My Dear Sister
I am ashamed that I have not answered
your affectionate epistle before this but Miss Wilson
would tell you one of my hindrances & since I come from
Highbury I have had a many more which I need not
particularize as you know what family engagements are
I am glad to hear my Nephew Thomas gets his
Teeth so easily. I wish that may the case with
my Rebekah when she comes to the trial but alas we
know not what we wish for when we want to be without
troubles for when sanctified they are great blessings in
disguise there is nothing more calculated to wean us from
the world & creatures. I have mentioned in Mammas letter
I have not been quite well myself since Becky got better
but I trust I could say not as I will but as those
will. It gives me great pleasure to find you are
going to join the Church surely you have been too long
without doing {^it} but it is better late than never & I hope
you will find the presence of God with you to comfort you
[new page]
We are warranted to expect such a blessing in the way of duty
I believe we lose much enjoyment for want of having higher
thoughts of the Deity and greater expectations from him
I am too apt to look at self & pore upon my [illeg]thing
without fleeing directly to the giver of every good & perfect
gift O may we learn to live a life of Faith & holy
obedience that we may ornament the holy gospel we profess.
I was in hopes to have heard that M^r Batemans
name had been mentioned also I shall hope to hear th[damaged]
soon: why tarry longer & time is so short if we are not
fit for the Lords table we cannot be fit for Death to meet
him at his tribunal. All the fitness God requireth
is to feel our need of him. I hope M^r {^B} will take what
I have written in love as it is not meant in any other way.
M^r Wilson begs his love & bids me say he has sent
our Nephew William some Oysters which I hope you
have received safe – I have had a letter from aunt
Martha saying she means to be with me in a short time
I was surprized to hear of her excursion to B at this
time of year – Miss Wilson seems pleased to think
my Cousin R is likely to do well – she thinks she did right
not to go to Manchester so you see she has not changed her
mind – I was yesterday to pay Sam Medley a wedding
[new page]
visit along with M^rs Newnham & M^r Auther who is in
London with her father – while I was there a packet of
letters came from Liverpool which I expected would have
brought the news of Miss Fords having a Bean but if they
did contain it nothing was said – I wonder if it is a kept
a secret every time I see M^rs N I expect her to
say she has heard of it – My sad scrawl will tell you
I am in great haste & must conclude with love to
yourself & M^r Bateman & my Nephew not forgetting
his Uncle & all enquiring friends – in which M^r W
wishes to join & old M^r W desires I will not forget his
love to my friends whenever I write & as for you he
says he is very fond of you. I remain
My Dear Sister
Yours affectionately
E Wilson
PS M^rs Green has got a little girl
& is doing pretty well I thank you for your invitation
to make a longer stay in Manch^r then I did last I mean to
come as soon as I can & then we will talk about staying
London
Dec^r 22 1792
[new page]
M^rs Bateman
Levers row
Manchester

My Dear Sister
I am ashamed that I have not answered
your affectionate epistle before this but Miss Wilson
would tell you one of my hindrances & since I come from
Highbury I have had a many more which I need not
particularize as you know what family engagements are
I am glad to hear my Nephew Thomas gets his
Teeth so easily. I wish that may the case with
my Rebekah when she comes to the trial but alas we
know not what we wish for when we want to be without
troubles for when sanctified they are great blessings in
disguise there is nothing more calculated to wean us from
the world & creatures. I have mentioned in Mammas letter
I have not been quite well myself since Becky got better
but I trust I could say not as I will but as those
will. It gives me great pleasure to find you are
going to join the Church surely you have been too long
without doing {^it} but it is better late than never & I hope
you will find the presence of God with you to comfort you
[new page]
We are warranted to expect such a blessing in the way of duty
I believe we lose much enjoyment for want of having higher
thoughts of the Deity and greater expectations from him
I am too apt to look at self & pore upon my [illeg]thing
without fleeing directly to the giver of every good & perfect
gift O may we learn to live a life of Faith & holy
obedience that we may ornament the holy gospel we profess.
I was in hopes to have heard that M^r Batemans
name had been mentioned also I shall hope to hear th[damaged]
soon: why tarry longer & time is so short if we are not
fit for the Lords table we cannot be fit for Death to meet
him at his tribunal. All the fitness God requireth
is to feel our need of him. I hope M^r {^B} will take what
I have written in love as it is not meant in any other way.
M^r Wilson begs his love & bids me say he has sent
our Nephew William some Oysters which I hope you
have received safe – I have had a letter from aunt
Martha saying she means to be with me in a short time
I was surprized to hear of her excursion to B at this
time of year – Miss Wilson seems pleased to think
my Cousin R is likely to do well – she thinks she did right
not to go to Manchester so you see she has not changed her
mind – I was yesterday to pay Sam Medley a wedding
[new page]
visit along with M^rs Newnham & M^r Auther who is in
London with her father – while I was there a packet of
letters came from Liverpool which I expected would have
brought the news of Miss Fords having a Bean but if they
did contain it nothing was said – I wonder if it is a kept
a secret every time I see M^rs N I expect her to
say she has heard of it – My sad scrawl will tell you
I am in great haste & must conclude with love to
yourself & M^r Bateman & my Nephew not forgetting
his Uncle & all enquiring friends – in which M^r W
wishes to join & old M^r W desires I will not forget his
love to my friends whenever I write & as for you he
says he is very fond of you. I remain
My Dear Sister
Yours affectionately
E Wilson
PS M^rs Green has got a little girl
& is doing pretty well I thank you for your invitation
to make a longer stay in Manch^r then I did last I mean to
come as soon as I can & then we will talk about staying
London
Dec^r 22 1792
[new page]
M^rs Bateman
Levers row
Manchester