My dear Friend
Shall I once more call you by y^s name tho I have forfeited it indeed by my negligence I am afraid you will have but little charity for me but of all things don’t attribute it to forgetfulness or want of respect I have many times determined to sit down & write but always something or other has happened to hinder me we have had Mr Scott here 3 weeks & I don’t think we have been without company these 6 weeks & we have this day an Aunt {^Mrs Ja^s Pearson who died 1815 aged 88 note this is in a different hand} from Bolton to spend y^e week with us. Lucy told me Mr Din----e was at your house she is not yet return’d to school & indeed is very unwilling Mrs Armitage told us it was in your choice whether you went or not I hope you get y^e spoon I sent by him. We have had several jaunts into y^e country since I wrote you last & very pleasant ones indeed. My dear woud you think I was so foolish as to cry out y^e thoughts of Mrs {?Irindens} speeches but indeed I was my Papa was say^g I shoud not want to go again you know my answer I’ve enough & I thank you [?sat] with him talk^g about it it brought {?Mary}
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King afresh to my mind & I told my Mama y^t she told me once I had a “Mamma Papa & Sisters going to Heaven & I was going y^e broad road to Hell” & I really coud not forbear cry^g so my Mama says don’t mind you are far enough from her now but o Miss Hodson if it shoud be true how awful my case y^t has had so many priviledges & slighted them all but I hope my dear you & I will meet at y^e last day on y^e right hand of Christ. Miss Sally Medly & Miss Roscow went to Northampton I think ye 17^th or 18^th of July I told Miss Medly what sort of a person her [illeg] is & she was very low about it but I said never fear you’ll be a favorite I dare say. I was y^e other Day to drink tea at Mr Dinwiddies My Sister & Mama were out of town with Mr Scott {^Rev^d} M^r and M^rs Peakwell were in Man^r {^Rev^d Jonⁿ Scott of Matlock he died 1807 note this is in a different hand} last sabbath but one he preach’d from 1 Corr 1 Chap 22.23 v24 these was a very crouded Church I was there & a great many of our people Mr Scott & my Papa were there to & Mrs Peakwell came to our timber yard to [damaged] him preach in y^e evening. Mr Priestly returned home on Friday M^rs P by & most of [damaged] family are from home yet.
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Pray have {^you} heard from Miss [damaged] yet it is very odd she never writes but I suppose she is took up at home & so busy y^t she don’t think of us. I don’t find y^t we shall see Chester (as soon as we both wish) Pray present my Papa & Mamas respectful comp^ts & they are much obliged to them {^Mr & Mrs Hodson} for their kind invitation Mamma is very poorly & has been two or 3 days My sister is very well begs her love to you & now pray do forgive me not writing sooner & write soon y^t I may know mean while
I remain
Your affectionate
Friend R Clegg
August 7 /81
I am asham’d of y^e writing but look over faults & write very soon
Note in a different hand the Rev. Hen. Peckwell at the time referred to, he preached in St Ann’s Church. He died 18 Aug 1787 aged 40 years.

My dear Friend
Shall I once more call you by y^s name tho I have forfeited it indeed by my negligence I am afraid you will have but little charity for me but of all things don’t attribute it to forgetfulness or want of respect I have many times determined to sit down & write but always something or other has happened to hinder me we have had Mr Scott here 3 weeks & I don’t think we have been without company these 6 weeks & we have this day an Aunt {^Mrs Ja^s Pearson who died 1815 aged 88 note this is in a different hand} from Bolton to spend y^e week with us. Lucy told me Mr Dinwiddie was at your house she is not yet returned to school & indeed is very unwilling Mrs Armitage told us it was in your choice whether you went or not I hope you get y^e spoon I sent by him. We have had several jaunts into y^e country since I wrote you last & very pleasant ones indeed. My dear would you think I was so foolish as to cry out y^e thoughts of Mrs {?Irindens} speeches but indeed I was my Papa was say^g I should not want to go again you know my answer I’ve enough & I thank you [?sat] with him talk^g about it it brought {?Mary}
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King afresh to my mind & I told my Mama y^t she told me once I had a “Mamma Papa & Sisters going to Heaven & I was going y^e broad road to Hell” & I really could not forbear cry^g so my Mama says don’t mind you are far enough from her now but o Miss Hodson if it should be true how awful my case y^t has had so many priviledges & slighted them all but I hope my dear you & I will meet at y^e last day on y^e right hand of Christ. Miss Sally Medly & Miss Roscow went to Northampton I think ye 17^th or 18^th of July I told Miss Medly what sort of a person her [illeg] is & she was very low about it but I said never fear you’ll be a favourite I dare say. I was y^e other Day to drink tea at Mr Dinwiddies My Sister & Mama were out of town with Mr Scott {^Rev^d} M^r and M^rs Peakwell were in Man^r {^Rev^d Jonⁿ Scott of Matlock he died 1807 note this is in a different hand} last sabbath but one he preached from 1 Corr 1 Chap 22.23 v24 these was a very crowded Church I was there & a great many of our people Mr Scott & my Papa were there to & Mrs Peakwell came to our timber yard to [damaged] him preach in y^e evening. Mr Priestly returned home on Friday M^rs P by & most of [damaged] family are from home yet.
[new page]
Pray have {^you} heard from Miss [damaged] yet it is very odd she never writes but I suppose she is took up at home & so busy y^t she don’t think of us. I don’t find y^t we shall see Chester (as soon as we both wish) Pray present my Papa & Mamas respectful comp^ts & they are much obliged to them {^Mr & Mrs Hodson} for their kind invitation Mamma is very poorly & has been two or 3 days My sister is very well begs her love to you & now pray do forgive me not writing sooner & write soon y^t I may know mean while
I remain
Your affectionate
Friend R Clegg
August 7 /81
I am ashamed of y^e writing but look over faults & write very soon
Note in a different hand the Rev. Hen. Peckwell at the time referred to, he preached in St Ann’s Church. He died 18 Aug 1787 aged 40 years.