Chester {?June} 23^rd 1790
D^r Madam
In compliance with your request My Wife has taken the opportunity to enquire after the Character of the young woman you mentioned in your letter; and desires me to acquaint you that her late M^rs gives her a very honorable one, as a trusty Servant; one that was the same behind her back, as before her face, a clear, active and commendable Girl, she says, she hired her as a waiter, and that she can clean a room well &c &c &c, as a cook she says but little about her, as that was not her place in the family, but I doubt not but if other things are agreeable, you will soon bring her into that also, ----- we are at present under a good deal of perplexity at our house, a Gentleman and his Wife & Daughter came here from London upon an annual visit, the week before last, and he has been taken with a very dangerous afflictions, is still very bad, and I know not whether it may not end in death. O’ that we may be all ready, inasmuch as wel know not when, where, or how we must die, that we may be found in Jesus, and then all shall be well. ------
M^rs A joins me in love to your whole-self, and to your Father, Mother & Sister, and all friends; we are moderate as to ourselves at present, only much hurried by day and night, with this affair falling out so at our house. It was the occasions why you had not this a post sooner, as my Wife could not go out to enquire. ----- Our Daughter Mary joins us in love to you, & please to represent our kind respects to our Old Friend, your neighbour M^rs Bradbury, we have looked for here here, till hope & expectation are upon their death-bed, please to tell her [?this], and you will Oblige
Your humble
Serv^t Wm Armitage

Chester {?June} 23^rd 1790
D^r Madam
In compliance with your request My Wife has taken the opportunity to enquire after the Character of the young woman you mentioned in your letter; and desires me to acquaint you that her late M^rs gives her a very honorable one, as a trusty Servant; one that was the same behind her back, as before her face, a clear, active and commendable Girl, she says, she hired her as a waiter, and that she can clean a room well &c &c &c, as a cook she says but little about her, as that was not her place in the family, but I doubt not but if other things are agreeable, you will soon bring her into that also, ----- we are at present under a good deal of perplexity at our house, a Gentleman and his Wife & Daughter came here from London upon an annual visit, the week before last, and he has been taken with a very dangerous afflictions, is still very bad, and I know not whether it may not end in death. O’ that we may be all ready, inasmuch as well know not when, where, or how we must die, that we may be found in Jesus, and then all shall be well. ------
M^rs A joins me in love to your whole-self, and to your Father, Mother & Sister, and all friends; we are moderate as to ourselves at present, only much hurried by day and night, with this affair falling out so at our house. It was the occasions why you had not this a post sooner, as my Wife could not go out to enquire. ----- Our Daughter Mary joins us in love to you, & please to represent our kind respects to our Old Friend, your neighbour M^rs Bradbury, we have looked for here here, till hope & expectation are upon their death-bed, please to tell her [?this], and you will Oblige
Your humble
Serv^t Wm Armitage