Gateacre 3^rd June 1804
H Roberts
To M A & E N
My dear Mary Ann & Elizabeth
We were much disap=
=pointed not to receive a letter from some of you
yesterday, at which time we fully expected that
pleasure, but were glad to hear from Charles, that
you were all in the enjoyment of health; I hope
your next will inform us when we shall have
the pleasure of seeing you it appears now a long
time since you left us, we shall all be glad to see
you again: James desires you will not come before
Friday, as he shall have a lesson every night ‘till
then, & shall lose the pleasure of your company.
Will you tell your father I am sorry I can
not give him any agreeable intelligence respect=
=ing the horse & cow, the latter calved on Friday
afternoon, the calf the largest I ever saw died this
morning, the cow has been very unwell but John
& Margaret think now she will get above it, they were
apprehensive at first she woud not. The horse is worse
today, John took him to Prescot this afternoon to the far=
[new page]
=rier who says he can cure him, he is to go again on Wed=
=nesday, the smith here has sadly neglected him or he
would probably have been well by this time, it has hap=
=pened very unfortunate that both horse & cow shoud
be ill during your fathers absence, John has paid
them every possible attention he coud. We have not
seen your uncle yet, probably the fine weather we
now have will induce him to come out. I hope
you will find your uncle Hatfields better than
you left him, I shall be glad to hear that your
grandmother accompanies you & of your safe arri=
=val at Manchester pray remember me affectionately
to all my friends there not forgetting your father.
Your brothers desire their love to all of you &
their cousins, your cousin Thomas likewise desires
love to you, he dined with us to day & is very well.
I have no news to communicate having emptied
my budget so lately, James woud have written you
but he had nothing to say – adieu my dear girls
& believe me ever your
Affectionate friend
H Roberts
We are all well

Gateacre 3^rd June 1804
H Roberts
To M A & E N
My dear Mary Ann & Elizabeth
We were much disap=
=pointed not to receive a letter from some of you
yesterday, at which time we fully expected that
pleasure, but were glad to hear from Charles, that
you were all in the enjoyment of health; I hope
your next will inform us when we shall have
the pleasure of seeing you it appears now a long
time since you left us, we shall all be glad to see
you again: James desires you will not come before
Friday, as he shall have a lesson every night ‘till
then, & shall lose the pleasure of your company.
Will you tell your father I am sorry I can
not give him any agreeable intelligence respect=
=ing the horse & cow, the latter calved on Friday
afternoon, the calf the largest I ever saw died this
morning, the cow has been very unwell but John
& Margaret think now she will get above it, they were
apprehensive at first she woud not. The horse is worse
today, John took him to Prescot this afternoon to the far=
[new page]
=rier who says he can cure him, he is to go again on Wed=
=nesday, the smith here has sadly neglected him or he
would probably have been well by this time, it has hap=
=pened very unfortunate that both horse & cow shoud
be ill during your fathers absence, John has paid
them every possible attention he coud. We have not
seen your uncle yet, probably the fine weather we
now have will induce him to come out. I hope
you will find your uncle Hatfields better than
you left him, I shall be glad to hear that your
grandmother accompanies you & of your safe arri=
=val at Manchester pray remember me affectionately
to all my friends there not forgetting your father.
Your brothers desire their love to all of you &
their cousins, your cousin Thomas likewise desires
love to you, he dined with us to day & is very well.
I have no news to communicate having emptied
my budget so lately, James woud have written you
but he had nothing to say – adieu my dear girls
& believe me ever your
Affectionate friend
H Roberts
We are all well