Maria Grace Andrews, Salisbury, to Anne Andrews, Isleworth, [Monday], 7 May 1792.

May ye 7th 92

Dearest Anna

   Three Day’s only are elapsed, since my reprieve from an anxiety, which your unexpected silence, had occasioned me; it was not indeed long; but the interval was rather interesting, and the expression of your fears had infected my sympathy, and borne contagious sickness to my heart; when your Letter arrived, with the health of Consolation.

   I could no longer rejoice in secret over a boon so gracious, no longer contemplate your welfare, in the silent Chamber of Reserve, dear indeed to me, are those hours of gentle Meditation, which bring you to my Eyes; sweet is the speechless pray’r; and sweet the incense of thanksgiving; which I breathe for you. – nor is that pray’r however soft, left unsympathized by the social spirit of parental love.  But I require the congenial soul of Friendship, to comprehend the large desires of mine: she will perceive my wishes striving to deck her path with flow’rs; which will perish indeed, for they are mortal; beneath the Pilgrims feet, but they will place too that Amaranth of Virtue, on her brow which shall bloom in the Cloudless Daybreak of Eternity –

   Surely you have acted on my mind, like Cynthia on the Ocean; you have turn’d back the stubborn tide of thought, as it flow’d to Solitudes abyss within my bosom; bade it refresh the dreary wild of Absence and communicate sweetness to the pleasant bow’r of mental Conversation: then it might make the drooping palm of peace again reblossom there: and the tender herbage of jessamine and bovey to spring beneath its Shade.  I fear diverted from its native Channel, it will flow like a torrent, on your leisure. – Now do you not admire the revolution you have made my state is overturn’d the luxurious Couch of Indolence is deserted for the stool of Industry: and young Idea is become her Pupil, and very diligently handles the distaff, at her command; to spin you the thread of a discourse, wit seems the traitor, Inclination was principal Actor, in this plot. –

   I rejoice that your labors are ended with the Enthusiast; he will owe much to your circumspection; may his good name repay you.  This child of Fancy has long given me the Title of Mother; but I am here stampd a Matron in a more serious sort the Sound of your husband is at length familiar to my Ear; this will not alarm you from my Gran[d]father; I was also addrest by an old Servant with, “Miss perhaps you have forgot, but before you was married” still you have no cause for suspicion Miss I  assure you, I denied the charge with a smile, which was mingled with the pangs of recollection so hath the caprices of our nature blended our sensations; – General M––s impressment by Tipoo his taking poison with a last message to his Family was stated in our paper; with other long accounts from the East: it is possibly untrue –

   You have by this time seen Miss Bush, we continue in much the same health as when she call’d. Remember me to that family.  Do not forget me to poor Mrs Sansome; and appropriate my general Compts  I must not delay my Grandfathers commission; he makes it his particular request that my Father, would call in Crutched Friars; with his and my Grandmothers best respects to Mr Sykes & Family; & desire to be inform’d of their health yt is if they yet live there  I entreat him from myself not to fail; and also to receive the due remembrance of my Heart; it is time to say Adieu, let your own breast answer for yt faith & tenderness of your

                                             Maria Grace Andrews

   I am thankful for your attention to my Clothes I greatly need them; I think my old Stays underserving a new Robe but suppose it must be so –

   I desire my respectful acknowledgments to Mrs’s Wyne & Larkin the best love of our Friends await you; pray write soon If my Father chuses you may direct the parcel   Mr Ogdens Salisbury to be left at Mr Hunters 93 Martins Lane Strand, then it will be forwarded & come to me without cost

Text: Timothy Whelan, gen. ed.,  Nonconformist Women Writers, 1720-1840, 8 vols. (London: Pickering & Chatto, 2011), vol. 6, pp. 21-23; Saffery/Whitaker Papers, acc. 142, I.B.1.(1.), Angus Library. Address: Miss Andrews | Mr Andrews’s | Isleworth | Middlesex. Postmark: Salisbury.

Reference here to her novel, The Noble Enthusiast, to which Anne had provided most of the Preface and final editing and proofing.  Maria Grace has maintained her interest in the affairs of India some five years after the composition of Cheyt Sing (and two years after its publication). Tipu Sultan (1750-99), also known as the ‘Tiger of Mysore’, was the unofficial ruler of Mysore, in southern India, from 1782 until his death in 1799. He was defeated in the Third Anglo-Mysore War (1789-92), the news having just reached the London papers and provoking the response from Andrews in reference to an account written by navy midshipman William Drake, who escaped, with several other British soldiers, in July 1791 after nine years imprisonment at the hands of Tipu, an account that appeared in the Times on 10 April 1792 and one that Maria Grace has some doubts about. Oddly enough, the musical Tippoo Saib opened at Sadler Wells the week before this letter.