[Note: first page is badly torn]
My Dear Sister
According as you requested we have sent you the [deleted] {^Bill} of the {?carp]
but you do not need to be in a hurry to send the money I embrace the
opportunity of sending this by M^r Lowe but cannot think of letting it
come without acknowledging the receipt of your welcome Letter. I was
sorry to hear of your & Jane Spears indisposition but hope you are got quite strong
again. Our poor Cousin Arthur has brought a bad stigma upon himself but
[damaged] to hear he has Married the young Woman [damaged]
[damaged] good husband [damaged]
[the remainder of this page is missing]
[new page]
Your letter came safe to Miss Wilson & Aunt Martha was at highbury at the
time when Miss Wilson told her the contents & Aunt told me when she
came home but it had really slipt my memory till my Letter was gone & they
recollected I have not been at Highbury since you [deleted] heard from Sister
so have not heard or seen your answer but Miss W says I shall if I write [damaged]
but she sets too much value upon it to wear it in her pocket as it is
written on thin paper & she should soon wear it out [damaged]
[damaged] news I wanted to hear more about [damaged]
[the remainder of this page is missing]
[new page]
what you say in your last namely “that you cannot think what I
can be so much engaged [deleted] with as to hinder me writing with
one child & 3 servants while you have 2 & but 2 servants &c
In the first place let me assure you I should be very glad you could
see for a month or two how I am employed & then you could judge
for yourself & in the next place I may say with safety we have
great deal more work than you & if a third maid helps to do the
work she likewise helps to dirty to that we are scarce able to keep
ourselves for sticking in the dirt. You would be surprized to see
what washing we have & now we are obliged to do it every week
but I will say no more. I am not sorry to {^be} fully employed I
only wish I could at the same time be [deleted] {^fervent} in spirit serving
the Lord & cast my every care upon him “believing he careth for
me & will order all things for the best Rebekah is rather poorly
with her teeth we think. As there seems to be nothing very
alarming about her – I would make myself easy I suppose there
are few but what feels something when they are getting teeth I
am glad to hear your Thomas gets his so easy.
I must tell you what a sad task I have to go through
Tomorrow viz I am to have M^rs Maitland to drink Tea with me
& my drawing room not being very elegant I must entertain
her in a plainer way than she is used to – M^rs Joseph is to dine
with me Aunt & OI have dined with her & we were honored
to sit in the drawing room to Tea & a very grand one it is
but I would not change situation no I do not want their {?smart}
carpet in lieu of my old Turkey (by the by I am glad you like yours)
M^r W & Aunt join me in Love to all at Shudehill (& are glad to
hear [damaged] to your Dear Husband & yourself not [damaged]
[damaged] friends I remain your sincere [damaged]
[new page]
M^rs Bateman
Levers row
Manchester

[Note: first page is badly torn]
My Dear Sister
According as you requested we have sent you the [deleted] {^Bill} of the {?carp]
but you do not need to be in a hurry to send the money I embrace the
opportunity of sending this by M^r Lowe but cannot think of letting it
come without acknowledging the receipt of your welcome Letter. I was
sorry to hear of your & Jane Spears indisposition but hope you are got quite strong
again. Our poor Cousin Arthur has brought a bad stigma upon himself but
[damaged] to hear he has Married the young Woman [damaged]
[damaged] good husband [damaged]
[the remainder of this page is missing]
[new page]
Your letter came safe to Miss Wilson & Aunt Martha was at highbury at the
time when Miss Wilson told her the contents & Aunt told me when she
came home but it had really slipt my memory till my Letter was gone & they
recollected I have not been at Highbury since you [deleted] heard from Sister
so have not heard or seen your answer but Miss W says I shall if I write [damaged]
but she sets too much value upon it to wear it in her pocket as it is
written on thin paper & she should soon wear it out [damaged]
[damaged] news I wanted to hear more about [damaged]
[the remainder of this page is missing]
[new page]
what you say in your last namely “that you cannot think what I
can be so much engaged [deleted] with as to hinder me writing with
one child & 3 servants while you have 2 & but 2 servants &c
In the first place let me assure you I should be very glad you could
see for a month or two how I am employed & then you could judge
for yourself & in the next place I may say with safety we have
great deal more work than you & if a third maid helps to do the
work she likewise helps to dirty to that we are scarce able to keep
ourselves for sticking in the dirt. You would be surprized to see
what washing we have & now we are obliged to do it every week
but I will say no more. I am not sorry to {^be} fully employed I
only wish I could at the same time be [deleted] {^fervent} in spirit serving
the Lord & cast my every care upon him “believing he careth for
me & will order all things for the best Rebekah is rather poorly
with her teeth we think. As there seems to be nothing very
alarming about her – I would make myself easy I suppose there
are few but what feels something when they are getting teeth I
am glad to hear your Thomas gets his so easy.
I must tell you what a sad task I have to go through
Tomorrow viz I am to have M^rs Maitland to drink Tea with me
& my drawing room not being very elegant I must entertain
her in a plainer way than she is used to – M^rs Joseph is to dine
with me Aunt & OI have dined with her & we were honored
to sit in the drawing room to Tea & a very grand one it is
but I would not change situation no I do not want their {?smart}
carpet in lieu of my old Turkey (by the by I am glad you like yours)
M^r W & Aunt join me in Love to all at Shudehill (& are glad to
hear [damaged] to your Dear Husband & yourself not [damaged]
[damaged] friends I remain your sincere [damaged]
[new page]
M^rs Bateman
Levers row
Manchester