Decr 20 1807

My very dr madam
I have often found my mind paind that yr last kind [illeg] letter (which was, & still is) whenever I read its as a cordial to my spirits; should lye so long unanswered; but I am [illeg] when you hear how I have been engagd since then; you will readily pardon my seeming neglect. - at first, a hope that Mr Heys medicines, that I was then trying for my [illeg] might have a good effect, & that I might soon have a more pleasing account to give of myself, made me postpone till mrs Dickenson wrote; & soon after that I was seizd with a nervous [illeg] and cough attended with a slow fever that confind me near a month. Through mercy I am now better, & able to get abroad again. - The first day of my confinement the sight of my right eye [illeg] left mee; its had before been so defective that I could not see to write; or do anything with it, but could see the objects [illeg] about me as well with that, as the other, but since then can only discern a glare of light; which at first so confused me I could do nothing; but my wearing a shade over it; I now do better; & in the lightest part of the day can write or read a little, but if anything[illeg] me of them, (which is frequently the case) I [illeg] [illeg] to lay it aside as I can do nothing of the kind by candle light; not even give out a [illeg]. - you feeling mind my dr madam will easily concive this was a fresh exercise for faith & resignation

but to the glory of His [illeg] I [illeg] [illeg] I [illeg] His grace, sufficient, [illeg] [illeg] [illeg] day; so was my strength; I was. kept from painful looking forward, & enabled to take yr kind advise, to lay in His hand as long in the [illeg] of the [illeg] [illeg] He was to wise to [illeg]. I [illeg [illeg [illeg] most in my [illeg] as frequently drew tears of grateful love from my eyes; & humbled me in the dust with a sense of my great unworthyness. - The little imperfect sight that still remains seems such a mercy that quite over balances the [illeg]; that I can still behold the faces of my friends, & see my way along & I do verily believe it is in answer to prayer; as my Heys has always said my left eye; lookd worse than the right. - The greatest desire I have on earth is, that this blessing may be continued if his infinite wisdom sees good: & if not, that I may have perfect resignation to his will; and it is no small consolation to know, I am joind in this request by my Hond friend & still intreat a continiance of [illeg] & [illeg] [illeg] prayers & to whom I beg my kind love. - I was thankful to hear yr health was no worse; trust it is still continued; I hope you will take all posible care to preserve it for the good of his church & [illeg], to whom the lord has made you so great a blessing. Miss [illeg] I well remember, am glad to hear she is so well, [illeg] I trust & [illeg]will be answered; for them all. Mr Hopkins is a lively loving man I hope will be made a blessing to the people. - a month agoe I had a verry affect [illeg] letter from mrs mortimer in which she tells me she had recd a letter from mrs [?Powson] (on [illeg]) which in-formed her how poorly I was, & that mr Hey had ordered me to drink [illeg] & take take a glass or 2 of red port a day, she [illeg] [illeg] (the lady that was with mrs [?Sneans] at my house) was Here when I read the letter & asked, if thought you would accept

a [?trifle] from her; I said I thought you wd; she gave her a two pound note; to which she says we have added 3 pound more, which is to get you any comfortables yr present situation may rewuire. I mention this circumstance to shew the Lords good [illeg], as I was quite [illeg] with what mrs P had wrote, & miss B is almost a starnger to me; - our dr sister {illeg] also has been at Leeds; & agev me her annual donation of 5 pound. Two or three friends also sent me each a bottle of wine. Indeed the kind attention & sympathy I experienced from [?preacher] & people have paid me under fresh obligations to my bountifull Benefactor & His dr children. I know you will help me to praise the Lord. nor is it the least mercy; that [illeg] is continued to one she is very kind & attentive & layd herself out to the utmost of her [illeg] she desires her duty & thanks to you; for your kindness to her, Mrs Dickenson also desires her love to you and [illeg] for she and her family are well & comfortbly [?settled] in St Peters square, many friends oft enquire, [?after] you & wd send their love did they know I was writing Mrs mortimer [?says] sister [illeg] & [illeg] widow is gone safe & happy to glory, happy for those that have got safe landed. - The times seem [illeg] & the [illeg] clothing [?trade] [illeg] at a stand which throws hundreds out of imployment & causes much distress among the poor & [?manufactures] too. - Dr [?Colne] is expected to be with us on christmas day he is coming to make his collections for the [illeg]. I have wrote till I can scarce see & must now conclude bequesting the favor of a letter from you when you have a few hours to spare. as I am [illeg] to know how you are. Wishing you both a happy new year, with [illeg] prayer for the continuance of Health & comfort I remain my dr madam yr everr perfectly obligd friend & servant Ann Tripp PS I can see to read yr letter better than most as you write with Black Ink. Decr 23

10
Mrs Fletcher
at the Vicarage Madely
[illeg] near [illeg]
Shropshire
single
ann Trip
ann Tripp
Black ink
[illeg] [illeg]

Dec 20 1807
My Very Dr Madam,
I have often found my mind [?paind] that yr last kind consolitary letter (which was, it still is) whenever I read its as acordialy to my spirit; should hope so long unanswerd; but I am [?assurd] when you hear how I have been engagd since then; you will readily pardon my seeming neglect. At first, a hope, that Mr ? [?Heys] medicines, that I was then trying for my eyes might have a good effect, & that I might soon have a more pleasing account to give of myself, made me postpone till, Mrs Dickenson wrote; & soon after that I was seizd with a nervous debility & cough attended with a slow fever that confind me near a month. Through mercy I am now better, & able to get abroad again. The first day of my confinement the sight of {^my} right eye, quite left mee; it had before been so defective that I could not see to write; or do anything with it, but could see the objects round about me as well with that, as the Other, but since then can only discern a Glare of light; which at first so confused me I could do nothing; but by wearing a shade over it: I now do better; & in the lightest part of the day can write or read a little, but if anything [?puts] one of them, (which is frequently the case) I am [?forced] to lay it aside, as I can do nothing of the kind by candle light; not even give out a [?Hymn] – Your feeling mind my dr madam will easily conceive this was a fresh exercise for faith & resignation

But to the glory of His name I can [illeg] I [illeg] “His grace, sufficient,” [?t&] as my day; so was my strength; I was kept from painful looking forward: & enabled to take yr kind advice, to lay in His hand as clay in the hand of the Potter [illeg] He was wise to [?err on]. I saw such [illeg] meat in my cup as frequently drew tears of grateful love from my eyes; & humbled me in the dust with a sense of my great unworthiness. The little imperfect sight that still remains seems such a mercy that quite overbalances the loss; that I can still behold the face’s of my friends, I see my way along & I do verily believe it is in answer to prayer; as Mr [?Hey] has always said my left eye; lookd worse than the right. The greatest desire I have on earth, is. that this blessing may be continued if His infinite wisdom sees good: & if not, that I may have perfect imagination to his will; and it is no small consolation to know, I am joind in this request by my Hond Friend, I still intreat a continuance of yrs & Dr [illeg] [?Tooth] (prayers) to whom I beg my kind love. I was thankful to hear yr health was no worse; trust it is still continued; I hope you will take all possible care to preserve it for the good of his Church & people, to whom the Lord has made you so great a blessing. Miss [?Gassen] I well rem[^em]ber, am glad to hear she is so well Disposed: I trust yr prayers will be answerd; for them all.
Mr Hopkins is a lively loving man, I hope will be made a blessing to the people. A month agoe I had a very affectte letter from Mrs Mortimer, in which she tells me she had recd a letter from Mrs Pawson (on business) which in-formd her how poorly I was, If that Mr [?Hey] had orderd me to drink porter & take a Glass or 2 of red port a day, she adds, Miss Barford (the lady that was with Mrs Snears at yr House) was Here when I read the Letter & asked, if I thought you would accept

a trifle from her; I said I thought you wd; She gave her a two pound note; to which she says we have added 3 pound more, which is to get you any comfortables yr present situation may require [illeg]. I mention this circumstance to shew the Lords good [illeg], as I was quite unacquainted with what Mrs D had wrote, & Miss B is almost a Stranger to me; Our dr sister [illeg] also has been at Leeds; & gave me her annual donation of 5 pound. Two or three friends also sent me each a bottle of Wine. Indeed the kind attention & sympathy I experienced from Preachers & people have laid me under fresh Obligations to my bountifull Benefactor * His dr Children. I know you will help me to praise the Lord. Nor is it the least mercy; that [?Prissy] is continued to me she is very kind & attentive & lays herself out to the utmost of her power, she desires her duty & thanks to you; for your kindness to her. Mrs Dickenson also desires her love, to you & Miss T? she & her family are well, & comfortably settled in St Peters Square, many friends oft enquire you, ? send their love did they know I was writing.
Mrs Mortimer says Sister Clark & [?Clarks] widow is gone safe & happy to glory, happy for those that have got safe [illeg].
The times seem awful, & the clothing trade [illeg] at a [illeg] which throws hundreds out of imployment – It courses much Distress among the poor & manufacturers too – Dr [illeg] is expectd to be with us on Christmas day he is coming to make his collections for the Missions.
I have wrote till I can scarce see & must now conclude {^requesting} the favor of a letter from you when you have a few Hours to spare. No I am [?anxious] to know how you are. Wishing you both a happy new year. With sincere prayer for the continuance of yr Health & comfort I remain my dr madam
yr ever affec[^te] & Oblgd
Friend & Servant
Ann Tripp
PS I can see to read yr letters better than most as you write with Black Ink
Decr 23

10
Mrs Fletcher
At the Vicarage [illeg]
[illeg] near Shipnall
Shropshire

Single

[horizontal
Ann Tripp
Ann Tripp
Black ink
[illeg]

Dec^r 20 1807
My Very D^r Madam,
I have often found my mind
paind that u^r last kind consolitary letter (which was, &
still is) whenever I read it as a cordial to my spirits;
should lye so long unanswerd; but I am {?assured} when
you hear how i have been engagd since then; you will
readily pardon my seeming neglect._ at first, a hope
that Mr Heys medicines, that I was then trying or my eyes
might have a good effect; & that I might soon have a
more pleasing account to give of myself, made me postpone,
till Mrs Dickenson wrote; & soon after that I was seizd
with a nervous debility & cough attended with a slow
fever that confined me near a month. Through mercy
I am now better, & able to get abroad again. _ The first day
of my confinement that sight of {^my} right eye quite left me; it
had before been so defective that I could not see to write; or
do anything with it, but could see the objects round about
me as well with that, as the other, but since then can
only discern a glare of light; which at first so confined
me I could no nothing; but by wearing a shade over it
I now do better; & in the lightest part of the day can write
or readfrequently the case) I am {?forced} to lay it aside as I can
do nothing of the kind by candle light; not even give out a Hymn._ Your feeling mind by d^r Madam will easily
conceive this was a fresh exercise for faith & resignation