My Dear M^r B
your request has the force of a command, & is the reason
of my writing so soon ‘tis generally expected that a letter from
a Woman shou’d contain a good deal of news, but I am oblig’d
to tell you in the first page of mine that I am afraid I shall
not be able to fill the sheet; however if I can find nothing else
I have it in my power to say that we are all thro’ mercy as
well as when you left us. Poor Will was very much disappoint=
=ed in not finding you in bed the morning you went he call’d
Papa the first thing after he awak’d & when he {^found} y^e place empty
he said poor, poor, at breakfast time he call’d several times at
the bottom of y^e stairs, Papa tea tea .
I long to hear how you have got up – I hope for the
best but shall be impatient till Friday morning to have the
account from yourself I hope I shall remember it {^with} gratitude
if tis a pleasing one & acquiesce in the dispensation of providence
if otherwise. I do expect that you will be particular in your
accounts how you go on respecting the business you went
about & don’t be afraid of waiting often, I have this morning
been taking leave of the Bolton travellers, they with my
Papa & Mamma desire their best respects to {^you} all our friends
in London with begging your acceptance of mine
[new page]
sincerely
I remain
My Dear M^r B
your truly affectionate
Wife R Bateman
Manchester
Feb^y 3 1789
[new page]
M^r Bateman
White-Bear
Basinghall Street
London

[details of payments on envelope]

My Dear M^r B
your request has the force of a command, & is the reason
of my writing so soon ‘tis generally expected that a letter from
a Woman shou’d contain a good deal of news, but I am oblig’d
to tell you in the first page of mine that I am afraid I shall
not be able to fill the sheet; however if I can find nothing else
I have it in my power to say that we are all thro’ mercy as
well as when you left us. Poor Will was very much disappoint=
=ed in not finding you in bed the morning you went he call’d
Papa the first thing after he awak’d & when he {^found} y^e place empty
he said poor, poor, at breakfast time he call’d several times at
the bottom of y^e stairs, Papa tea tea .
I long to hear how you have got up – I hope for the
best but shall be impatient till Friday morning to have the
account from yourself I hope I shall remember it {^with} gratitude
if tis a pleasing one & acquiesce in the dispensation of providence
if otherwise. I do expect that you will be particular in your
accounts how you go on respecting the business you went
about & don’t be afraid of waiting often, I have this morning
been taking leave of the Bolton travellers, they with my
Papa & Mamma desire their best respects to {^you} all our friends
in London with begging your acceptance of mine
[new page]
sincerely
I remain
My Dear M^r B
your truly affectionate
Wife R Bateman
Manchester
Feb^y 3 1789
[new page]
M^r Bateman
White-Bear
Basinghall Street
London

[details of payments on envelope]