Dear Madam,
When I observe the date of your Letter
to M^r Benson it strikes my mind with much
concern, that it has not Till now been in my
power to answer it at a more early Period, my
own long confinement and A sick nursery must
plead my excuse, for that alone has been the cause
but thank God hope I may say the sick
part of the family are now all in a hopful way,
and now my dear madam give
me leave to make our united acknowledgments to you
M^r & Miss Hare - for your affectionate friendship
to our dear Marg^t, on whose account we must ever
Esteem ourselves under the greatest obligations
booth to you, and your worthy friends at Sheffield
to whome we wish our Respectful Compliments
[new page]
with thanks made acceptable, and iff on any occasion
this family could Render them the least service they
may comand it —
On finishing the above I could not avoid
making a long Pause, for this Reason being truly
sor’y my Daughter should have say’d anything in
her Letter to hurt your feelings, believe me sincear
when I say I am convinced the expression was foreign
{^to her} Heart, iff it did escape her Pen. She begs your Pardon
I own we were all much hurt at Marg^t, not writing
as she did not Return to school at the fixed Time
and our uneasiness was very great, but that is now
Pardoned and must be forgot; as the Time now
approaches very near for our Dear girls return home.
I flatter myself you will not think me Troublesome
when I say we wish much to see you in Cumberland.
it would afford us real pleasure could you Promise
us a visit this summer, I think you would not find
the Expidition unentertaining the Lakes with us
being well worth seeing - with M^r Benson and my
[new page]
daughter joining me in best wishes & kind comp^ts
to, {^yourself}and Captⁿ Hare I beg leave to subscribe myself
Dr Madam your very obliged and
Humble Servant
Isabe^l, Benson
Cockermouth April 15 1785
[new page]
M^rs Hare

Dear Madam,
When I observe the date of your Letter
to M^r Benson it strikes my mind with much
concern, that it has not until now been in my
power to answer it at a more early Period, my
own long confinement and A sick nursery must
plead my excuse, for that alone has been the cause
but thank God hope I may say the sick
part of the family are now all in a hopeful way,
and now my dear madam give
me leave to make our united acknowledgments to you
M^r & Miss Hare - for your affectionate friendship
to our dear Marg^t, on whose account we must ever
Esteem ourselves under the greatest obligations
both to you, and your worthy friends at Sheffield
to whom we wish our Respectful Compliments
[new page]
with thanks made acceptable, and if on any occasion
this family could Render them the least service they
may command it —
On finishing the above I could not avoid
making a long Pause, for this Reason being truly
sorry my Daughter should have said anything in
her Letter to hurt your feelings, believe me sincere
when I say I am convinced the expression was foreign
{^to her} Heart, if it did escape her Pen. She begs your Pardon
I own we were all much hurt at Marg^t, not writing
as she did not Return to school at the fixed Time
and our uneasiness was very great, but that is now
Pardoned and must be forgot; as the Time now
approaches very near for our Dear girls return home.
I flatter myself you will not think me Troublesome
when I say we wish much to see you in Cumberland.
it would afford us real pleasure could you Promise
us a visit this summer, I think you would not find
the Expedition unentertaining the Lakes with us
being well worth seeing - with M^r Benson and my
[new page]
daughter joining me in best wishes & kind comp^ts
to, {^yourself}and Captⁿ Hare I beg leave to subscribe myself
Dr Madam your very obliged and
Humble Servant
Isabe^l, Benson
Cockermouth April 15 1785
[new page]
M^rs Hare