Gateacre 11 March 1807
My dear {?Maria}
For my last letter I sent you some
lines I admired of Elizabeths on an ash tree
being cut down, that grew opposite the Door
of our Garden in M^r Bibby’s field, and the day
I wrote to you your letter to me was within, &
which you recollect was the anniversary of my birth
day I thank you for your good wishes, I hope you
will see them fulfilled, they will not be less grateful
to you than to me.
18 March
I am interrupted, & have not until now resu=
=med my pen as I shoud have done, on receiving
half a letter from you the 12^th & not waited until
your letter of the 14^th was delivered, respecting Miss
Bowcock – I deferred writing until I had decided
about another Lady whom I had seen & have
written letters respecting character &c, & expect
I may have answerd it by Saturday next, it
is probable I may engage her services, but on
receiving answers to my letters I will write to
[vertical left margin] moisten the wafers more when you seal your letters.
[new page]
Miss Bowcock, {^to whom I sent now enclose a letter} that she may be no longer in sus=
=pence about my situation my respects to Miss
Mangnall to whom I am obliged for mentioning
to Miss Bowcock my wanting and assistant
M^rs Holmes stoped ten minutes only in War=
=rington consequently coud not call of you, your
Uncle Hatfield has been very ill & is much reduced
But is better by the last account we had, M^rs
Holmes will relieve Miss Hatfields anxiety a
little, & chear your Uncles spirits her visit
now will be particularly acceptable – I am
glad to find you make long days, & that your
time is fully occupied & so well arranged.
Music takes much time to make a pro=
=ficient in practice, but the science has its use
if that be not attained, get as much of both as
more necessary avocations will permit I thought
the lines on the ash tree woud please you,
M^r Bibby continues removing vegetative beauty
[new page]
to substitute artificial deformity & you will return
to stone walls instead of Hawthorn bloom, but
within doors you will having nothing to regret,
for our affection continues luxuriant – what
Books you send for I will seek an opportunity
to send
Hatfield Tho^s & Dorothy have had severe
Colds some time, they are getting better your
Grandmother Elizabeth & James & myself &c &c
are well & unite affection to you – Miss Bagnall
& Ann have left us the latter was married on
Monday sennight & is on her way to Cumberland
to spend a week, of her we have a great loss, what
kind of substitute Maria Roberts will be found
in time you shall be told – my Brothers servant
Mary was married on Sunday last to an American
Sailor – our friends in Lpool & this neighbourhood
are {^well & all} enquire after you frequently – M^rs Walpole
as her two children is but in a delicate state.
Your Grandmother & I desire our respects to
Miss M & I am my [damaged] your aff^e Father
When you write say how you all [damaged] Tho^s Nicholson
[new page]
Miss M Nicholson
Miss Mangnalls
Warrington
[change hand] Gateacre March 18^th 1807
T Nicholson to M A N
Rec^d 20^th March
Ans:^d 26^th March

Gateacre 11 March 1807
My dear {?Maria}
For my last letter I sent you some
lines I admired of Elizabeths on an ash tree
being cut down, that grew opposite the Door
of our Garden in M^r Bibby’s field, and the day
I wrote to you your letter to me was within, &
which you recollect was the anniversary of my birth
day I thank you for your good wishes, I hope you
will see them fulfilled, they will not be less grateful
to you than to me.
18 March
I am interrupted, & have not until now resu=
=med my pen as I shoud have done, on receiving
half a letter from you the 12^th & not waited until
your letter of the 14^th was delivered, respecting Miss
Bowcock – I deferred writing until I had decided
about another Lady whom I had seen & have
written letters respecting character &c, & expect
I may have answerd it by Saturday next, it
is probable I may engage her services, but on
receiving answers to my letters I will write to
[vertical left margin] moisten the wafers more when you seal your letters.
[new page]
Miss Bowcock, {^to whom I sent now enclose a letter} that she may be no longer in sus=
=pence about my situation my respects to Miss
Mangnall to whom I am obliged for mentioning
to Miss Bowcock my wanting and assistant
M^rs Holmes stoped ten minutes only in War=
=rington consequently coud not call of you, your
Uncle Hatfield has been very ill & is much reduced
But is better by the last account we had, M^rs
Holmes will relieve Miss Hatfields anxiety a
little, & chear your Uncles spirits her visit
now will be particularly acceptable – I am
glad to find you make long days, & that your
time is fully occupied & so well arranged.
Music takes much time to make a pro=
=ficient in practice, but the science has its use
if that be not attained, get as much of both as
more necessary avocations will permit I thought
the lines on the ash tree woud please you,
M^r Bibby continues removing vegetative beauty
[new page]
to substitute artificial deformity & you will return
to stone walls instead of Hawthorn bloom, but
within doors you will having nothing to regret,
for our affection continues luxuriant – what
Books you send for I will seek an opportunity
to send
Hatfield Tho^s & Dorothy have had severe
Colds some time, they are getting better your
Grandmother Elizabeth & James & myself &c &c
are well & unite affection to you – Miss Bagnall
& Ann have left us the latter was married on
Monday sennight & is on her way to Cumberland
to spend a week, of her we have a great loss, what
kind of substitute Maria Roberts will be found
in time you shall be told – my Brothers servant
Mary was married on Sunday last to an American
Sailor – our friends in Lpool & this neighbourhood
are {^well & all} enquire after you frequently – M^rs Walpole
as her two children is but in a delicate state.
Your Grandmother & I desire our respects to
Miss M & I am my [damaged] your aff^e Father
When you write say how you all [damaged] Tho^s Nicholson
[new page]
Miss M Nicholson
Miss Mangnalls
Warrington
[change hand] Gateacre March 18^th 1807
T Nicholson to M A N
Rec^d 20^th March
Ans:^d 26^th March