London
Feb^y 10 1796
My Dear Sister
I have heard it said people must
not be married till they can do two things at once
& now I am obliged to practice it for I am rocking
the Cradle while I am writing being unwilling to
miss this opportunity of acknowledging the receipt
of your letter & sending your things home from the
Dyers which at last are come but not without me
sending time after time about them. I understand
M^r Buzzard goes off at 12 o clock to day so I can
But say a very little this time as my little Boy
Is to dress for Clapton to day where we are to go to
Dinner – He comes on very fast & is a very lively Child
but as fiery as you please & rather wakeful {^in the} night
last night I called it a pretty good night only to get
up 4 times to get him asleep for I cannot think of
letting him have the Breast every time he awakes
my nipples are still very sore at times but I am
thankful I can suckle to some good purpose at any
[new page]
rate. M^rs Green is yet [deleted] living & very composed
in mind but gradually growing weaker in Body. I am
sorry to hear such poor accounts of Uncle Spear
our loss will be his gain I feel for poor Aunt she
must be in great trouble it is a tring thing to part
with near & beloved relations I wish I could see him
once more but I hope we shall meet him in a bright
better world where there will be no more parting.
I saw M^rs Proctor last Thursday when she seemed
rather anxious about her Father but I said nothing
of what your letter said I can very seldom get a
sight of her now she is removed I am too much engaged
to go to her & she is too busy to come to me she has
got several men servants in addition to her famely &
is about changing both Maid servants – so every one
has their exercises in this world – it may well be called
a waiste [deleted] howling wilderness – I was quite
surprized to hear what was collected at Mosley St
for the Missionary Society as well as Canno St
I think it was very handsome indeed – M^r Kennedys
[deleted] farewell text was very suitable & must be
affecting to those who were partial to him.
[new page]
Your niece Rebekah has not forgot you she sometimes
talks of coming to Gatley & asks me such questions as
I can scarcely answer about it. She is much more
entertaining then when she you was here – It is a pleasant
thing to see their understandings open. She was one day looking
at a Gentlemans picture named Rice Jones & she said to
her Papa “it is well it was not rice pudding if it had we
should have eat him”. I hope your dear Children
are got well of their colds. Please to give
my duty to Mamma & tell her I will write
to her in a few days [deleted] I have not time by
this conveyance or it would now M^r Wilson joins
me in Love to M^r B yourself all at Shudehill & the
rest as if named – I remain
My Dear Sister
Yours sincerely & affectionately
E Wilson
PS The potatoes are
taking no harm on board as the weather
is so fine please to send your Bill when you send the
Bacon & accept of my thanks for your trouble if you
would charge that I would gladly pay for it for I
don’t need to add to your trouble in your famely I hope
you are got well fixed with Servants adieu excuse haste.
[new page]
M^rs Bateman
Gatley

London
Feb^y 10 1796
My Dear Sister
I have heard it said people must
not be married till they can do two things at once
& now I am obliged to practice it for I am rocking
the Cradle while I am writing being unwilling to
miss this opportunity of acknowledging the receipt
of your letter & sending your things home from the
Dyers which at last are come but not without me
sending time after time about them. I understand
M^r Buzzard goes off at 12 o clock to day so I can
But say a very little this time as my little Boy
Is to dress for Clapton to day where we are to go to
Dinner – He comes on very fast & is a very lively Child
but as fiery as you please & rather wakeful {^in the} night
last night I called it a pretty good night only to get
up 4 times to get him asleep for I cannot think of
letting him have the Breast every time he awakes
my nipples are still very sore at times but I am
thankful I can suckle to some good purpose at any
[new page]
rate. M^rs Green is yet [deleted] living & very composed
in mind but gradually growing weaker in Body. I am
sorry to hear such poor accounts of Uncle Spear
our loss will be his gain I feel for poor Aunt she
must be in great trouble it is a tring thing to part
with near & beloved relations I wish I could see him
once more but I hope we shall meet him in a bright
better world where there will be no more parting.
I saw M^rs Proctor last Thursday when she seemed
rather anxious about her Father but I said nothing
of what your letter said I can very seldom get a
sight of her now she is removed I am too much engaged
to go to her & she is too busy to come to me she has
got several men servants in addition to her famely &
is about changing both Maid servants – so every one
has their exercises in this world – it may well be called
a waiste [deleted] howling wilderness – I was quite
surprized to hear what was collected at Mosley St
for the Missionary Society as well as Canno St
I think it was very handsome indeed – M^r Kennedys
[deleted] farewell text was very suitable & must be
affecting to those who were partial to him.
[new page]
Your niece Rebekah has not forgot you she sometimes
talks of coming to Gatley & asks me such questions as
I can scarcely answer about it. She is much more
entertaining then when she you was here – It is a pleasant
thing to see their understandings open. She was one day looking
at a Gentlemans picture named Rice Jones & she said to
her Papa “it is well it was not rice pudding if it had we
should have eat him”. I hope your dear Children
are got well of their colds. Please to give
my duty to Mamma & tell her I will write
to her in a few days [deleted] I have not time by
this conveyance or it would now M^r Wilson joins
me in Love to M^r B yourself all at Shudehill & the
rest as if named – I remain
My Dear Sister
Yours sincerely & affectionately
E Wilson
PS The potatoes are
taking no harm on board as the weather
is so fine please to send your Bill when you send the
Bacon & accept of my thanks for your trouble if you
would charge that I would gladly pay for it for I
don’t need to add to your trouble in your famely I hope
you are got well fixed with Servants adieu excuse haste.
[new page]
M^rs Bateman
Gatley