y^e midst of suffering, “None of these things move us; neither count we our lives dear” &c or full of holy contempt for y^e persecutor, declare with y^e hebrew worthies, preparing for y^e Furnace: “We are not careful to answer Thee.” – but I forbear if my dear Father, looks over this, he will say perhaps, does this little Fanatic, write nothing but Sermons? My duteous remembrances to him; & I am indebted for his kind solicitude. –

A few words on business. My G:m^hr is in real want of y^r Counterpane; she was to have in return for the damask Cloth. I entreat you to consider it since y^e present state of my finances, absolutely incapacitates me for such purchases here. Indeed I < > uncomfortably straiten’d. This indeed < > Fathers consideration. I can add with < > grieved to trouble him in this way < >.

Adieu I have many kind enquiries made for you, from my friends, but none of them ask with a tenderness more sincere & solicitous than,

Y^r affec:^te Sister & unworthy Friend

Maria Grace Andrews

< > it dispose of my Comp:^ts as you think < > & Mrs H—g w^d be rememberd

Text: Saffery/Whitaker Papers, acc. 142, I.B.4.a.(9.), Angus Library. Address: Miss Andrews | Isleworth | Midd^x | Jan^ry 2^d. Postmark: Salisbury [1794]; 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. 62-63.