My very dear B

By this time I hope you are got over the fatigues of even a safe journey for such I flatter myself yours was; if I knew that for a certainty I should more easy – I hope God who has hitherto preserv’d us both will again protect you thro all the dangers attendant on us seen & unseen & bring you home again in peace. I am this evening purchasing a little for the excursion to Bolton which I talk’d of when you was with me – my sister Eliza goes with me to see Rebekah before she goes to London – she with my Papa & Mamma desire their respects whome I just parted from in their way home from Mr Wilsons – that family all beg their compliments. I hope myself you will take care of yourself & don’t over do yourself with business remember that a Man’s happiness consists not in the abundance that he posseseth but in the proper use that he makes of it to the glory of

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God whom we should eye as the giver of all the good that we enjoy: for unless we in some measure see this; they are likely to become snares to us if not curses instead of blessings I hope God has given us both to see that these things tho’ in themselves necessary for this life are not sufficient to satisfy the cravings of an immortal Mind which was design’d for nobler pursuits – this as I said before [damaged] hope is seen but I am persuaded that is not enough as rational creatures we are call’d upon to be diligent in the use of the means appointed by God for the attaining spiritual knowledge such as hearing the word, prayers reading &c ---- & thise Dutys to a spiritual mind so made by y^e Spirit of God are pleasures as well as priviledges I can speak for myself that in each of these I have found greater pleasure than I ever experience’d in any thing else – I have reason to be thankfull for this & I want my DrB to feel & share with me

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I begin to think you’ll scares have time to read this letter when I look at the length of it: I seem’d imperceptibly drawn to speak so largely on a favorite subject that before I was aware I was at y^e bottom of my paper – but I hope I need not beg {^pardon} your for the transgression – only for fear of being tiresome conclude by telling you that I sincerely wish for myself to taste the sweetness {^of} religion & a better I cannot wish to My Dearest, [deleted] this is the sincere prayer of
your truly
Affectionate Wife
R Bateman
Manchester
Dec^r 7 1786

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Mr Thos Bateman
Mr Edinson’s
35 Bush Lane {Common}
London

My very dear B

By this time I hope you are got over the fatigues of even a safe journey for such I flatter myself yours was; if I knew that for a certainty I should more easy – I hope God who has hitherto preserved us both will again protect you thro all the dangers attendant on us seen & unseen & bring you home again in peace. I am this evening purchasing a little for the excursion to Bolton which I talked of when you was with me – my sister Eliza goes with me to see Rebekah before she goes to London – she with my Papa & Mamma desire their respects whom I just parted from in their way home from Mr Wilsons – that family all beg their compliments. I hope myself you will take care of yourself & don’t over do yourself with business remember that a Man’s happiness consists not in the abundance that he posseseth but in the proper use that he makes of it to the glory of

[new page]

God whom we should eye as the giver of all the good that we enjoy: for unless we in some measure see this; they are likely to become snares to us if not curses instead of blessings I hope God has given us both to see that these things tho’ in themselves necessary for this life are not sufficient to satisfy the cravings of an immortal Mind which was designed for nobler pursuits – this as I said before [damaged] hope is seen but I am persuaded that is not enough as rational creatures we are called upon to be diligent in the use of the means appointed by God for the attaining spiritual knowledge such as hearing the word, prayers reading &c ---- & these Dutys to a spiritual mind so made by y^e Spirit of God are pleasures as well as privileges I can speak for myself that in each of these I have found greater pleasure than I ever experienced in any thing else – I have reason to be thankful for this & I want my DrB to feel & share with me

[new page]

I begin to think you’ll scares have time to read this letter when I look at the length of it: I seemed imperceptibly drawn to speak so largely on a favourite subject that before I was aware I was at y^e bottom of my paper – but I hope I need not beg {^pardon} your for the transgression – only for fear of being tiresome conclude by telling you that I sincerely wish for myself to taste the sweetness {^of} religion & a better I cannot wish to My Dearest, [deleted] this is the sincere prayer of

your truly
Affectionate Wife
R Bateman
Manchester
Dec^r 7 1786

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Mr Thos Bateman
Mr Edinson’s
35 Bush Lane {Common}
London