My dearest Miranda,
      I now sit down to give
you a just & faithful account of your
dear Mother's Health, the alteration is
within ten days is wonderful -- & I hope as
the medicines operate  ------  apparently in a
very gentle manner, that, their Effect will
be permanent, she has taken some pills --
powders -- & drops -- which are not disagree-
-able to her -- I should have mentioned
that, the D^r. told her, her disorder was
occasioned by an Obstruction, which he
believed he could remove, & I think he
said that her indigestion & shortneʃs of
breath were the effects of something
collected in her Stomach which he called
slime --
She has slept remarkably well for four
nights succeʃsively -- better than for a long
time -- her breath is greatly relieved; & her
appetite good, she has no head-ach nor
sickneʃs -- she told me to-day that her Legs
are swelled -- & that several blisters have
appeared on her body below her Stomach

---

this the D^r. has been informed of & thinks
favourable. she has no pain, & says that
had she been a fortnight ago as well
as at present -- she certainly should not
have sent to Myersbach^[1] -- she has been
playing at Back-gammon with Catherine
& myself -- & appears to have very good
spirits -- she has an implicit confidence
in the D^r: --
What has particularly induced your Mamma
to go to Myersbach -- is the surprising
effects his medicines have to had on M^rs:
Warton -- whom I saw in May -- very ill
she had a very bad indigestion -- & looked
dreadfully -- she has very slight returns of
the Indigestion -- & can eat with safety things
she has not ventured to touch for years --
her com looks are so improved that every
one expreʃses surprise who sees her --
she is coming to London to advise with him
ag consult him again --
May the truths I have told you my
dear Miranda give you pleasure, I
shall be very happy to send you intelli-
gence as agreeable in future.

---

I did not perceive that I had written on
half a Sheet & meant to have added a few lines.
I give you many thanks for your kind Letter,
did you know, Miranda, how great the satisfacti-
-on with which I receive what you write, you
would wish you had opportunities to make me
oftener happy.
You ask me to give you my sentiments res-
-pecting the Event now in suspence, & in
which my dear Catherine is so nearly interest
-ed I am really not able to judge, her judge
-ment is I think to be depended on & she
best knows -- or at least can best judge --
whether she will be happy in giving her hand
to M^r: J -- I believe he would make her a
good Husband. & I think with you -- that
we may presume -- he loves her, his conduct
towards my Sister has been that of a
Gentleman, & bespeaks him a man of true
honour & delicacy -- I do not recommend it
to her -- nor do I disapprove of it -- she does not
take it unkindly -- that I have not
intere taken any part in it, for she knows
I love her with tenderneʃs

---

Your advice to her was very kind, & you
were very amiable in acting as you did,
I wish -- ardently to see Catherine happily
settled, -- but I should be miserable if
I were to chuse for her -- it is I think
probable -- that she will accept this Offer,
but keep -- this my dear Miranda, within
your own breast --
I have another Sister, whom I wish too
to to see -- happily married -- if that man
might be found who should deserve
her. I leave you to gueʃs whom I
mean -- & I permit you to censure me
if I have taken too great a freedom in
giving her the name -- yet my
Affection might efface the fault
Adieu my dear Miranda --
                             Yours --
                                       Anna Maria
▼
Saturday Evening.
James Street^[2]

Bell sends her Love -- your Mamma --
is not able to bear the Carriage now --

Oct^br. 1778^[3]