Autograph letter signed : Shipley, to [George Dyer], 1824 December 19.

Telling Dyer that her sister Matilda Betham (an author and miniature painter) had asked her to write and let him know "how grateful she feels for your kind remembrance of her and how much she was vexed that she was not allowed to see you when you were so good as to go so much out of your way for the express purpose"; adding that his attention to her reassures Matilda that she has not been forgotten by everyone; writing that their brother Frederic went to see her and "found her very well in health and in tolerable spirits"; adding that they hope their father William Betham will visit her at Christmas; quoting from a letter by Matilda in which she writes that "not having strong exercise & having a lively imagination which works in her sleep (not having play when she is awake)," she is troubled by "distressing dreams, generally of those most dear to her, especially my father, which depresses her spirits at times though aware that it is foolish to allow them to do so and she says that she cannot help thinking he is ill and sometimes dead and that we are keeping it from her"; mentioning that she wishes she lived nearer to Matilda so that she could visit her more often; asking Dyer if he would write to her and saying that Mr. Jolly has promised to let her have his letter; adding "I hope most earnestly too that your suggestions with respect to Books &c will be attended to"; thanking Dyer for his interest in Matilda's welfare.