1808 HANDWRITTEN AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED TO ROBERT FOSTER, FUTURE FATHER IN LAW

Extremely rare handwritten letter of great interest to collectors or researchers of ENGLISH QUAKER LIFE. ROBERT SPENCE, Quaker banker, ALS, North Shields, dated 1808. Three pages, 4to., plus integral address leaf. To his future wife's father, Robert Foster, Hebblethwaite Hall, near Ledberge, Kendal. This letter is the nexus of a correspondence that will last nearly five decades between these two English Quakers - bound by blood, religion and soon matrimony - Spence begs to be allowed to visit Hebblethwaite now that Foster has learned of his attachment to Mary. Very sensitively written and in many ways a proposal of marriage but much more than the simple face value of the words may be read between the lines as Spence appears very defensive for not having spoken to Foster first. Simply sensational English Quaker historical autographed letter. VG.