1795 June (2) (Anne)

Anne Andrews, Salisbury, to Maria Andrews, Portsmouth, Monday, [c. June 1795].

Monday Afternoon

Perhaps my d^r Grace has by this time concluded that I < > those flattering encomiums of wh^h she is so lavish by ceasing to manifest that zeal in her service wh^h excited them but indeed my love there was no defect here it was absolute inability to comply with your wishes – Your letter did not arrive till Saturday morn^g – it involved me in great perplexity the Gown you wanted was unwash’d the Cap in wear and had they been ready I knew not how to send them I set off immediately to M^r Marsh’s & inquired respecting conveyances to Portsmouth could hear of nothing but a Coach between three & four in the Aftⁿ I went from thence to Chaters were I was led to hope that it could go by the Newssman’s Cart next morn but after getting the Gown wash’d &c was disappointed: made various other enquiries but all to no purpose – there is a Coach this aftⁿ but as it stays all night at Southampton it will only [be] a few hours difference so determined to wait for Rook. I could not help grieving for your disappointment as I know it is very disagreeable on such occasions to be unprepared with suitable apparel –

I thank you for the explicit declaration respecting your health it afforded me much pleasure I should rejoice to hear such satisfactory intelligence of my d^r M^rs Saffery I desire to be thankful for any improvement in her health but long for its more rapid progress – You did not mention M^r Saffery’s indisposition in your last – hope from that omission it was slight I please myself with the thoughts of seeing you all return in the enjoyment of a comfortable measure of health and spirits – for myself I have been rather languid & poorly for these few days past much the same as you have freqeuntly seen me but am considerably better today – I am going to drink Tea at M^rs Marsh’s & expect she will do the same at My House in the course of the Week if M^rs Thraddling should be well enough – Farewell till my return

One oclock – I have been in a House of Prayer with a prayerless heart & have therefore left it with an heavy one O my d^r friend I think it is my desire to worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness but in this case as in many others to will is present with me but how to perform that wh^h is good I find not – I must draw to a conclusion M^rs Marsh M^rs Penny &c: &c &c unite in love to M^r & M^rs Saffery yourself & other d^r friends M^r Smith proposes writing I believe tomorrow – Remember me with sentiments to our d^r M^r & M^rs Saffery – also to M^r & M^rs H the Bride &c: – Will you ask M^rs Saffery whether she can recollect anything of some part of the furniture of a Bed belonging to Martha Grose – whether it is still in her possession or not as M^rs Marsh cannot recollect –

Adieu my beloved may you live in the constant enjoyment of that peace wh^h the World cannot take away & be a continual partaker of that joy wh^h being the same in nature & aim with, shall assuredly and in the full fruition of eternal joy into wh^h every faithful Servant shall be welcomed –

Yours most affectionately

Anne Andrews

Pray do not let me be disappointed on Friday & if it will occasion you no trouble do send a single glove wh^h I know you have with you it can be of no use to you & I want a pair of long Gloves –

Text: Reeves Collection, Box 14.2.(i.), Bodleian. 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. 100-101.