Tinwell Dec: 27^th 1768

I am much oblig’d to my dear
M^rs Hare for her kind Congratulations, which I daresay
are very sincere, as I am sure it wou’d give you
pleasure to hear I was married to a worthy man, with
whom I hope I stand as fair a chance for Happiness
as can be expected in this uncertain state; I am
not thank God at that romantic time of Life, that
looks for nothing but Joy {?&} rapture; every situation
[damaged] Life has its’ alley to counterbalance its’ pleasures
I have married a man in whom I hope to find a
sensible Companion, of a sincere & tender Friend, & a
protector, from the insults of the World - in this
expectation I have reason to hope I shall not be disap
-pointed, if I am, I own I shall be less happy than
I look’d for.- my situation in Life will not be less
Elegible than it has ever been; I have married a Gentleman
a man of character; & whose situation will always
secure us both respect.- So that I think my
prospect seems to promise fair.- We have a good old
Parsonage House, where I have formerly spent many happy
Days, a sweet Garden, & a post chaise; so that I think the
old maid has done very well for herself at last.
[new page]
I write this in some uncertainty
whether it will find you at Sheffield or not, but
as you mention’d nothing of returning to Woolich
I venture to direct to your Father’s where I hope
it will find you - - I am sorry to hear you have
had so poor a state {^of Health} as I find you have had
of late: why dont you have a Bairn? it wou’d do
you good, what the deuce are Tomma & you about
two fine young Folks, one wou’d think you wou’d
have had half a dozen by this time.
Pray when do
you go to Woolich? I hope Tomma won’t take it
into his Head to go back by Sleaford, because
we lie in the Road to Stamford. Woe betide him
if he does. - we are but a mile from Stamford, &
whenever you come that way, you had better never
see my Face, than pass us by.- but there is no
need to wait for that, you know I shall always
be happy in seeing you, & when the Weather &
Roads are good I shall hope for that pleasure. -
Coll has been with me
Ever since I was married; but I am afraid I shall
lose her soon; she is going to spend some time at
Mr Knowles’s, & then his to be with my Sister in
Town: I shall have a great loss whenever she goes,
[new page]
but I hope it will add to my dear Fanny’s Happiness what
it takes from mine, & that must be my consolation.
Dont you begin to think
Emily Montague long before she makes her appearance:
I am afraid you do, & so do all her Friends; but she
thinks of launching forth soon after the Holidays, I hope
she will meet with a kind reception & indeed I do not much
fear it. I have been a vast deal better of my old complaint
these last three Months, Dr Armstrong did me a great deal
of good. I have not wrote so long a Letter since I was
married: adieu my Dear Girl,
Yours very sincerely
S Digby
Coll & Mr Digby join me in
Compliments to you & Mr Hare.
Direct to me at Tinwell near Stamford Lincolnshire
[change in hand]
I must just say how does my dearest Nancy and my old
Friend Tomm[damaged] Sally has left me room to say no more.-
Don’t you [damaged[?thi]]nk my Friend has given me the slip cleverly
-here am [damaged[?Poor]] I left all alo[damaged[?ne]] and aloney, ‘tis time I lookd
about me and so I will [damaged] am determined. Adieu Heaven
[damaged[?bless]] you and all you love. I: Collier
[new page]
To
Mrs Hare at Mr Elliotts
Sheffield
Yorkshire

Tinwell Dec: 27^th 1768

I am much obliged to my dear
M^rs Hare for her kind Congratulations, which I daresay
are very sincere, as I am sure it wou’d give you
pleasure to hear I was married to a worthy man, with
whom I hope I stand as fair a chance for Happiness
as can be expected in this uncertain state; I am
not thank God at that romantic time of Life, that
looks for nothing but Joy {?&} rapture; every situation
[damaged] Life has its’ alley to counterbalance its’ pleasures
I have married a man in whom I hope to find a
sensible Companion, of a sincere & tender Friend, & a
protector, from the insults of the World - in this
expectation I have reason to hope I shall not be disap
-pointed, if I am, I own I shall be less happy than
I looked for.- my situation in Life will not be less
Elegible than it has ever been; I have married a Gentleman
a man of character; & whose situation will always
secure us both respect.- So that I think my
prospect seems to promise fair.- We have a good old
Parsonage House, where I have formerly spent many happy
Days, a sweet Garden, & a post chaise; so that I think the
old maid has done very well for herself at last.
[new page]
I write this in some uncertainty
whether it will find you at Sheffield or not, but
as you mentioned nothing of returning to Woolich
I venture to direct to your Father’s where I hope
it will find you - - I am sorry to hear you have
had so poor a state {^of Health} as I find you have had
of late: why don’t you have a Bairn? it would do
you good, what the deuce are Tomma & you about
two fine young Folks, one would think you wou’d
have had half a dozen by this time.
Pray when do
you go to Woolich? I hope Tomma won’t take it
into his Head to go back by Sleaford, because
we lie in the Road to Stamford. Woe betide him
if he does. - we are but a mile from Stamford, &
whenever you come that way, you had better never
see my Face, than pass us by.- but there is no
need to wait for that, you know I shall always
be happy in seeing you, & when the Weather &
Roads are good I shall hope for that pleasure. -
Coll has been with me
Ever since I was married; but I am afraid I shall
lose her soon; she is going to spend some time at
Mr Knowles’s, & then his to be with my Sister in
Town: I shall have a great loss whenever she goes,
[new page]
but I hope it will add to my dear Fanny’s Happiness what
it takes from mine, & that must be my consolation.
Don’t you begin to think
Emily Montague long before she makes her appearance:
I am afraid you do, & so do all her Friends; but she
thinks of launching forth soon after the Holidays, I hope
she will meet with a kind reception & indeed I do not much
fear it. I have been a vast deal better of my old complaint
these last three Months, Dr Armstrong did me a great deal
of good. I have not wrote so long a Letter since I was
married: adieu my Dear Girl,
Yours very sincerely
S Digby
Coll & Mr Digby join me in
Compliments to you & Mr Hare.
Direct to me at Tinwell near Stamford Lincolnshire
[change in hand]
I must just say how does my dearest Nancy and my old
Friend Tomm[damaged] Sally has left me room to say no more.-
Don’t you [damaged[?thi]]nk my Friend has given me the slip cleverly
-here am [damaged[?Poor]] I left all alo[damaged[?ne]] and aloney, it is time I looked
about me and so I will [damaged] am determined. Adieu Heaven
[damaged[?bless]] you and all you love. I: Collier
[new page]
To
Mrs Hare at Mr Elliotts
Sheffield
Yorkshire