1795 May 18 (Anne)

Anne Andrews, Salisbury, to Maria Grace Andrews, Portsmouth, Monday, [18 May 1795].

Monday Aftⁿ

I conceive my d^r Grace could not desire much satisfaction from my last hasty epistle wh^h was indeed written at an unfavorable juncture neither does my present frame seem likely to afford anything very desirable as I am exceedingly stupid as well as much engross’d – you have already heard of the safe arrival of M^r Saffery & Miss H [Horsey] & I have therefore only to tell you the pleasure I felt at the sight of our d^r M^r S– & here I will not enlarge as I am sure you know how to form proper conceptions of my feelings in this respect –

The acc^t he gave me of your health was on the whole pleasing but he tells me you have not yet bathed & that he thinks you will not at all – how is this my love? I shall expect some very cogent reason to be assign’d if you should return without availing yourself of this opportunity – I rec^d a most affectionate letter yesterday from our d^r M^rs Scott in wh^h she inform’d me that she had heard from you and return’d an answer – it contained a most pleasing confirmation of the hopes entertain’d respecting their d^r John I think I could rejoice over any Sinner truly converted to God but the peculiar interest I take in all that concerns these valuable friends made this instance of the power of divine Grace to excite the liveliest emotions of Gratitude & delight when I reflect on the prospect of his future usefulness & emminence in the Church of Christ I see much reason to admire & adore the God of all grace on his behalf let us pray my d^r Sister that the Lord would carry on his work with divine power in his heart & abundantly to qualify him for stand^g up in his name and preach^g Jesus Christ & him crucified in simplicity & Godly sincerity –

You will perhaps be surprised to hear that I have accepted M^r Saffery’s kind offer of a seat in the Chaise to Frome I indeed made many objections but persuasion on the one hand and inclination on the other at length determined my choice – I sh^d like to write you a long letter but circumstances will not permit at present – do remember me most affectionately to our d^r friend tell her I should have been happy to have read if it had been but a single line written by her hand – affectionate respects to M^rs Horsey assure her that I am not insensible to her kindness in keeping you at Portsea tho it deprives me of your society –

Let me entreat you not to suffer any anxious considerations to intrude on your mind and deprive you of that cheerfulness wh^h alone can make the company of friends agreeable or recreation beneficial or desirable –

I must say adieu my beloved may you ever enjoy that delightful serenity of mind wh^h arises from constant intercourse and communion with the fountain of all blessedness & thus possessing him possess all things prays

Your’s with unalterable tenderness

Anne Andrews

If you really wish the Lockets to be converted into Rings signify it by Rook on Friday & I will send them –

Text: Reeves Collection, Box 14.1.(l.), 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. 95-96. The annual meeting of the Western Association of Particular Baptist churches was attended by John Saffery each year; on this occasion he decided to take Anne Andrews and Esther Horsey (both of whom were staying in his home in Salisbury during his wife’s period of recuperation in Portsmouth) to the meeting at Frome on 27-28 May 1795, a mark of honor for the two young ladies and recognition of their devout spiritual state. At the meeting they heard several of the leading Baptist ministers in the Western Association, such as Isaiah Birt of Plymouth Dock, John Ryland, Jr., of Bristol, William Steadman of Broughton, and Joseph Hughes of Bristol.