My Dear B
Your letter this morning alarm’d me
before it was read, lest something had been the
matter more than I found, however I cannot say
that I was altogether pleas’d with its contents
but I think as M^r Smith has put it on the
condition of my being at home he cannot take
it amiss if you plead that as an excuse at
this time, I woud not wish this to be done if that
was the only reason but you know that at present
our house is not in a state to receive company
& was I to come at the time you mention
it woud not be in my power to get it
ready, by the day they propose so I shall esteem
it a favor if you will put off the visit till
another time, for the above reason or reasons
if I did not think them sufficient I coud
{???ge} more, my friends here will not hear of
my going so soon, & as I seldom come from
[new page]
home.
I don’t like the thoughts of being {^hurried} back especially
as things are very agreeable here & by your
account the same with you. M^rs I is very
desirous for me to put on mourning while
I am here which I woud rather not & cannot
do without having my Black silk sent {?home}
to oblige The above is set aside. I will {^be} oblig’d
to you to ask my Aunt Martha to be so kind
as match the inclos’d piece of Cotton for M^rs [damaged]
with three yards it must be quite plain with
out border & send it in a parcel with {^word} what it
has cost. Tell Polly to go forward {^with y^e cleaning} she may [damaged]
the paint, all up stairs, & then the rest will
be sooner done when I return. I shall
like to know soon how you order with M^r
Smith expecting it soon
I remain
Yours very sincerely
R Bateman
Respects & present my best respects to Mama
Papa Aunts {?Bror} &c &c when you are [damaged]
at know the particulars of M^rs [damaged]
when & where &c &c whether you have [damaged]
from Rich’d & in what way he [damaged]
by that it may be possible to [damaged]
judgement how he feels.
Leek July 10 1791
[new page]
M^r Bateman
Cotton Mercht
Manchester

My Dear B
Your letter this morning alarm’d me
before it was read, lest something had been the
matter more than I found, however I cannot say
that I was altogether pleas’d with its contents
but I think as M^r Smith has put it on the
condition of my being at home he cannot take
it amiss if you plead that as an excuse at
this time, I woud not wish this to be done if that
was the only reason but you know that at present
our house is not in a state to receive company
& was I to come at the time you mention
it woud not be in my power to get it
ready, by the day they propose so I shall esteem
it a favor if you will put off the visit till
another time, for the above reason or reasons
if I did not think them sufficient I coud
{???ge} more, my friends here will not hear of
my going so soon, & as I seldom come from
[new page]
home.
I don’t like the thoughts of being {^hurried} back especially
as things are very agreeable here & by your
account the same with you. M^rs I is very
desirous for me to put on mourning while
I am here which I woud rather not & cannot
do without having my Black silk sent {?home}
to oblige The above is set aside. I will {^be} oblig’d
to you to ask my Aunt Martha to be so kind
as match the inclos’d piece of Cotton for M^rs [damaged]
with three yards it must be quite plain with
out border & send it in a parcel with {^word} what it
has cost. Tell Polly to go forward {^with y^e cleaning} she may [damaged]
the paint, all up stairs, & then the rest will
be sooner done when I return. I shall
like to know soon how you order with M^r
Smith expecting it soon
I remain
Yours very sincerely
R Bateman
Respects & present my best respects to Mama
Papa Aunts {?Bror} &c &c when you are [damaged]
at know the particulars of M^rs [damaged]
when & where &c &c whether you have [damaged]
from Rich’d & in what way he [damaged]
by that it may be possible to [damaged]
judgement how he feels.
Leek July 10 1791
[new page]
M^r Bateman
Cotton Mercht
Manchester