My Dear Sister
I am much obliged to you for your last
Letter I was very anxious to hear how my Bolton friends
went on before it came since I received it Rebekah Smithson
has been so kind to let me hear from her twice I
was sorry to hear old M^r Grundy should be so troublesome
but I am in hopes he has almost done as much as he
intended I thought by R last that he begun to soften a
little by changing his mind concerning M^rs Smithson
income & finding fault with Thomas’ fortune – I suppose
Marget is with you (I hope she is better) she would no doubt
tell you that my Cousin was desirous I should write
to Miss Grundy about their behavior to them but as
Rebekah justly observed it might begin a correspondence which
I should not like & [deleted] except it was likely to do good I
should rather let it alont as I could scarce write without
saying – I should be glad to see her when she came to
London which I would rather not be under the obligation of
doing. I am glad to find my Cousins are pretty agreeable
with M^rs S & that they mean to behave handsomely to her
as far as they can with propriety. I think they will not
only have the comfort of it but gain the esteem of friends by it
[vertical left side] Should have sent this by M^rs Bradbury who I understood was going tomorrow
morn^g to Manch^r but since I have heard she does not go till Monday I will send it by
post for fear of [damaged]
[top side] I suppose you will observe the ensuing fast at
Mosley St Aunt P says to day she understood {?Dissenton}
Did not open their places of worship but I told her they did
Last Satterday week there were such reports here that I began to be
Be afraid of an [deleted] {^invasion} but I don’t know {^how} I must have got to you if these had
I hope I shall never come on that account.
[new page]
I am glad to find M^r Grundy has not many if any to join him
I think it is a great comfort that Uncle Pearson is on the {?side}
of my Cousins I hear nothing what Aunt says I was rather
afraid of her but I hope my fears were groundless.
Since I begun to write Aunt & Betsey Pearson came
in & desired to be remembered to all they are very well Betsy
begs I will make a great many apologys for her for forget=
ing to send your Hood by Jane she has not matched
it & indeed Aunt thinks it would be to your loss to have it
Matched as there must be as much got as would be two
aprons unless you meant to have one flounced. However
have got the Muslin & mean to send it by M^r Procter
who I suppose will soon be coming to Manchester – you ask
me if he is very serious about the business he is indeed
& very impatient for Jane to come back very soon, He is
exceedingly pleased with her - & thinks providence led him
in a remarkable manner to a knowledge of her he was {?wont]
[deleted] to see his way clear in the choice of a wife & with all
his & his friends seeking (M^r Clayton was very assiduous to find
him one) he could never see any that pleased him till he
saw her - & his having that opportunity seemed accidental.
There was M^r Moody in Town whom M^r P was very fond to {?know}
& one afternoon I proposed to hear this M^r M at M^r Barbers {?place}
but Jane & Arthur concluded to go to hear M^r Stevens we all were
out together & as we were going past the Chapel A^r said Jane
we had better stop here for we shall be too late for M^r Stevens
[new page]
she did & there he saw her & was struck with her appearance but
he thought to himself how shall I get to know where she lives &
whether she is one of my sort. He was for following us out
but lost us & the next time he saw her was at M^r Claytons
(where she went once a month) & then he was puzzel’d again
Because she was with a Miss Hall as well as M^rs Mills (their way
lying one road & sitting in one seat) However he enquired of M^r Clayton
if he knew who it was that was with M^rs M & then he got intelligence
& got M^r to enquire whether she was truly religious that was
all he wanted – he did not care whether there was money or not
I hope he will get to Manch^r before you are confined that you
may just get a peep at him if you was to be in his company
I think you would be pleased with him though perhaps the
business he comes about may not make him appear to any
advantage – It gave me pleasure to hear repeatedly of your
good health surely it is a great blessing if rightly improved but
alas I find I am very short of that duty. Jane would no doubt
tell you I have not been quite well for some weeks past but
through mercy I have been better the last fortnight M^rs Mills
is pretty well & sends her respects – M^r Wilson joins me in
Love to yourself M^r Bateman Papa Mamma & Margot I hope
you will write soon & believe me to be
Your truly affectionate
Sister E Wilson
London Feb^y 26 1794
PS I have heard that some of the Mosley St congregation
say that M^r Kennedy denies experimental religion pray send
me word if this is true – for I can’t believe that is his sentiments.
[new page]
If Margot should write to Bolton soon she will send my Love & say I
mean to answer R’s letter by facor of M Bradbury as far as Manch^r
I expect M^rs Green is or will in a few days be in Manch^r I should like
you to have her to drink Tea with you if you could conveniently
Rebekah is very well but gets no more teeth at present
M^rs Bateman
Levers Row
Manchester

My Dear Sister
I am much obliged to you for your last
Letter I was very anxious to hear how my Bolton friends
went on before it came since I received it Rebekah Smithson
has been so kind to let me hear from her twice I
was sorry to hear old M^r Grundy should be so troublesome
but I am in hopes he has almost done as much as he
intended I thought by R last that he begun to soften a
little by changing his mind concerning M^rs Smithson
income & finding fault with Thomas’ fortune – I suppose
Marget is with you (I hope she is better) she would no doubt
tell you that my Cousin was desirous I should write
to Miss Grundy about their behavior to them but as
Rebekah justly observed it might begin a correspondence which
I should not like & [deleted] except it was likely to do good I
should rather let it alont as I could scarce write without
saying – I should be glad to see her when she came to
London which I would rather not be under the obligation of
doing. I am glad to find my Cousins are pretty agreeable
with M^rs S & that they mean to behave handsomely to her
as far as they can with propriety. I think they will not
only have the comfort of it but gain the esteem of friends by it
[vertical left side] Should have sent this by M^rs Bradbury who I understood was going tomorrow
morn^g to Manch^r but since I have heard she does not go till Monday I will send it by
post for fear of [damaged]
[top side] I suppose you will observe the ensuing fast at
Mosley St Aunt P says to day she understood {?Dissenton}
Did not open their places of worship but I told her they did
Last Satterday week there were such reports here that I began to be
Be afraid of an [deleted] {^invasion} but I don’t know {^how} I must have got to you if these had
I hope I shall never come on that account.
[new page]
I am glad to find M^r Grundy has not many if any to join him
I think it is a great comfort that Uncle Pearson is on the {?side}
of my Cousins I hear nothing what Aunt says I was rather
afraid of her but I hope my fears were groundless.
Since I begun to write Aunt & Betsey Pearson came
in & desired to be remembered to all they are very well Betsy
begs I will make a great many apologys for her for forget=
ing to send your Hood by Jane she has not matched
it & indeed Aunt thinks it would be to your loss to have it
Matched as there must be as much got as would be two
aprons unless you meant to have one flounced. However
have got the Muslin & mean to send it by M^r Procter
who I suppose will soon be coming to Manchester – you ask
me if he is very serious about the business he is indeed
& very impatient for Jane to come back very soon, He is
exceedingly pleased with her - & thinks providence led him
in a remarkable manner to a knowledge of her he was {?wont]
[deleted] to see his way clear in the choice of a wife & with all
his & his friends seeking (M^r Clayton was very assiduous to find
him one) he could never see any that pleased him till he
saw her - & his having that opportunity seemed accidental.
There was M^r Moody in Town whom M^r P was very fond to {?know}
& one afternoon I proposed to hear this M^r M at M^r Barbers {?place}
but Jane & Arthur concluded to go to hear M^r Stevens we all were
out together & as we were going past the Chapel A^r said Jane
we had better stop here for we shall be too late for M^r Stevens
[new page]
she did & there he saw her & was struck with her appearance but
he thought to himself how shall I get to know where she lives &
whether she is one of my sort. He was for following us out
but lost us & the next time he saw her was at M^r Claytons
(where she went once a month) & then he was puzzel’d again
Because she was with a Miss Hall as well as M^rs Mills (their way
lying one road & sitting in one seat) However he enquired of M^r Clayton
if he knew who it was that was with M^rs M & then he got intelligence
& got M^r to enquire whether she was truly religious that was
all he wanted – he did not care whether there was money or not
I hope he will get to Manch^r before you are confined that you
may just get a peep at him if you was to be in his company
I think you would be pleased with him though perhaps the
business he comes about may not make him appear to any
advantage – It gave me pleasure to hear repeatedly of your
good health surely it is a great blessing if rightly improved but
alas I find I am very short of that duty. Jane would no doubt
tell you I have not been quite well for some weeks past but
through mercy I have been better the last fortnight M^rs Mills
is pretty well & sends her respects – M^r Wilson joins me in
Love to yourself M^r Bateman Papa Mamma & Margot I hope
you will write soon & believe me to be
Your truly affectionate
Sister E Wilson
London Feb^y 26 1794
PS I have heard that some of the Mosley St congregation
say that M^r Kennedy denies experimental religion pray send
me word if this is true – for I can’t believe that is his sentiments.
[new page]
If Margot should write to Bolton soon she will send my Love & say I
mean to answer R’s letter by facor of M Bradbury as far as Manch^r
I expect M^rs Green is or will in a few days be in Manch^r I should like
you to have her to drink Tea with you if you could conveniently
Rebekah is very well but gets no more teeth at present
M^rs Bateman
Levers Row
Manchester