Why really Miss Hodson will you excuse
my not writing before this indeed I have often thought of
doing it but always something prevented me indeed I
have been very poorly of late & had little spirits for any
thing. My Sister is out of Town & has been near a fort=
=night. We had M^r Scott here y^r week before last he
stay’d 2 Sabbaths. M^rs Priestly has been out of Town
near 3 Months & I don’t hear she is for returning yet. I
saw M^r P y tonight he is just as chearfull as ever.
Poor Lucy is got to School at last poor thing she
cry’d very much y^e night before she went (I am sure I
shoud) I have writ to hear & what do you think I
said for I was determined to hint it if I coud say it.
I suppose by this time you are reconciled to school I’ll
assure you I am quite settled in Man^r & have no
inclinations to move {^again a 2^nd time} I wonder what M^r T—r will
say if he sees it – I made my Mamma laugh when
I told her. So I hear poor [illeg] is there again what
she dreaded is come upon her it will {?pick} up be for
[new page]
her good but I think she wont like it pray has
she wrote you yet? O my dear I often think of y^e time
we have spent together in S^t Sepul^s Church yard a
dismal place indeed & our tone of voice resembled [damaged]
sometimes I am sure to this day I coud cry for joy
y^t I am away from yt wretched spot – tho’ not {?as}
much y^e spot as y^e inhabitants but O how I talk
I believe it has been for my good in many respects
& upon y^e whole we shoud be thankful for such
a priviledge: many better than we & more {?deservg}
woud be glad of our opportunities in many ways
O for a thankful heart for all his mercies I hope
I can say it is my desire to be thankfull.
I can’t say but I was sorry when
they told me what had past y^t I was not at home
when your Papa was here to have stood up in my
own defence I believe they are mistook about my not
telling them & indeed I thought there was no probab=
=ility of it or I shoud have been more urgent for I’ll
assure you there is not a Place I know y^t I shoud
with more pleasure than Chester nor a Person than Miss
Hodson: whether she thinks it or not. Now winter is
[new page]
coming indeed its here & therefore all hopes are over for
y^e present only now let me hear from you as I cannot
see you. I am in daily expectation of a letter from Lucy
I shall however send you word if there is any news
I hear Miss {?SJ} Medley is all & all at present Miss
Rutt writes to my Sister & tells her she is a most
amiable Girl & she tells her y^t Davies is gone from
school did you know that I’m sure it was news to
me. I cant tell how to think this letter will be
receiv’d {^best} if you burn it accept of my sincere love
& excuse it for its really like y^e writer & Pen: very
bad – bad indeed you say for not writing before but
don’t be angry with me this time my intentions
if life is spared to do better for y^e future [damaged]
be in daily expectation of a letter till I see one [damaged]
let be long before I do I wish it to be more speedy
in its arrival than mine. My Papa & Mamma beg
their respecfull comp^ts to M^r & M^rs Hodson & shall
be very happy to one or both any time with yourself
I shall expect when you come to Man^r you wont be
at M^r Dinwiddies old M^rs D is gone into Scotland with
her son Will so you woud have nothing but Gentle=
=mens company except y^e oldest gets married he proposes
[new page]
may be going tho I hear nothing of it if it is so it is kept
a great secret but I really begin to think if I don’t
conclude that you’ll be bored for it {^is} not worth reading.
Betsy is not at home or I know she woud join with
me in love to yourself comp^t to your Papa & Mamma only
give me leave to add that none has a more affectionate
regard for your welfare than your ever affectionately
R Clegg
Manchester
Oct^r 19 1781
Miss Hodson
Cuppins Lane
Chester

Why really Miss Hodson will you excuse
my not writing before this indeed I have often thought of
doing it but always something prevented me indeed I
have been very poorly of late & had little spirits for any
thing. My Sister is out of Town & has been near a fort=
=night. We had M^r Scott here y^r week before last he
stay’d 2 Sabbaths. M^rs Priestly has been out of Town
near 3 Months & I don’t hear she is for returning yet. I
saw M^r P y tonight he is just as chearfull as ever.
Poor Lucy is got to School at last poor thing she
cry’d very much y^e night before she went (I am sure I
shoud) I have writ to hear & what do you think I
said for I was determined to hint it if I coud say it.
I suppose by this time you are reconciled to school I’ll
assure you I am quite settled in Man^r & have no
inclinations to move {^again a 2^nd time} I wonder what M^r T—r will
say if he sees it – I made my Mamma laugh when
I told her. So I hear poor [illeg] is there again what
she dreaded is come upon her it will {?pick} up be for
[new page]
her good but I think she wont like it pray has
she wrote you yet? O my dear I often think of y^e time
we have spent together in S^t Sepul^s Church yard a
dismal place indeed & our tone of voice resembled [damaged]
sometimes I am sure to this day I coud cry for joy
y^t I am away from yt wretched spot – tho’ not {?as}
much y^e spot as y^e inhabitants but O how I talk
I believe it has been for my good in many respects
& upon y^e whole we shoud be thankful for such
a priviledge: many better than we & more {?deservg}
woud be glad of our opportunities in many ways
O for a thankful heart for all his mercies I hope
I can say it is my desire to be thankfull.
I can’t say but I was sorry when
they told me what had past y^t I was not at home
when your Papa was here to have stood up in my
own defence I believe they are mistook about my not
telling them & indeed I thought there was no probab=
=ility of it or I shoud have been more urgent for I’ll
assure you there is not a Place I know y^t I shoud
with more pleasure than Chester nor a Person than Miss
Hodson: whether she thinks it or not. Now winter is
[new page]
coming indeed its here & therefore all hopes are over for
y^e present only now let me hear from you as I cannot
see you. I am in daily expectation of a letter from Lucy
I shall however send you word if there is any news
I hear Miss {?SJ} Medley is all & all at present Miss
Rutt writes to my Sister & tells her she is a most
amiable Girl & she tells her y^t Davies is gone from
school did you know that I’m sure it was news to
me. I cant tell how to think this letter will be
receiv’d {^best} if you burn it accept of my sincere love
& excuse it for its really like y^e writer & Pen: very
bad – bad indeed you say for not writing before but
don’t be angry with me this time my intentions
if life is spared to do better for y^e future [damaged]
be in daily expectation of a letter till I see one [damaged]
let be long before I do I wish it to be more speedy
in its arrival than mine. My Papa & Mamma beg
their respecfull comp^ts to M^r & M^rs Hodson & shall
be very happy to one or both any time with yourself
I shall expect when you come to Man^r you wont be
at M^r Dinwiddies old M^rs D is gone into Scotland with
her son Will so you woud have nothing but Gentle=
=mens company except y^e oldest gets married he proposes
[new page]
may be going tho I hear nothing of it if it is so it is kept
a great secret but I really begin to think if I don’t
conclude that you’ll be bored for it {^is} not worth reading.
Betsy is not at home or I know she woud join with
me in love to yourself comp^t to your Papa & Mamma only
give me leave to add that none has a more affectionate
regard for your welfare than your ever affectionately
R Clegg
Manchester
Oct^r 19 1781
Miss Hodson
Cuppins Lane
Chester