Shoud my dear Hodson charge me with neglect
which I really deserve I hope she will clear me {^from} those
of ingratitude & disrespect tho the former might justly
be inferred from my know acknowledging y^e receipt of y^e
{^letter} & song sooner yet my feelings whatever are my
actions convince me that y^e latter woud be unjust:
suffice it to so y^e {^I own} one & rely on your candor to
pardon the other – without any further apology I
proceed to beg your acceptance of my best thanks
for your kindness: tho a small retaliation tis
y^e only one I have in my power to make at
present. I have learn’d to play the song & can now
& then for my own entertaining sing two of y^e
First verses; just then find^g myself a little disposed
for it {^to go on} I am obliged to break off abruptly at y^e end
of y^e second verse (excuse me wishing for y^e rest) I
look upon it as a friendly restriction; tho not
expressly, yet silently, admonishing me of more
important things calling for my attention and here
give me leave to introduce what I have so recently
heard of an interesting affair taking place at Chester
[new page]
tis that of your intentions of leaping over y^e bounds
of Celibacy – (Leaping did I call it excuse y^e phrase
I hope & wish it will be a judicious one) – I hope
I need not assure you y^t in this as well as every
other thing respecting {^you} I feel myself sensibly concerned
for your welfare - & that without steering into y^e beat[damaged]
road of flattery: no! tis sincere - & I heartily wish you
may meet with sincerety from others for my own part
I find little. In one of your letter you wish’d to
know whether y^e correspondence between R S & myself
was kept up – from this I judge you thought there
was one = then I relate it with pleasure that there is
none he is just returned from Portugal & looks
quite Fat – I suppose the climate agrees with him.
I scarce dare presume after so long silence to
ask a letter soon – tho it woud be a satisfaction to
find you had granted me an acquittance & free me
from y^e anxiety I am sure I shall feel till I know
Our Friends in general are tolerable in health thro
mercy – my Aunt Clegg our neighbor has got a sweet
little Boy, which I often nurse it being so near.
My Mamma Papa Sister Miss Clarkson & myself
unite in kindest respects to M^r M^rs & Miss Hodson
Be so obliging as to present my best comp^ts
[new page]
to Miss Whitby with the rest of the family your
Grand-Mamma Aunt Brown – M^r & M^rs Armitage
&c &c And believe me Dear Hodson among all
your numerous acquaintance no one more sincerely
wish’s your welfare than
your affectionate
Friend
Rebekah Clegg
Manchester
March 4 1784
[change hand] M^r Robert Spear, the
writers cousin – he died
at Edinburgh 1 Sept
1819 in his 57^th year.
He was one of the most
Benevolent men of the age.

Shoud my dear Hodson charge me with neglect
which I really deserve I hope she will clear me {^from} those
of ingratitude & disrespect tho the former might justly
be inferred from my know acknowledging y^e receipt of y^e
{^letter} & song sooner yet my feelings whatever are my
actions convince me that y^e latter woud be unjust:
suffice it to so y^e {^I own} one & rely on your candor to
pardon the other – without any further apology I
proceed to beg your acceptance of my best thanks
for your kindness: tho a small retaliation tis
y^e only one I have in my power to make at
present. I have learn’d to play the song & can now
& then for my own entertaining sing two of y^e
First verses; just then find^g myself a little disposed
for it {^to go on} I am obliged to break off abruptly at y^e end
of y^e second verse (excuse me wishing for y^e rest) I
look upon it as a friendly restriction; tho not
expressly, yet silently, admonishing me of more
important things calling for my attention and here
give me leave to introduce what I have so recently
heard of an interesting affair taking place at Chester
[new page]
tis that of your intentions of leaping over y^e bounds
of Celibacy – (Leaping did I call it excuse y^e phrase
I hope & wish it will be a judicious one) – I hope
I need not assure you y^t in this as well as every
other thing respecting {^you} I feel myself sensibly concerned
for your welfare - & that without steering into y^e beat[damaged]
road of flattery: no! tis sincere - & I heartily wish you
may meet with sincerety from others for my own part
I find little. In one of your letter you wish’d to
know whether y^e correspondence between R S & myself
was kept up – from this I judge you thought there
was one = then I relate it with pleasure that there is
none he is just returned from Portugal & looks
quite Fat – I suppose the climate agrees with him.
I scarce dare presume after so long silence to
ask a letter soon – tho it woud be a satisfaction to
find you had granted me an acquittance & free me
from y^e anxiety I am sure I shall feel till I know
Our Friends in general are tolerable in health thro
mercy – my Aunt Clegg our neighbor has got a sweet
little Boy, which I often nurse it being so near.
My Mamma Papa Sister Miss Clarkson & myself
unite in kindest respects to M^r M^rs & Miss Hodson
Be so obliging as to present my best comp^ts
[new page]
to Miss Whitby with the rest of the family your
Grand-Mamma Aunt Brown – M^r & M^rs Armitage
&c &c And believe me Dear Hodson among all
your numerous acquaintance no one more sincerely
wish’s your welfare than
your affectionate
Friend
Rebekah Clegg
Manchester
March 4 1784
[change hand] M^r Robert Spear, the
writers cousin – he died
at Edinburgh 1 Sept
1819 in his 57^th year.
He was one of the most
Benevolent men of the age.