My Dear Hodson
How long I am to style you so – I do not
fully know fame has wafted it to Manchester y^t a very short
space intercepts between you & happiness ‘tis my sincere
wish it may be so – I hope I need not say much by way
of assuring you I am happy to anticipate the thought
of having you my Neighbour or at least an inhabitant
of the same Town – I know you was partial to the place
& give me leave to say I had the vanity to think y^t a
small degree of it was to Shudehill – you begin now
to think the above is a serious affair I always thought so
but must give up my ideas which are but faint in compa=
=rison to yours who [deleted] is going to make the experiment
I hope therefore when I see you to gain some profit by your
happy experience happy do I say? Yes: I must still
hold it when [illeg] circumstances tend to make
it so – such as y^e approbation of Friends the fidelity of
&c &c --- think my Dear H how pleasing a situation
this to that of those whose connections by mutual affection
[new page]
gives such dissatisfaction – Permit me to suggest to you that
you are sensible of it before that y^e happiness of y^e former
& unhappiness of y^e latter are soon to be put a period to
shoud the happy situation in time have divested you of
thoughts of: & due preparation for eternity how painfull
the event – remember your dying friend Lucy she had I {?have}
not a doubt painted a gay scene & was flush’d with the
prospect of what she thought was in {?reversion} to be disclosed
in some future period – when in the midst of all she was
snatch’d away & summon’d to eternity Oh’ my D^r y^t though
still pains me I have still her mournfull look before
my eyes & y^e more mournfull {?accents} in my ears – but
whither am I got it has almost insensibly carried me to
a subject I am afraid at this time you will think
unseasonable –
M^rs Buckley was brought to bed last Saturday
I saw her yesterday, & little Girl they both seem very
well for the time. Be so obliging in [deleted] return [deleted]
to present my best comp^ts to your Mamma Grandmamma
Aunt & Cousin Whitbys – Aunt & Cousin Brown M^r & M^rs
Armitage &c with all who enquire after
Your very
Affectionate Friend
R Clegg
Manchester
April 29 1784
[new page]
My sister Miss Clarkson Aunt Uncle & Cousin Robert
Spear Molly Livsey Uncle & Aunt Abram desire their respects
in which I sincerely join
Adieu write soon
[new page]
Miss Hodson
Cuppins Lane
Chester
Favor’d by M^r Hodson

My Dear Hodson
How long I am to style you so – I do not
fully know fame has wafted it to Manchester y^t a very short
space intercepts between you & happiness ‘tis my sincere
wish it may be so – I hope I need not say much by way
of assuring you I am happy to anticipate the thought
of having you my Neighbour or at least an inhabitant
of the same Town – I know you was partial to the place
& give me leave to say I had the vanity to think y^t a
small degree of it was to Shudehill – you begin now
to think the above is a serious affair I always thought so
but must give up my ideas which are but faint in compa=
=rison to yours who [deleted] is going to make the experiment
I hope therefore when I see you to gain some profit by your
happy experience happy do I say? Yes: I must still
hold it when [illeg] circumstances tend to make
it so – such as y^e approbation of Friends the fidelity of
&c &c --- think my Dear H how pleasing a situation
this to that of those whose connections by mutual affection
[new page]
gives such dissatisfaction – Permit me to suggest to you that
you are sensible of it before that y^e happiness of y^e former
& unhappiness of y^e latter are soon to be put a period to
shoud the happy situation in time have divested you of
thoughts of: & due preparation for eternity how painfull
the event – remember your dying friend Lucy she had I {?have}
not a doubt painted a gay scene & was flush’d with the
prospect of what she thought was in {?reversion} to be disclosed
in some future period – when in the midst of all she was
snatch’d away & summon’d to eternity Oh’ my D^r y^t though
still pains me I have still her mournfull look before
my eyes & y^e more mournfull {?accents} in my ears – but
whither am I got it has almost insensibly carried me to
a subject I am afraid at this time you will think
unseasonable –
M^rs Buckley was brought to bed last Saturday
I saw her yesterday, & little Girl they both seem very
well for the time. Be so obliging in [deleted] return [deleted]
to present my best comp^ts to your Mamma Grandmamma
Aunt & Cousin Whitbys – Aunt & Cousin Brown M^r & M^rs
Armitage &c with all who enquire after
Your very
Affectionate Friend
R Clegg
Manchester
April 29 1784
[new page]
My sister Miss Clarkson Aunt Uncle & Cousin Robert
Spear Molly Livsey Uncle & Aunt Abram desire their respects
in which I sincerely join
Adieu write soon
[new page]
Miss Hodson
Cuppins Lane
Chester
Favor’d by M^r Hodson