Chester Sep^r 22 1784
My dr. Miss R. Clegg
I believe I have been rather remiss in
fulfilling my Promise to my d^r friend but must rely on your
Candor in overlooking this neglect without enumerating a long
list of apologies & excuses which I cou’d do. I rec^d your kind Letter
I think it is now near a Month since was very happy to hear
of the Welfare of all your family you in particular & I cannot
but much lament not hav^g the happiness which I rather expect=
=ed of seeing either you or your sister at our house this Summer
but I am happy in the prospect (if God permit) of seeing you in
about a Month at farthest hope as soon as I come to Manchester
you’l favor me with a call before I shall go abroad myself.
I long much to see you & your sister both – I suppose you know
The House M^r Durden has took it is somewhere in Oldham
Street – I shall have several Neighbours that I already know
since you wrote I have been dangerously Ill with a complaint
in my Bowells my Mamma thought I should have had the
Fever which at present very much prevails in Chester, but
the Complaint took a favorable turn & I’m now thro rich mercy
pretty well established in my Health again –
[new page]
Oh that I might be enabled to count this affliction (tho very
small in Comparison of what I’ve deserved) as a Lesson of In =
=struction sent by my Heavenly Father to teach me that here
is not my rest and that all created Good is utterly incapable of
satisfying the desires of my Immortal Soul & that he is the
alone source of happiness – O that my mind may not be too
much taken up With the Care of the World which I’m soon
going to engage in but may the Cream of my affections be
fix’d upon Jesus the Rock of Ages –
I expect M^r Durden in Chester next Monday fortnight
If you’l be so kind to write me a few lines by him. I’ll desire
him to call (in my next letter to him) the Satturday or Sabbath
day before he comes – shall expect a Letter by him if you are in
Health & at home –
My Mamma Papa M^r & M^rs Armitage join
With me in most Cordial Respects to M^r & M^rs Clegg your
Sister & self [deleted] & to all particular Friends I think I have
Wrote a long letter to Comparison of what you write me.
Wishing you every Bless^g I remain
Your very sincere Friend
Mary Jane Hodson
PS Please to present
my Compliments in particular
to Miss Clegg your Aunt – M^r & M^rs Spear – M^r R Spear M^r & M^rs
Clegg M^r Wittenbury M^rs Richardson M^rs Heywood Betty & Molly

Chester Sep^r 22 1784
My dr. Miss R. Clegg
I believe I have been rather remiss in
fulfilling my Promise to my d^r friend but must rely on your
Candor in overlooking this neglect without enumerating a long
list of apologies & excuses which I cou’d do. I rec^d your kind Letter
I think it is now near a Month since was very happy to hear
of the Welfare of all your family you in particular & I cannot
but much lament not hav^g the happiness which I rather expect=
=ed of seeing either you or your sister at our house this Summer
but I am happy in the prospect (if God permit) of seeing you in
about a Month at farthest hope as soon as I come to Manchester
you’l favor me with a call before I shall go abroad myself.
I long much to see you & your sister both – I suppose you know
The House M^r Durden has took it is somewhere in Oldham
Street – I shall have several Neighbours that I already know
since you wrote I have been dangerously Ill with a complaint
in my Bowells my Mamma thought I should have had the
Fever which at present very much prevails in Chester, but
the Complaint took a favorable turn & I’m now thro rich mercy
pretty well established in my Health again –
[new page]
Oh that I might be enabled to count this affliction (tho very
small in Comparison of what I’ve deserved) as a Lesson of In =
=struction sent by my Heavenly Father to teach me that here
is not my rest and that all created Good is utterly incapable of
satisfying the desires of my Immortal Soul & that he is the
alone source of happiness – O that my mind may not be too
much taken up With the Care of the World which I’m soon
going to engage in but may the Cream of my affections be
fix’d upon Jesus the Rock of Ages –
I expect M^r Durden in Chester next Monday fortnight
If you’l be so kind to write me a few lines by him. I’ll desire
him to call (in my next letter to him) the Satturday or Sabbath
day before he comes – shall expect a Letter by him if you are in
Health & at home –
My Mamma Papa M^r & M^rs Armitage join
With me in most Cordial Respects to M^r & M^rs Clegg your
Sister & self [deleted] & to all particular Friends I think I have
Wrote a long letter to Comparison of what you write me.
Wishing you every Bless^g I remain
Your very sincere Friend
Mary Jane Hodson
PS Please to present
my Compliments in particular
to Miss Clegg your Aunt – M^r & M^rs Spear – M^r R Spear M^r & M^rs
Clegg M^r Wittenbury M^rs Richardson M^rs Heywood Betty & Molly