What can I say sufficient to express
the pleasure I experienced in receiving your friendly and Affectionate
Epistle and {?as} M^r Reeve is going to Town I cou’d not think of
Omiting such a Conveyance of an Answer to it. I am sure my good
Friend has Open’d her mind freely {^& I hope} to one who she may rely upon am
sorry to hear you are not so happy at school as you expected (which
by your letter I {?feel} is the case) you say had it not been that you
thought yourself deficient you shou’d not have been so desirous to go now
if that be your thoughts what must your present Correspondent think
of herself; however I don’t doubt but my dear friend will gain her desire
by going and that it will be of great advantage to you We are all very
apt to think the time runs on very slowly especially at school (nor do I
wonder at it, tis true I ever experience’d the Confinement of any of them
dull places yet I think it is possible to form some Idea of them though
but a very faint one) but as you Justly observe to turn and look back
& take a view of the past how few of us are there that embrace those
& take a view of the past how few of us are there that embrace those
Opportunities we have as we ought to doo and when it is too {?take/tale} begin to
reflect and wish we had spent it more to our improvement but cannot
[new page]
call it back you will think I run on at a strange rate so will
drop the subject. - - you beg’d me not to plead your excuse
but the reason of my writing {^so} soon after the receipt of yours is, I believe
wee shall not send another frank while you are in London: and besides
my Epistles being so very imperfect they will not bear inspection by M^r
Trinder, neither can one speak their Sentiments so freely when we expect them
to be perused, so that I hope my dear your goodness will excuse me writing
during your stay at North & not think it a mark of neglect for believe me
I always Enquire after my dear friend when ever I see any of your family
Which is pritty often: I had the pleasure of your Sisters Company on the
3 Ins^t being my beirth day we wish’d very much for our Sisters to have
Accompanied us – I am much Oblig’d to you for your kind wishes [deleted]
with regard to my Mamma’s Health it is with inexpressible pleasure I can
still say she keeps very well and sincerely wish she may Continue so and be
in Health when my dear Sister arrives for it wou’d be a great dump upon her
to find my Mamma Indisposed after so long Absence pray give my Love to her
& I write her letter before I receiv’d yours thinking M^r Reeve woud go last week
Miss Reid & I are going to Ordsall to Morrow to stay a little while & Miss
N. Bower call’d here yesterday she begs her Compliments to you with love to
sister & Cousins now my dear I shall be very happy to see you at Manchester
[new page]
again {?inquietly} so as you will be to see it am sorry to hear you have had
such a violent Cold but hope by this time you have got quite rid of it
My Mama & Sister Joins with me in Love to you Sister & Cousins
With Comp^ts to all Friends so my dear must bid you Adieu and remain
Your ever Affectionate Friend
Eliz^th Wilson
Manchester Jan^y 10 1785
P.S.
Pray give Sister & my Duty to Aunt & Uncle
and if you can find time shall be very happy
in receiving a fine from one I have so great a
regard for by my sister pray excuse bad writing
[new page]
Miss R Clegg
London

What can I say sufficient to express
the pleasure I experienced in receiving your friendly and Affectionate
Epistle and {?as} M^r Reeve is going to Town I cou’d not think of
Omiting such a Conveyance of an Answer to it. I am sure my good
Friend has Open’d her mind freely {^& I hope} to one who she may rely upon am
sorry to hear you are not so happy at school as you expected (which
by your letter I {?feel} is the case) you say had it not been that you
thought yourself deficient you shou’d not have been so desirous to go now
if that be your thoughts what must your present Correspondent think
of herself; however I don’t doubt but my dear friend will gain her desire
by going and that it will be of great advantage to you We are all very
apt to think the time runs on very slowly especially at school (nor do I
wonder at it, tis true I ever experience’d the Confinement of any of them
dull places yet I think it is possible to form some Idea of them though
but a very faint one) but as you Justly observe to turn and look back
& take a view of the past how few of us are there that embrace those
& take a view of the past how few of us are there that embrace those
Opportunities we have as we ought to doo and when it is too {?take/tale} begin to
reflect and wish we had spent it more to our improvement but cannot
[new page]
call it back you will think I run on at a strange rate so will
drop the subject. - - you beg’d me not to plead your excuse
but the reason of my writing {^so} soon after the receipt of yours is, I believe
wee shall not send another frank while you are in London: and besides
my Epistles being so very imperfect they will not bear inspection by M^r
Trinder, neither can one speak their Sentiments so freely when we expect them
to be perused, so that I hope my dear your goodness will excuse me writing
during your stay at North & not think it a mark of neglect for believe me
I always Enquire after my dear friend when ever I see any of your family
Which is pritty often: I had the pleasure of your Sisters Company on the
3 Ins^t being my beirth day we wish’d very much for our Sisters to have
Accompanied us – I am much Oblig’d to you for your kind wishes [deleted]
with regard to my Mamma’s Health it is with inexpressible pleasure I can
still say she keeps very well and sincerely wish she may Continue so and be
in Health when my dear Sister arrives for it wou’d be a great dump upon her
to find my Mamma Indisposed after so long Absence pray give my Love to her
& I write her letter before I receiv’d yours thinking M^r Reeve woud go last week
Miss Reid & I are going to Ordsall to Morrow to stay a little while & Miss
N. Bower call’d here yesterday she begs her Compliments to you with love to
sister & Cousins now my dear I shall be very happy to see you at Manchester
[new page]
again {?inquietly} so as you will be to see it am sorry to hear you have had
such a violent Cold but hope by this time you have got quite rid of it
My Mama & Sister Joins with me in Love to you Sister & Cousins
With Comp^ts to all Friends so my dear must bid you Adieu and remain
Your ever Affectionate Friend
Eliz^th Wilson
Manchester Jan^y 10 1785
P.S.
Pray give Sister & my Duty to Aunt & Uncle
and if you can find time shall be very happy
in receiving a fine from one I have so great a
regard for by my sister pray excuse bad writing
[new page]
Miss R Clegg
London