| Description | (On the same sheet is a draft of Cheshire’s reply, 30 Aug.)
Sir,
The interest so humanely taken by Mr. Boulton in the welfare of poor Widow Stevenson, and your kind promptitude in forwarding his charitable plans on the occasion, induce her to think it a matter of duty not to conceal from such tried friends any thing that relates to the destination of herself and family.
Having no pen which she can so readily use in this narrative as my own, I take the first convenient opportunity of communicating the following facts. Mary Stevenson, finding it impracticable, in this retired spot, to contribute by her own exertions to the maintenance of her young Family (for the support of which the weekly parochial allowance of six shillings is far inadequate), is removed with her four children to the neighbouring town of Newent, about six miles distant, to try the experiment of keeping a day-school there. She reach’d that place in safety, and is well satisfied with her prospects there, having already a few scholars entrusted to her care, and being in hopes that perseverance and attention to her charges will procure more. Tho’ she met with much disinterested kindness in the removal of her family and her few goods, yet there must have been unavoidable expences in this new scheme, to which her purse is unequal.
She hopes Mr. Boulton and you will approve this arrangement; of the motive, I presume you will concur in opinion with me, that it is commendable, and I cordially wish its prudence will eventually be proved by success.
The widow begs you to present her love to her son John, and her grateful respects to Mr. Boulton, with every thankful acknowledgement to yourself. Considering you as a fellow labourer with me in promoting the comforts of the distressed, I remain, sir, with best wishes, faithfully yours, etc.
Hy. Gs. Ds. Yate
PS. My compliments await on Mr. Boulton.
[After this are written the following words in Cheshire’s hand, being a draft of his reply of 30 Aug.] Mr. Boulton, on the eve of a journey to Lemington, to which place he went on Monday last, gave me directions to send two guineas to the Widow Stevenson thro’ your obliging hand, which I accordingly did yesterday in a parcel by the coach, directed as this letter. The date of your letter being two days antecedent to that of mine, and post mark’d Hereford, 28 Aug., I am in hopes that it may be in your power to account for my not being in possession of it before mine was sent off, otherwise it may appear to you that I have acted disingenuously, and that my parcel was the consequence of your last letter—which I did not receive ’till this morning
I shall embrace the earliest moment after Mr. Boulton’s return, which I expect in a few days, to lay before him your narrative respecting the Widow Stevenson, and I doubt not the measure which has been adopted of placing her in a situation affording a prospect of contributing by her own exertions to the maintenance of her family will meet his approbation.
If it will not be giving you too much trouble I shall be glad if you will have the goodness to enable me to mention what further sum you think at this time needful. Mr. Boulton’s charitable donations always flow spontaneously and the object in view wou’d certainly be rather impeded than accelerated by any thing like dictating to him on the occasion; notwithstanding which I cannot help thinking that some kind of estimate shou’d be laid before him of the extent and precise nature of the present want, which no one is so well qualified as yourself to make a computation of in that economical way which is most conducive to permanent charity; and with these views I hope to be excused for the great liberty I have taken, remaining, reverend sir, etc. etc. |