19 May 1769

Mary Steele, [Yeovil,] to Mary Scott, [Milborne Port,] Friday morning, 19 [May] 1769.

Forgive my Dear Myra the numerous Faults you will discover in this scribble. I would send you the other but the last Verse is intolerably bad & my Aunt was so kind as to say she would correct it so if you are desirous of having it you shall when I have the pleasure of your Company at Broughton. I received a letter from Marianna & Myrtilla yesterday both the Bodemites & the Brotenites were as well as usual & desire their Compliments or rather their Love to my Myra. I expect with impatience a Letter from you every Letter from a friend is a valuable Pearl I hope those charming Verses will be inclos’d.

I must desire you to be ready by Thursday 9 oclock as we intend if possible to call by that time as it is so troublesome to get a Chaise. My Papa thinks it better to call on you in the Morn. Adieu My Dear Friend. May nothing happen to disappoint the pleasure I propose my self in the enjoyment of your Company. My Comp^ts await M^rs Scott & am your very affect Friend

Silvia

Friday Morn 19 1769

Text: Steele Collection 5/14/i. No postmark. Address: Miss Scott / Jan 70 [this date was added at some point after the letter was written and is not the actual date of composition]. For an annotated text of this letter, see Timothy Whelan, ed., Nonconformist Women Writers, 1720-1840, vol. 3, p. 206. The partial date at the end of the letter, ‘Friday Morn 19 1769’, is 19 May, the only Friday that fell on the 19^th during 1769. Mary Steele prefaced her letter with her poem, ‘A Reflection Wrote in 1768’ (see Nonconformist Women Writers, vol. 3, pp. 56-57).