My dear M^rs Bateman
You see I again resume my pen
altho’ you are a letter in my Debt ; I am well aware your
time is much better occupied in attending to the little charge
given you from above than in writing to me; notwithstand=
ing it always gives me pleasure when I receive a letter from
you, & the remembrance of {^you} is very pleasing to my mind.
What shall I say to you my dearest Madam? is any
subject as pleasing? so that which leads our minds to Contemplate
the Wonders of Creation, Providence, & Redemption? methinks
I hear you say (this is my theme, & the subject of my [illeg]
this is what I delight to talk of by day & to meditate by
Night, & like David I can {^say} my meditation of Him is sweet.
Oh how truly blessed are they whose God is the Lord,
tryals they must & shall have while passing through this
desert Land, but this is not their home this is not {^their} rest;
the real Christian when in a proper frame of mind is pre=
[new page]
=paring to be gone, getting ready for His removal, waiting
with longing expectation for His Lords coming:
[cut]
I often lament my attachment to earth & earthly objects
& long to say with David my “Soul is as a weaned Child” but
such is the depravity of my heart , & the weakness of my
Nature, that I am continually cleaving to the dust, that I
am as often disappointed; Oh for more spirituality, more
devotedness of Heart to God, & more deadness to creatures &
created enjoyments.
I am going soon to see a dear Relation whom
{^?hear} I shall soon be deprived of ; the Lord seems to be {?ripening}
Him fast for Glory, & His character as a Minister & a
christian is so truly excellent that it makes the separation
so much the more difficult, & when I think I have
[new page]
also resign’d him to the Lord then I feel a sort of
reluctance & would fain have him spared, but this I am
assured of, He is in good hands, & tho’ the dispensation is
trying it is infinite Love, & the effect of infinite Wisdom.
I hope my dear M^rs Bateman M^r B & son is
well, bodily health is a great Blessing, that it does not
equal spiritual health, but I hope you enjoy both, &
above all peace, & joy in believing. I beg my best
respects to M^r B—M^r & M^rs & Miss Clegg & love
to your dear little Son & believe me my dear M^rs [damaged]
your sincere friend
& humble Servant
Maria Allwood
PS it is not unlikely but I may have the pleasure of
seeing you in the beginning of the next month, I am coming
the Manchester Road, & if it is perfectly convenient will
do myself the pleasure to spend a day or two with you ,
if not beg the favor of a line. Which will prevent my
stopping at Mac^r
London, August 25^th 1788
[new page]
M^rs Thomas Bateman
Piccadilly
Manchester
PS excuse haste, I leave London the
End of this week or beginning of next
Anna Maria Allwood
N^o 35 Great Russell St^t
Bloomsbury
London

My dear M^rs Bateman
You see I again resume my pen
altho’ you are a letter in my Debt ; I am well aware your
time is much better occupied in attending to the little charge
given you from above than in writing to me; notwithstand=
ing it always gives me pleasure when I receive a letter from
you, & the remembrance of {^you} is very pleasing to my mind.
What shall I say to you my dearest Madam? is any
subject as pleasing? so that which leads our minds to Contemplate
the Wonders of Creation, Providence, & Redemption? methinks
I hear you say (this is my theme, & the subject of my [illeg]
this is what I delight to talk of by day & to meditate by
Night, & like David I can {^say} my meditation of Him is sweet.
Oh how truly blessed are they whose God is the Lord,
tryals they must & shall have while passing through this
desert Land, but this is not their home this is not {^their} rest;
the real Christian when in a proper frame of mind is pre=
[new page]
=paring to be gone, getting ready for His removal, waiting
with longing expectation for His Lords coming:
[cut]
I often lament my attachment to earth & earthly objects
& long to say with David my “Soul is as a weaned Child” but
such is the depravity of my heart , & the weakness of my
Nature, that I am continually cleaving to the dust, that I
am as often disappointed; Oh for more spirituality, more
devotedness of Heart to God, & more deadness to creatures &
created enjoyments.
I am going soon to see a dear Relation whom
{^?hear} I shall soon be deprived of ; the Lord seems to be {?ripening}
Him fast for Glory, & His character as a Minister & a
christian is so truly excellent that it makes the separation
so much the more difficult, & when I think I have
[new page]
also resign’d him to the Lord then I feel a sort of
reluctance & would fain have him spared, but this I am
assured of, He is in good hands, & tho’ the dispensation is
trying it is infinite Love, & the effect of infinite Wisdom.
I hope my dear M^rs Bateman M^r B & son is
well, bodily health is a great Blessing, that it does not
equal spiritual health, but I hope you enjoy both, &
above all peace, & joy in believing. I beg my best
respects to M^r B—M^r & M^rs & Miss Clegg & love
to your dear little Son & believe me my dear M^rs [damaged]
your sincere friend
& humble Servant
Maria Allwood
PS it is not unlikely but I may have the pleasure of
seeing you in the beginning of the next month, I am coming
the Manchester Road, & if it is perfectly convenient will
do myself the pleasure to spend a day or two with you ,
if not beg the favor of a line. Which will prevent my
stopping at Mac^r
London, August 25^th 1788
[new page]
M^rs Thomas Bateman
Piccadilly
Manchester
PS excuse haste, I leave London the
End of this week or beginning of next
Anna Maria Allwood
N^o 35 Great Russell St^t
Bloomsbury
London