London
Sepr 25th 1809
My dear Thomas
I am much obliged to you for your letter which I received on Saturday, as it happened that I went to my aunt’s on that day. I am very glad to hear that Mr Earle is laying out the field for I shall like to have the garden longer. I can guess the reason why you wished to have the drawing master that attended Miss Barnetts, [deleted] I hope you will soon draw delightfully and I flatter myself I am improving in it. Our drawing master saw the {?Tescel/Easel} he said it was very well and there was a great degree of neatness in it. I am very glad you have made Prince bark at people when they come in. I hope he will be a good house dog. I thought of you on Sunday night when I was at Hoxton I heard Mr Brewer of Birmingham, he mentioned in his sermon that he would not give any thing for a Christian who did not dare to be singular Will you be so kind the next letter you write to us to write Rebecca’s letter first and then when it is torn off I may have the direction.
[new page]
Please to tell papa I shall write in a few days I think it will be more acceptable than two the same day with love to cousins and all other friends I remain
Dear Thomas
yours very affectionately
R Bateman
Do write soon Sir.
[different hand]
My dear Cousin
As Rebekah has so soon finished her letter rather than let it travel so far blank I will trouble you with a little of my scrawl I feel qualified by your remembrance of me in your sister’s letters and whenever now can muster up a subject I shall be happy to be favored in a similar manner, never mind its being laconic for a little is better than none. You say the gloominess of the weather makes you quite stupid I cannot wonder for really the weather we have in London has sometimes the same [deleted] {^effect on} me. We are sure it is against the harvest by bread being {raised} to 1s & 4d a loaf. Your house I think will be greatly improved by a {?few} more {?trees} for my part I am partial
[new page]
to houses build in trees. It seems a pity you should go back again to the first rudiments of drawing as you were so far advanced but my opinion is nothing in comparison of Miss Barnets drawing master you will say; I hope [illeg] young ladies are all well you are the best person I can think of inquiring off {^after} their welfare I am fearful your mother is sometimes at a loss to answer your {?numberless} inquiries. I am just beginning oil colors it is rather dirty work but I hope when my drawings are complete they will make [deleted] up for [damaged] part of the story. Your remark concerning the royal Navy was just, papa & every other Christian must rejoice in men being connected to Jesus surely as Mr Watts says “his {?worth} if all the nations knew {?since} the whole earth would love {?Him} too.” Let us my dear cousin be {?concerned} to know him for ourselves let us {?alone/atone} to be singular and come “out from our ungodly world and be separate” give Jesus our best days he has said ‘I love them that love me & those that seek me {?early} shall find me”. I was hearing Mr Spencer yesterday
[new page]
from these words, “Whosoever shall confess me before men him shall the son of man also confess before the angels of God”. Luke {?2 & 8} so we see Jesus will honor them that honor him. Excuse me my
Mr Thos Bateman Jnr
Everton Hotel
Liverpool
Dear cousin for this preaching as you will call it but I [deleted] {^am sure} you will forgive me knowing my [deleted] motives are good. Give our love around you & believe me Dear Thomas
your very affectionate Cousin
R Wilson
Excuse scrawl

London
September 25^th 1809
My dear Thomas
I am much obliged to you for your letter which I received on Saturday, as it happened that I went to my aunt’s on that day. I am very glad to hear that Mr Earle is laying out the field for I shall like to have the garden longer. I can guess the reason why you wished to have the drawing master that attended Miss Barnetts, [deleted] I hope you will soon draw delightfully and I flatter myself I am improving in it. Our drawing master saw the {?Tescel/Easel} he said it was very well and there was a great degree of neatness in it. I am very glad you have made Prince bark at people when they come in. I hope he will be a good house dog. I thought of you on Sunday night when I was at Hoxton I heard Mr Brewer of Birmingham, he mentioned in his sermon that he would not give any thing for a Christian who did not dare to be singular Will you be so kind the next letter you write to us to write Rebecca’s letter first and then when it is torn off I may have the direction.
[new page]
Please to tell papa I shall write in a few days I think it will be more acceptable than two the same day with love to cousins and all other friends I remain
Dear Thomas
yours very affectionately
R Bateman
Do write soon Sir.
[different hand]
My dear Cousin
As Rebekah has so soon finished her letter rather than let it travel so far blank I will trouble you with a little of my scrawl I feel qualified by your remembrance of me in your sister’s letters and whenever now can muster up a subject I shall be happy to be favoured in a similar manner, never mind its being laconic for a little is better than none. You say the gloominess of the weather makes you quite stupid I cannot wonder for really the weather we have in London has sometimes the same [deleted] {^effect on} me. We are sure it is against the harvest by bread being {raised} to 1s & 4d a loaf. Your house I think will be greatly improved by a {?few} more {?trees} for my part I am partial
[new page]
to houses build in trees. It seems a pity you should go back again to the first rudiments of drawing as you were so far advanced but my opinion is nothing in comparison of Miss Barnets drawing master you will say; I hope [illeg] young ladies are all well you are the best person I can think of inquiring off {^after} their welfare I am fearful your mother is sometimes at a loss to answer your {?numberless} inquiries. I am just beginning oil colours it is rather dirty work but I hope when my drawings are complete they will make [deleted] up for [damaged] part of the story. Your remark concerning the royal Navy was just, papa & every other Christian must rejoice in men being connected to Jesus surely as Mr Watts says “his {?worth} if all the nations knew {?since} the whole earth would love {?Him} too.” Let us my dear cousin be {?concerned} to know him for ourselves let us {?alone/atone} to be singular and come “out from our ungodly world and be separate” give Jesus our best days he has said ‘I love them that love me & those that seek me {?early} shall find me”. I was hearing Mr Spencer yesterday
[new page]
from these words, “Whosoever shall confess me before men him shall the son of man also confess before the angels of God”. Luke {?2 & 8} so we see Jesus will honour them that honour him. Excuse me my
Mr Thos Bateman Jnr
Everton Hotel
Liverpool
Dear cousin for this preaching as you will call it but I [deleted] {^am sure} you will forgive me knowing my [deleted] motives are good. Give our love around you & believe me Dear Thomas
your very affectionate Cousin
R Wilson
Excuse scrawl