Letters,
References and Notes (1846-1847)
Relating to
Anne Marsh (Marsh Caldwell)
The following is a listing of letters, references and general notes, from 1846, relating to Anne Marsh (Marsh-Caldwell) and her family, in particular her husband Arthur Marsh and their son Martin Marsh. For notes relating to other years please go to Letters, References and Notes (1780-1874).
Letter from Anne Marsh (Marsh-Caldwell) to her son Martin Marsh, 2 February 1846. This letter and most of those for the rest of 1846 are written on paper with a black edging presumably as a mark of respect to Anne' father-in-law William Marsh, who had died 1 January. The letter reads as follows:
Monday Feb 2nd 1846
My dearest Martin
Now begins my answer to your delightful Journal letters. It
certainly is the most beautiful of inventions though I miss your
darling voice and merry jokes. I seem to know full as much of
your mind and to give you as much or more of mine at Oxford as at
Eastbury. Now first about this £10 note. Your father
cannot help thinking that you must have dropped it or lost it.
His accounts tally with the supposition that he gave you £50, so
pray endeavour to recollect where you first took out your money and
the adventures of your money afterwards. I do not know whether
you have even a purse to keep it in or whether you huddle it into
your pocket anyhow, prepare for a little scold. No one can be
more careful or acconomical [economical] than you are in spending
your money, but I suspect you are careless in the keeping of it.
This is not very wise, and perhaps not quite right as it exposes
those about you to temptation. I believe you once lost a £5
note out of our drawer here, a thing that gives me considerable
uneasiness. I should like to know who was housemaid at that
time. Let this be amended dear son mine in future, as I am
quite sure it will. In the mean time we will send you another
£10 note as soon as you wish for it. Now for your
letter. You have decided quite rightly about the coach and I am
not sorry to have to be coach a little longer. It is a great
pleasure to me, and I think we understand one another so well that
for the present we shall get on very well together. I am likewise
very glad you have taken to your Mathematics and are going to master
decimals, and all other necessary things in their turn. It
would provoke me to have your mind halting on one leg and your
life. I would advise you to arrange your hours as to take all
the hardest and least pleasing work first. You are like me in
one respect I perceive. When you are exhausted, you cannot get
through what is really hard, and you are rather sooner exhausted than
you ought to be. You will probably by habit become every year
capable of much more work without this disagreeable testing of
fatigue. It seemed to be very ungracious to send you your books
without a line. I was excessively busy that day, so busy that I
could scarcely give orders about the . . . even. We are so
poorly furnished in divinity, except those two huge tokins of Baxter
and Bonow[?], that I really had no choice left, Paliys[?] Natural
Theology is a very favourite book of mine. Not so much for the
argument sake, though I think that managed in a masterly manner but
for the cheerful views it gives one of the divine government in this
natural world of ours. It fills my own heart with love to the
divine author of so much beauty and happiness, and a sort of
childlike confidence if I may use the expression with reverence
arises when I consider the minute love and provision made for all his
feeble creatures. Creatures which to us appear as sincerely
worth regard are none of them forgotten to his infinite
benevolence. I am glad of all you say with regard to
Kirtlington[?]. We must make it a rule to do on our own side
all that is right to cultivate and preserve advantages acquaintance
leaving all the rest to them. Now what have we been doing.
On Monday Albert Pell came and spent two days the mornings of which
were entirely occupied in laying out the . . . for your father in
Barroughs[?] Hill, and in the evenings in agonizing over the coin
loss with us. He was very pleasant. We had a great
commotion with Clarke, who went and sold all the hay, without even
consulting with your father who was at home all the time. I
don't think the bargain was a very bad one though concluded in this
hasty and unjustifiable manner and I hope the check he received upon
the occasion has taught him who is master upon this farm. I do
not think Albert Pell thinks much of his farming, however it is
certain that the farm is in a very different condition as to produce
and cultivation to what we have ever had it before. On Thursday
Col Eden came down and stayed all night the talk was more of
drawing than any thing else a matter that has a good deal ceased to
interest me. Marty[?] went home with him. George went on
Saturday. Your father and Louisa took him for I was not capable
of so fatiguing a journey. They were greatly disappointed in
the aspect of Messers Shoten[?] and Mager[?], themselves any thing
but gentlemen. Rather orse and ouse sort of men, but the school
seemed well managed as far as the material went, and we hear such a
high character of it, that there is I hope no reason to be anxious,
though anxious I am. We have not heard from him yet. He
will find it after all more comfortable than the Blue Coat, and I
fancy to rough it a little will teach him to know himself and others
better than I quite suspect he does. Farewell my dearest and dearest
again, light of my eyes and joy of my heart, and all sorts of foolish
expressions come to the end of my pen. Your tender Mother.
Sparke is very well and we love him and pat him as his master or
himself could wish.
Letter from Anne Marsh (Marsh-Caldwell) to her son Martin Marsh, Monday 23 February, presumably 1846 (but possibly 1845?). The letter reads as follows:
Monday February 23rd
My dearest Martin
It really is fortunate as it will be so long before you get a better
room that you have had so mild a winter. 7 weeks seems a
very long time before we shall meet, but as I am very busy finishing
my story for Mr Chapman which story is very abhorrent to my
soul, and will I fear not be what I wished to make it. It
becomes in such a case a very nervous painful and exhausting task to
write, but it is a duty, and duty consoles. The money will
enable us to make head against the expenses of this year and it may
please God to bless our endeavours and enable us when this year is
over to draw sufficient from the farm to maintain our place in this
dear spot. I am answering your letter as you will
perceive. I come next to your temperance in which I heartily
rejoice. I believe there is no way save those odious cigars, in
which health and power are so much thrown away as in the induced and
careless use of wine. A little I believe to be a good thing for
almost every constitution and the fine way is to do as you do, give
yourself an allowance such as you think fit of wine and adhere to
it. Your health God be thanked seems excellent. I never
hoped to see my delicate nervous little boy, so healthy and high
spirited a young man. I believe under his blessing it has been
greatly the reward of your own prudence and good sense. Your
constitution now evidently strengthens every year and you will I hope
by the time the battle with the Law begins find yourself quite equal
to it. I like your being of the Freemasons, yet what an odd
sort of feeling it gives me to hear that you belong to a secret
society. There have been times when such secret societies were
very awful and imposing things but such times are over. It will
show you a new side of that human nature which you never can study or
practice too much. Posy is no better at present and I am uneasy
about her. I could fancy however that there is some little
amendment today, though it does rain and is a sort of day upon which
all the . . . feels . . . Skip has been sitting tete a tete
with me all morning. I have taken the little middle room for my
sitting room and the poor fellow rejoices himself in my fire and
sofa. Yes I think Mr Shaw's[?] speech was a very clever and
interesting one, and Mr Disraeli's on Sunday (I think it was)
excellent. We have heard of it was praised much in town.
He has given it well to Sir Robert Peel , and pulled his fine speech
to pieces. Mr Hudson[?] too the railway king, spoke very well
it is said. I thought his speech read very well in the
Newspapers but one cannot very well tell by that whether it was
really an effective one. The cause of Protection[?] seems to be
gaining ground by everybody's account. I cannot answer your
agreeable account of where you have been and what you have seen, by a
relation of any adventures of my own. I have been no where and
seen only Mrs Clutterbuck who has just been here, and whom I always
like to see though our talk is only of our husbands, farming and our
children's health. Clarke goes next Monday his behavior has
been of an insolence perfectly astonishing. He refused to go
away, and said he should go when it suited his convenience upon which
your father's blood was up and he told him, he thought Clarke had
been as much mistaken in his character as he had been in Clarke's,
and that he was only a weekly servant he would have him to know and
could be discharged that very day and should be. Upon which the
gentleman made his excuses, and it ended by your father allowing him
a week instead of a fortnight in which to remove his family.
Your father has engaged a young man recommended by Mr Herxmon[?] as a
regular working foreman, and old Shelling[?] is to come and
superintend from time to time. It was the best plan we could
hit upon. I am sorry Clarke has turned out such an ill
conditioned fellow for upon the whole I think we were doing pretty
well, and your father will have more . . . and anxiety under the new
system. I fear things are looking well but we shall not get so
much for our hay as we had hoped by I fear 50 or 60 pounds.
Food however is very cheap after this open winter. Farewell
dearest Martin. I have got a bad headache, and will end my
tiresome stupid letter which really is not worth sending.
Ever my dearest boys tenderly affectionate Mother.
Letter from Anne Marsh (Marsh-Caldwell) to her son Martin Marsh. Dated Wednesday, with Feb 23 1846 added in pencil. This was filed after another letter which was dated Monday Feb 23. The letter reads as follows:
Wednesday February 23 1846
My beloved Martin,
This morning your long delayed letter arrived, it had been missent to
Welford, so you must take care in future to make Watford very
legible. They had tried Hertford. Surely never was . . .
so little drawn to fame as our self esteeming Watford, the tradesmen
at least of which consider themselves as among the most important
people on the face of the earth. It would have been a pity
indeed if I had lost your letter, which was most interesting and
agreeable. You begin to write extremely well indeed and your
description of Dr Posey[?] might do for a place in a prize
essay. You seem to see this matter in exactly its just point of
view, and to estimate to its full extent the mischief of that sort of
. . . satirical interference with men's consciences, which carries
such a specious plausible appearance, and which having been so long
met in the Roman C. Church has been found productive of such immense
evils. Most of the horrible causes into which the members of
that Church have at different periods of history been betrayed, may
be . . . I believe to this surrender of conscience to the keeping of
other men and thus casting responsibility from a mans own self upon
others, and those others misguided prejudiced ambitions short
sighted, as other of our imperfect use, and often from their peculiar
circumstances particularly exposed to the temptation of all those
crimes which were from heaven views and a desire of spiritual
domination. The great triumph of the Reformation was not so
much the enlightening mens minds upon this or that doctrine, as the
general emancipation from priestly sway which was then affected, and
which as long as priests are men, there will be always an effort to
restore, your young neophytes with anxious looks drinking in every
word of their reverend preacher as if it were a revelation from
heaven was quite a picture. It is curious how men love to be
deceived, or whether perhaps I should say love to make unto
themselves idols. We marvel when we send the old testament at
the obstinate propensity on the part of the Israelites to make unto
themselves Idols of wood and stone, but if we would look . . .
as we should see the same propensity inside another form in the
tendency of mankind to erect to themselves idols of flesh and
blood. Scriptural simple rely in and Christ for the divine head
and only head of the Church, is a . . . lly that the human mind of
this day seems to find as unpalatable as that of the Unity of God was
to the ancients. We are living in strange days and I believe in
the midst of a vast social revolution if we did but know it.
Old things are fast passing away and a leaf is being turned over in
human history. What you will all have to read on the other side
no one on earth seems to pretend even to guess. To us and those
who think like us these Anti-protection measures appear the most rash
unstatesmanlike and . . . lled for that can be . . . , and the
rapidly advancing prosperity of this country arrested and all affairs
thrown into the utmost confusion , for no one good reason at
all. We read the speeches on each side and find not one single
reason advanced for this change of opinion. By a letter from Dr.
Holland this morning this opinion seems to gain ground he says
proselytes to protection are being made every day and the majority
will be less it is thought than was at first expected, he speaks of
the confusion in which men's minds are thrown and the utter . . . as
to the issues of this most unexampled piece of rash legislation.
We heard an anecdote of the Queen and Lord Melbourne not . . .
, se non e'veso, e'ben trovato. The Queen - Oh my Lord I am become an
Antiprotectionist. Lord M - Are you indeed? Then I'll be
d__d if you don't bring the monarchy about your ears. I see
your warden has been drawing his pen upon the right side. If
all would only exert themselves to the uttermost these fatal measures
might yet be arrested. I was in London on Monday and saw
Mrs.Eden and Miss Morrison and Lady Pell, but heard no news except
that Albert Pell is very staunch in defense of protection. I
really cannot express to you my dearest boy, how I feel your
affection in writing to me when you are tired and weary at night and
I know how hard it is to persuade oneself to take up a pen.
Your affection and piety are indeed sweet ingredients in our life's
cup. I will send you the £10 note tomorrow. I have
not got one till your father returns from town. We sell hay and
get a pleasant sum in every week. I only wish we had 12 hay
stacks to sell instead of two and then we should be very easy, as far
as money went, which is a good way. One cannot . . . though far
from all the . . . way. They are now busy carrying out manure
into the great meadow so I hope we shall have a large crop next
year. Farewell my dearest boy. Ever your most tenderly
affectionate Mother. Good letters from George who seems very
happy and is able to tell us that he has not been reported for
laughing or telling in school nor . . . down for on . . . yet.
So I hope he means to be a good fellow. He writes proud letters
in imitation of yours as nearly as he can.
Letter from William Gifford Cookesley to Martin Marsh. The letter reads as follows:
Eton College
May 2 1846
My dear Marsh,
Many many thanks for your kind promise of Linwood's Sophocles and
Ellendt's Lexicon Sophocleum. They will be most valuable
additions to the library. Pray tell your friends not to send a
Paley, which is already in the library. But would they send
Demosthenes opera and Schafer[?] 9 vols (London. Black &
Young 1836) and Wunder's[?] Sophocles? The Wunder's
unbound is £3.10.0. 14 Wunder about 23 Shillings or 24
Shillings. But they of course ought to be bound. I send
you a list of desiderated books. It was drawn up by
Hawtrey and is not a very good one. Will you speak to
Baston[?] of Baliol, if you know him? To Borlean[?], of
University and Ialfourd[?] of Christ Church, and when I have
also written: will you use your interest with them? Pray settle
a day to visit me. I am delighted to hear of your probable
expedition to Greece.
Ever yours truly,
W Cookersley
I want to have a talk with you de omuilas relus et gruluxden alis[?].
Letter dated 3 May 1846, from the poet William Wordsworth to Ann Marsh, thanking her for writing a dedication to him in her novel "Emilia Wyndham". The original of this letter is now in the Mortimer Rare Book Room, Smith College, Northampton, Massachusetts, USA. The letter reads as follows:
Dear Madam
Pray accept my acknowledgements for your Emilia Wyndham and for the
honour you have done me by the Dedication, and by the manner in which
your sentiments in respect to my writing is expressed . The
book just received by me will I have no doubt be read both by myself,
and the members of my family, with much interest. Wishing that
these volumes may in all respects answer the purpose for which you
have written and published them.
I have the honour to be
dear Madam
respectfully
your obliged
William Wordsworth
Rydal Mount
3 May 1846
Emilia Wyndham was Anne's most
well known novel. Originally published in 1846 in London by
Colburn, in Paris by Galignani and in New York by Harper &
Brothers, all in the same year. It went on to at least 9
separate issues including one in Leipzig by Bernh Tauchnitz Jun in
1852. The last issue may have been the 1875 issue in the Select
Library series by Chapman & Hall, London.
The dedication to William
Wordsworth printed in the front of Emilia Wyndam reads: "To
William Wordsworth, ESQ., one from among the countless numbers of
those deeply indebted for the advancement of their moral life to the
fine influences of his poetry, offers this imperfect tribute of
admiration and gratitude".
Letter from Anne Marsh (Marsh-Caldwell) to her son Martin Marsh. Dated Monday 4 May and in pencil 1846. The letter reads:
Monday May 4th 1846
My dearest Martin,
In the first place I have the pleasure to send you your book on Latin
Prose which Adelaide found in the Schoolroom at last. She did
not know what sort of book to look for and took it for granted it was
a bound one. In the next by this post I shall send you a Post
Office order for £5. We have been disappointed of some
money, and therefore I cannot conveniently send you any more this
week, but I hope to be able to send you some more next. We hope it
will do if we send you the money to pay for your rooms about the
middle of the month when our tythes come in but if that is too
late pray send me word immediately and I will endeavour to get the
money. If my Chapman and Hall come in sooner you shall
have some of that immediately but I think they are inclined to wait
till the noise about Emilia Wyndham is over before they bring out the
Romance in which case I shall be delayed in getting my money. I
do not like if I can help it to sell any of your Railroad shares as
they are so low now but they are evidently rising and will be I hope
at a good price before it is long. Now for this Greece.
Both your dear father and I most passionately desire to give our
excellent son this pleasure and advantage. The first thing to
learn is what the probable expense would be. Do you think
£100 would do it? Suppose you are absent 60 days and at a
pound a day travelling . . . and £40. For gap
stopping I cannot help hoping it would be hardly so much. We will
immediately set about considering ways and means for it. It
would be such a pleasure to give you this little reward for the
happiness you have ever been to us both. The going with Mr
Lucas is such a . . . advantage, and you would see so much. Well let
us have your estimate dearest Boy. I think Posy is better but
she mends very slowly, however I shall not think of moving her till
the weather is more settled and I want to get my present work off my
hands and make sure of those funds before I leave home. I am
very much pleased with the success of Emilia Wyndham. If they
can but sell this edition there is the £100 ready for the Greece
of my beloved boy. If they sell 700 copies there is half of
it. I cannot help hoping that at least this £50 will fall
to my share. Then a man wants to buy some of the couples and if
he will offer a good price he shall have some of them which will make
the farm swim of itself for some time. I think I have now gone
through your dear letter and will recite our adventures. They
have been few enough since you went. On Friday last Fanny and I
went up to town to dine at Mr.
Frederick Holland's in Chester Street. We met Mrs Grace[?]
and Lousia Holland his sisters. A Mr Baillie[?] a very
agreeable charming looking person, the son of the late Dr.Baillie[?]
Mr Lake[?] a nephew of these here Lakes, a clever agreeable man, a Mr
Rawlinson[?] son of the Police Magistrate a somewhat clever lawyer
and Lady Bell[?]. Emily came in in the evening looking lovely
as usual. I am afraid poor Harry is sadly disappointed about
his scholarships. He went to one of the Examiners and asked
about it. The Examiner told him that by his papers he observed
that his hand must have ached. They seem to think this a
consolatory sentence. It does not strike me as such. The
rest was better that his improvement had been so great and his
general conduct was so good that they hesitated whether to give it
him, but could not in justice refuse it to the superior excellence of
the other papers. Frederick Holland
spoke of Harry in the very highest terms, I do believe he is an
excellent fellow. Have you heard from him I wonder. Mr
Lake[?] talked so aristocratically that till I found him out I
imagined he must be a Feroope[?] or a Jermingham[?] at least.
It really is a disadvantage to have such cousins bearing ones name
after the Tales of Pinner. Still I cannot fancy him a gentleman
though he has quite the manners of pretty nearly one, and is
certainly very intelligent and agreeable. On Saturday Emilia
and Blanche Lyon came but Mr.Lyon did not appear, he was on guard
which prevented him. He talks of coming down today but time
passes and he doth not appear. The Queen Dowager does come to
Castenbury[?]. She has taken little Castenbury[?] in addition
and so we lose the Blandon[?] Capels[?] which is a great loss to us
and she wants Nascot[?] in which case we shall lose the
Clutterbucks[?] which will be a still greater, and so royalty will
not do much for us. Lord Epesthis[?] is short about £6,000
that is all and people think he might as well have stayed where he
was and saved it. He goes to Paris they say where Lady
Epesthis[?] will soon spend more money than they will save . . .
. . . walking into her husbands room the other day with £4,000
dress bills to be paid. We are busy carrying in the Bark today
which they say is capital as is some of the timber. Now the
leaves are coming out the adored Eastbury does not look very much the
worse. Now Farewell beloved boy ever your tenderest of Mothers.
Letter from William Gifford Cookesley to Martin Marsh. The letter is dated 10 May 1846 and reads as follows:
Eton College
May .10. 1846
My dear Marsh,
I herewith send you a catalogue of the Boys Library, premising,
however, that since it was made out, some 4, or 5, . . . volumes have
been added. They have got Hammond's Paraphrase. But only
Brundes[?] Aristophanes . . . Bekker's Mitchell's, Kusten's[?]
(especially) or Birgler's[?] Aristophanes would be a useful
book. I thank you very much for the interest you take in the
library. When may I expect to see you?
Yours very truly,
W.G.Cookersley.
Letter from Anne Marsh (Marsh-Caldwell) to her son Martin Marsh. Dated in pencil 12 May 1846. The letter reads:
May 12th 1846
My dearest Martin,
Greece seems to take a form and a shape. I see your dear kind
generous father cannot bear the idea of not giving you this
pleasure. He feels it is an opportunity of showing you how
dearly he prizes your good conduct by indulging what we see is a wish
so near your heart. Ride it as you will dear boy. It will
be a great pleasure because your mind is filled with images which
will people the lovely present with the still more beautiful and
glowing past and teach you what is a most important truth to know
that a cultivated intellect is the highest of worldly
possessions. That without it the scenes of this life are but an
idle meaningless picture of forms and colours such as a Raphael would
be to the eye of a child, which with it are instinct with meaning and
the deepest interest. You must take sketch books and journal
books with you. Sketch books while you are with us at
Whitsuntide. I can give you a few short hand notions of how to
take short hand sketches. Not such as are of any merit as
artist but infinitely valuable as an aid to memory and
observation. Could I envy my son, who is myself, my life.
How should I envy you sailing upon the Ionian sea among those
exquisite isles and under that blue heaven, or walking over the
fields of Linetha[?] and Marathon, and above all Troy. If your
funds go out in Herrs[?] Yacht you will to be sure have a great
addition of possibilities, added to your plans. I am in great
hopes that Emilia Wyndham really will be clever enough to furnish the
means for this expedition, and then will she not be a proud
woman? I like your acquaintance with Bosworth, a man whose line
of prejudice, for all minds of the age of yours are better led by
imagination and prejudice than by reason and . . . How
should they help it, runs counter to your own. It is good for
you both. It is that communication with the world forms the
understanding and mere solitary thinking deforms it. I admire
at your energy and hope in soaring for the highest height, even if
you attain it not, which please God you may and will of lofty
aspirations, advancement always comes, one shall be higher at all
events for sharing at the highest. I should think Doctor North might
probably be able to give you some good letters if you go to Greece,
and perhaps your Kirthington[?] friends, and others you must I should
think go furnished with all advantages of this sort and use every
face of sanity your home and opportunities will admit. You
startled me with another tale. I should say another
accident. I hope whenever you have a blow upon the head you
will be very careful to consult a medical man. Evil after
consequences are often prevented by proper applications at the
time. It is rather late now but if you have any weight or
headache in consequence pray get the best advice you can
immediately. I wish you would not knock your head against the
ground. Prey send the word if the least inconvenience has
followed this accident. Posy has been very ill this week, and I
was half in despair about her but she is now better again and I
really hope getting well though slowly. We have had the Lyons all
this week and they are here still. Mr L came on Monday and
stayed till Wednesday. He made himself very pleasant, and is a
gentlemanlike nice fellow. On Wednesday we went up and dined
with Miss Morrison Mr and Mrs Morrison the radical cousin, Col Shee,
Lady Drummond and Aunt G. the party. The radical cousin
in high ferther[?] at what he thinks the triumph of his party, and
thanking openly the Church and the House of Lords. Rather
startled Col Shee who is a slow going regular Free Trader of the old
Whig school, and in the simplicity of his heart behind that free
trade was literally the ultimate object of the disciples of Cobden
and Co. Do you see your father in his brief pithy way opening
the Cols eyes and making him stare about him. We dined on
Thursday at the Milmans and met
the Partridges from near . . . bridge. She was a Dashe[?]
of Amersham[?]. He is of a family before the . . . I believe.
People of the world he very intelligent will informed agreeable old
man. She . . . One does not quite know whether . . . or
rough but I incline to think the last which in a fine lady one does
not so dislike. Such praise of Emila from William
and Mrs [Matilda] Milman, it really was gratifying.
Farewell my dearest. Such weather, such pasture! Such
thriving lambs and such healthy looking cows and stock, such an air
of plenty and peace at this sweet dear place. It looks as if
the blessings of God if one may say so in humble gratitude and not
presumption was upon it
Ever your loving Mother.
Letter from Anne Marsh (Marsh-Caldwell) to her son Martin Marsh. Dated 19 May 1846. The letter reads:
May 19th 1846
My dearest Martin
Adelaide would tell you that I was quite knocked up at last by my
sweet Posy's sever attack on Friday, and was obliged to put off
writing my letters. I have been able to keep her from any
return since and she really seems gaining a little strength, and
consequently my mind is relieved from great anxiety, and I am
beginning to feel a little better myself and can at last sit down and
answer the delightful letter of last Sunday. It was delightful
of course to me, for nothing can give me greater pleasure and pride
than to be of use to my beloved and valued son. I do flatter
myself we did that mile well, and I hope we shall finish the second
volume equally to our satisfaction. As soon as I can get these
tiresome manuscripts off my hands I shall set to and study it to be
prepared for coaching perfectly. I am not a little pleased that
I was thought to be right in some of my criticisms, particularly as I
think the principles of which I embattled would lead by a covert
way. Much the most dangerous of ways to Atheison[?]. I
forget (for my memory begins to fool me), the exact nature of the
prepositions that I then object to, but I recollect well that their
tendency as I thought it, was what made me in earnest upon the
subject. He is wrong too (if I recollect right) I thought in
denying existence of entities. I think he says there are only
two existences things and the ideas of things and I think we agreed
that we worked an expression for what was neither a palpable object
not the idea of it, as justice hath mankind and c and c. I see
Carlyle in his life of Oliver Cromwell uses the word entity
with much effort in this sense. I have nearly finished this
strange but interesting book. He appears to me quite to prove
his main point, that Oliver was no . . . but a thoroughly devout
Puritan. Some of his actions he cannot quite clear from the
suspicions of . . . ambition and calculation, but in the main he
certainly seems to come out, a man devoted to great objects and
purposes of which Religious liberty seems to have been the main , and
certainly a nobler object than that of securing the rights of
conscience. It would be difficult for a man to propose to
himself. There are very few of his letters in existence.
I want to get at those that were your grandfathers and are now your
fathers and see whether they cannot be intercalated . The plan
of the book is one I must admire, to intercalate Cromwell's letters
and genuine speeches with a sort of running commentary to put one in
possession of the current history of the time. One is sorry to
find so little genuine . . . as there is, but one has the
satisfaction of feeling that it is genuine. I quite agree with
Mr Rice as you well know with respect to coaching. The best men
by all means, and by all manner of means a man to yourself.
Your account of Mr Wall is exactly a description of the man you want,
so I hope you will get him. The farm is going on in my opinion
very prosperously that is it pays its way and looks busy and
thriving. It is the opinion of Farnes (to whose opinion I
attach a good deal of weight) that it never was going on so quietly
and well. I think he must know much better than any of us, as
whether we really are well rented or not. I suppose your
sisters have told you of all the engagements which have been all in
their line and not in mine. They are going to the C. . . ball
tomorrow night but I shall not choose to leave Posy. So your
father has consented to take them, with heavy groanings of the spirit
you may be sure. I like William Lyon. He is as free from
finery affectation or nonsense, as anyone can be, and was as busy
making cakes with your sisters as ever you could be with Mad.
Dohl. Farewell my dearest boy. It will be a terrible blow
if Mr Lucas does not after all got to Greece, but I think such a
misfortune cannot befall us. You are in the middle ages where
you are, with your old carved . . . large fire places etc etc but who
is Christie that the good . . . at B & C reminded you of.
Ever my loved boy's affectionate Mother.
Spark[?] is sitting in a state of supreme felicity by Posy on her sofa.
Letter from Anne Marsh (Marsh-Caldwell) to her son Martin Marsh. Dated in pencil 26 May 1846. The letter reads:
Monday
My dearest Martin
I shall send down £5 to be sent you by a P.O. tonight. You
ought to get it tomorrow, Tuesday that is. If you do not
receive it give me a line but it if comes safe to hand you need not
give yourself that trouble. Dr Holland
was here on Thursday and he decided that Posy's . . . had better be
put off till the middle or latter end of next week. So I shall
not have the mortification of being away when you are at home, and we
still have time to discuss all the plan. At all events I
intended you to come down to me at Southampton for not to see you
before you went to Greece was not to be thought of. I have
quite set my heart upon your going if Mr Lucas goes. If he does
not go, I think it will be wiser to reserve ourselves for what is
sure to arrive some opportunity of travelling in company with him or
some other clever men. If it were not for seizing this
advantage I should say this was not the year of all years as we would
employ our long vacation together as I flatter myself greatly to your
advantage. I have cleared off all my business for the present
in order to be at your disposal in case the scheme of Greece fall to
the ground, but I heartily hope it will not and that you will be
indulged in this rational desire. I should hope that though an
only son it may not stand in your way as it must be well known that
your father is not rich. The Warden must be aware of this, and
his offering you the Jackson showed it I think. There are
however plenty of Fellowships to be had I suppose and if you succeed
in the grand object of taking a good degree I should hope this most
important object may be secured it is, indeed, of vital importance to
us all, and I do not allow myself to think that in some way or other
you will not be able to accomplish it, but sufficient for the day are
these anxieties, and the day demands of us all to labour cheerfully
in our several ways and trust under the blessing of God to keep our
heads just above water. There was a notice of Emilia Wyndam in
the John Bull which pleased me comparing the Author's view humour to
that of Addison and Molière . This was
pleasant, as the humour of Addison is always reckoned particularly
refined. I hope I shall get my next £100 which will very
nearly do your journey though I fear not quite for the time is longer
than I calculated upon. It cannot possibly be done in two
months, however that does not weaken my resolution that if Mr Lucas
goes you go. All things on the farm are going on in a
flourishing manner and one thing or another goes on which enables it
to pay its way. We shall have between 30 and 40 pounds more for
hay as there is a saving made upon the rick, that was not for our own
use. Our lambs and sheep will pay well this year, and the young
cattle are coming on in a way that it is beautiful to behold. I
think L . . . will suit as well. I told you he had Farnes's
good word, and I think he seems an honest well behaved man.
Posy is gradually mending. She has now been 8 days without any
attack except the one brought on by Dr Holland's
visit, which of course . . . her a little. Our not going will .
. . up the grand schemes for the Pic nic. It will resolve
itself into a quite affair, but I leave the whole management to your
sisters. They will write to you about asking John or Foster,
for I want him to come again very much. This place is really
inenviably lovely this spring. I never saw it I think so
charming in spite of the fallen trees, which except in one or two
points are . . . . . . Farewell my dear boy.
Your ever affectionate Mother.
I rejoice you have seemed well. With a great coach you will
find study quite a different thing and life as interesting as ever it
was again.
Letter from Anne Marsh (Marsh-Caldwell) to her son Martin Marsh. Dated in pencil 9 June 1846. The letter reads as follows:
June 9th 1846
My dearest Martin,
A short letter must do for today as I am immersed in business which I
believe is the classical term for over head and ears. I am glad
indeed my dear boy that what you think of with such great pleasure as
your tour in Greece seems really about to be realized, but I must
have all dates and particulars immediately the day you are to start
and the money you will want as no time must be lost in procuring it
for you. You had better direct your next letter here and it
will be forwarded to me as I do not know exactly when we shall be at
the Isle of Wight. Posy goes on charmingly. We dinned at the
Milnes[?] Goschells[?] yesterday, and I had a good dose of incense,
but offered in so polite and almost affectionate a manner that it was
impossible not to be gratified. I hope we have made a valuable
acquaintance, and it is a house I shall very much like to introduce
you to. There was a very nice party, a Mr.West, Lord
Delaware's[?] son a very gentlemanlike young man, a clergy man, a . .
. hat but whose name we did not learn, very clever and pleasant a
young man of the nobles whose name I have forgotten, very pleasant
too. Young Dr.Phillimore[?] and Lord Morpeth[?], who came there
I believe to get acquainted with the author of Mount Sorel and
with whom I had a regular good talk in the evening. Mr and Mrs
Goschell themselves are very nice people indeed. He is a great
Protectionist so your father was quite in the element he loves.
Dr.O'Sullivan breakfasted with us yesterday. He took up all my
time so that I could not possibly get a letter written. I like the
Giffords exceedingly . Scott has imbibed very gentlemenlike manners
at the Foreign Office and got leave last night to come down
again. They are all gone fishing. We have a right of
fishing from Dr.Whites farm to Watford which is Sonetts[?] but we
have got leave for them at Harper Mill which is a better place.
We want you sadly and I would be ten times as happy if you were
here. Finally my dearest Martin don't forget particulars
of time and money in your next. I am so busy I can't write a
word more. Most tenderly yours.
Letter from Anne Marsh (Marsh-Caldwell) to her son Martin Marsh. Dated Sunday 15th and in pencil1846, filed as the last letter (after 9 June 1846). The letter reads as follows:
Sea View [Isle of Wight]
Sunday 15th 1846
My dearest
Martin,
I do not like to write on Sunday but I am anxious not to lose a post,
because I am not sure what day it is that you come home.
Whether Tuesday 17th or Tuesday 24th. In the first place we
shall be quite delighted to see Mr.Garth. That is, those who
are at home for for me Alas! I shall not be able to get back to meet
you without shortening Posy's stay here more than I ought, so I hope
you will come down and see us here for one night. On your way
to London, if you come from Eastborough in the Coach to Kingston
which is only three miles beyond Richmond and stay all night the
train will take you to London the next day. I must see you
before you go. I should be perfectly miserable if you went away
and I had not seen you. But in this way I hope you will be able
to accomplish the meeting. The sum you require is less than I
had set you down for. £140 will be yours and I hope you
will have all the enjoyment we wish for you, your dearest father and
I. I cannot doubt but you will find all the improvement and
enjoyment you anticipate for you go out with the proper dispositions
and preparations, eyes and not no eyes. Your father writes me
in high spirits about his bark and timber which Shilling seems in a
way to dispose of far more than we dared to hope. This will I
know be a pleasure to you as well as to learn that your Grecian
journey is provided for without inconvenience to any one. And
now for the last and sweetest portion of your letter my beloved and
treasured son. Few mothers meet with hearts like yours to work
upon. I fear, were there more such sons the task of parents
would be blest indeed. Your affection and your grateful heart
do more for me than make me happy. They . . . my faith and hope
in God, and my confidence that sooner or later through his infinite
mercy and love, a happiness is reserved for his poor failing
imperfect creatures too for whose comprehension or words, the return
I have received from you, from your goodness, your piety your energy
and your young mans purity and virtue. The loveliest moral
sight under heaven, has been already beyond all hope, and your
affection and friendship crowns the cap of my happiness. As far
as my son is concerned it has pleased the all mighty to fill it to
overflowing. We are likely to be very happy though very quiet
here. Posy is gaining strength every day and I hope to bring
the little darling home quite restored. Never were 17 weeks of
tedious trying illness borne as that little angel has borne
them. We have a fine sea and about 100 yards from the
house. There is lovely bay called Priory Bay with the woods
dropping into the water. The air is soft and mild as I never
felt it anywhere else and fait que voadeas is the motto of the
place. Our friendship my dearest Martin to return to that part
of your letter to me so dear, will I hope last my life and that
confidential interchange of thought which has made me feel as if I
know your heart and mind better than that of any living
creature. Such effusions are for myself, except when I share
them with your beloved father whose genuine affection for me makes
him sympathic in my joy. Your direction is quite right and . . . as.
Ever your tenderest Mother. Write as soon as you can and tell us
whether you can come down to us here, because as Posy says otherwise
we must come and meet you. I find Louisa directing your letters
on. The direction is at Mrs Grenhams Sea View near Hyde, Isle of Wight.
25 June 1846. Letter from Arthur Cuthbert Marsh to his wife Anne Marsh. Addressed to: Mrs Arthur Marsh, at Mr Greenhams, Seaview, near Ryde, Isle of Wight. The letter bears a letter seal in black wax of the Marsh family crest of the horse head. The letter reads as follows:
Eastbury, 25 June
1846
My dearest Anne
Martin will leave us this afternoon
& I hope he will reach you by nightfall & deliver this. I enclose
the draft for . . . [Harkins?] (one of the Liverpool mortgages) £17.9.6 which I
hope will be sufficient. I am sorry to say that I am hard up & if I
don't receive . . . [farfas?] tomorrow (as I hope to do) I shall be obliged to
apply to my friend again to enable me to pay wages: last week I paid more than I
have done in any week since I have been here £31 odd. We have completed 2
Ricks, but we have made & carried nothing since Monday night & there is
more grass down than I quite like. I am sending off to the Railroad, the
first invoice of Bark about 6 Tons I think; the carriage . . . [W Bermondsley?]
will cost 10/6 per Ton which is not unreasonable, but when I come to deduct this
charge, & those for . . . [Hatching?], Bagging & Discount, . . .
[Compression?] from the £11 per load I find that I shall not do so well as if I
had sold it for £3 per Ton, as Rough Bark! This is encouragement for
exertion & trouble it is not? I rejoice at what you have heard from .
. . [Mr Shohert?] & for your sake am still more gratified at Frank
Wedgwood's notice from Shrewsbury; Still I am uneasy at our prospects &
sadly want you home again. You must remember to write your name at the
back of the Draft (. . . . . . [eades mior?]) when you pay it away: it
will be due on Saturday so I trust you will heed no difficulty in getting it
cashed at Ryde: Should you want a £ or so more perhaps Martin can supply
it & I will repay him when we meet at York Gate on Saturday. You will
of course let me know for certain when I may expect you; I think you had
better Rail it to Pinner on account of your baggage. The day has cleared
up & we shall I hope . . . [easy?] some Hay this afternoon as well as drill
the Swede Turnips. I have been looking at the mangles & carrots.
They are partially weeded & when quite . . . [clear?] I think these will be
a tolerable plant, far more than I expected, but . . . [make haste home work?]
at all these interesting matters yourself. My love to my dear girls . .
. The weather now is lovely & I . . . [feel?] that my Posy will make more progress in the
last week of her stay than she has done before. It was to hot to go to
Church last Sunday, hot as it was. Ever my dearest Anne your own
affectionate A.
6 August 1846. Agreement on Copyright between Anne Marsh and Richard Bentley regarding "History of the Reformation in France" and "Norman's Bridge". The document is not written by Anne but is signed by her. It is stamped with a crown monogram, dated 16.4.46 London. British Library 46614f326. The agreement reads as follows:
Mrs Marsh 2 Works History of Reformation and
a Novel. Copy of "Hugenots" for 10 years from day of publication.
Norman's Bridge.
An agreement made this sixth day of
August 1846 between Mrs Marsh of Eastborough Lodge, Herts, of the one part, and
Richard Bentley of 8 New Burlington Street, London, publisher of the other
part. The said Mrs Marsh agrees to write an original work on the History
of the Reformation in France to form two volumes being 8vo of about four hundred
and fifty pages in each volume, and to place the MS of the same in the hands of
the said Richard Bentley for publication in the course of November next
ensuing. And the said Mrs Marsh hereby agrees to dispose of, and the said
Richard Bentley agrees to purchase the copyright of and in the said work for the
period of ten years from the day of publication for the consideration hereafter
stated viz: 1st The sum of One Hundred and Fifty pounds , from which shall be
deducted by way of discount the sum of Two pounds and Ten shillings for prompt
payment which shall be made in the said Richard Bentley's promissory note for
the net sum of £147.10.- at two months date from the day of delivery of
the manuscript of the said work. 2nd The further sum of Fifty Pounds
subject to a deduction of two and a half percent, as discount for prompt
payment, in the said Richard Bentley's draft for the Net sum of £48.15, when the
sale of the aforesaid work shall have reached five hundred copies. It is
also agreed by and between the aforesaid parties that the said Mrs Marsh shall
write a work of fiction, to form three volumes post 8vo of not less than three
hundred pages in each volume; the subject to be left to the author's choice and
the MS of such work to be delivered into the hands of the said Richard Bentley
for publication in the course of the Spring of 1847. And the said Mrs
Marsh hereby agrees to dispose of and the said Richard Bentley agrees to
purchase the copyright of and in the said work of fiction for the period of four
years from the day of publication for the consideration of Three Hundred Pounds,
subject to a deduction for discount of Five Pounds for prompt payment which
shall be made in the said Richard Bentley's promissory note for the net sum of
£295 at two months date from the day of delivery of the manuscript of the said
work of fiction.
In witness whereof the aforesaid
parties have pursuant set their hands.
Anne Marsh.
It is recorded that Martin Marsh, the only son of Anne and Cuthbert Marsh, did travel to Greece but died tragically 10th August 1846 in Athens. Both his parents and his six sisters must have all been utterly devastated.
22 September 1846. Letter from Hannah Roscoe to her sister Anne Marsh just after the death of Anne's son Martin. The letter is addressed to; Mrs Marsh, Eastbury, Watford, Herts, England, via Ostend. It is sealed with a black R for Roscoe. Postmarks include HOMBURGH 22 Sep 1846, ALLEMAGAN PWR HERVE 24 Sept 1846, FRANCO, CL 26 Sep 1846, WATFORD 26 Sep 1846. The letter reads:
Bad Homburg
Frankfurt
sur Heie
Sept 22 [1846]
Mr
Mullers
Strausse Dorothea
My
dearest Anne
It was an
unexpressible comfort to receive yesterday a few lines from your own dear
hand to see the Christian fortitude & submission with which you have
received this most trying depravation. Heart I well know in you could not
fail but also there your strength has been equal to your day that you have found
the support which I believe all will who cast themselves on god thriving to have
one of the most blessed parts of a . . . [house?] mission it was to teach us how
to suffer, but the flesh is weak & such a sorrow is such subduing anguish
that I almost feared to hear your breath had failed under it. We are very
grateful to our dear Fanny for having sent us so many interesting
particulars which affected as all very deeply. I well know that all these
testimonies to the value of the measure which has been taken from us though they
in some degree add to the sense of the inextricable loss and yet soothing &
gratifying, most particularly where the highest value is of a kind not merely
suited to the passing world, but of a nature to find its highest
development where it is transplanted. Blessed mothers are we both in that
we can have no doubt that our beloved ones are safe in the fold of Christ , only
do I daily greave that I am not mere mortal to join them there. I feel as
if I had borne my trial with so much less composure & submission than you
have done. My only excuse is that my mind was much weakened by previous
suffering & anxiety [her daughter Elizabeth Jane Roscoe 1820-1846 had also
just recently died]. Alas my poor Anne how you comforted &
strengthened me as we lay on the bed the day before I left you, even though the
blow had fallen on you which made you the one to require comfort, if comfort in
such a case could be given at first. You must have had the account very
soon after. Had it been before certainly I should not have gone & much
disappointment & anxiety might have been spared, yet perhaps as regards
that, it has its advantages. William [her son William Caldwell Roscoe
1823-1859] is surprisingly better during the week that he has been able to bathe
& drink the waters, & I hope another fortnight may quite set him up for
the winter. He is very grateful & so am I, for the few lines you were
so good as to write to him, he has often said blessed are those who die giving
& it sometimes distresses me to see him sit so light to life, yet he has a
due sense of its value for good ends, & I trust may have health granted him
to make good use of it, wherein I am sure he will if he has. He desires me
to give his most affectionate thanks to you, & to dear Fanny for her most
interesting letter. It is a great comfort that your dear girls, with the
piety which you have instilled into them, are enabled to bear with so much
resignation the loss of so beloved & precious a brother. I have
thought much of Posy in her nervous state & of Adelaide so devotedly attached.
My tender love to them all. Mary has I believe written to Georgy. I feel quite uncertain
about my future plans. It seems almost a pity now we have come so far
& seen so little to return home, yet I feel a voice of dread if remaining
the winter here. If I return to England I would take a lodging somewhere
near London for the winter. It would be no use Mary going to
Liverpool. It would not do on many accounts & she would particularly
dislike it, & there would be . . . [bone?] of the . . . [boys?] therefore
I . . .[hewae?] who will . . .[give out?] lodgings if the house is
let. Sometimes I have thought of . . . [Brufreds?] or some town in
Flanders for the winter, which would bring as nearer home, & we could go to
Paris if we liked in the spring. Do you know anything of any of the
Belgium towns as a winterie residence? In respect to cheapness &
distance? This is a pretty nice place for a watering place. Miles
upon miles of gardens & walks through grounds & shrubberies, to lay out
these seems to have been the great taste of the Landgrave & his family &
to enjoy them the first pleasure of the Germans & duty of the water
drinkers. It puts me very much in mind of the amusements de Spa, to
see the gay groups sitting under the trees or walking about listening to the
music. An excellent band begins to play at six in summer now half past
served to amuse the water drinkers, again in the middle of the day in the
gardens of the . . . [Cursave?] & in the promenade or dancing rooms in the
evening. This . . . [Cursave?] is a fine building containing a splendid
ball or promenade room, reading rooms, refreshment rooms, & most important
gaming rooms, all is often entirely free to everybody, so that in the gardens
the gayest ladies are seen here next to a bare headed German . . . [doudling?]
her child, & in the room ( . . . [apica?] I have only pressed into one
morning) they tell me a Grand Duchess danced in the same set with her tradesmen
all there & the springs are a speculation of two Frenchmen who remunerate
themselves for the immense expense they have been & are at, giving it is
said 500 a year to the band alone by their gaming to all & leaving something
handsome besides, & yet they say it is the most honourable conducted of any
of the German Spars. They offered 200 a year to the English or rather
Irish clergyman the revd James Batter, which he, much to his credit, knowing how
the money was obtained refused, though I am afraid he is very poorly so with a
large family, & the subscriptions on which he depends, do not secure so
liberal as they ought to be from the English. The service is performed in
the chapel belonging to the Landgrave's chateaux , as soon as the Lutheran
service is over. The pews are not to be compared to . . . [Jack?] church,
but a part at the arch is glazed off for the family, none of them are
here. We have been through the vows, by no means equal to a nobleman's
house. The Princess Elizabeth seems to have been very industrious,
painting on velvet a set of chairs & . . . [sopha?] for one of the state
rooms. The . . . [doain?] are just as she left them, full of all sorts of
objects as the French say cabinets glass, china etc etc some very trumpery,
others very handsome numbers of portraiture, so the royal family of [Cuylovd?] ,
& the Loved grower, a German princess, some interesting, mostly ugly. . .
new place. An excellent library both in her apartments, & in the state
ones & in the last the most curious specimen of inlaying I ever saw: the
entire walls of a small room covered with it. Most curious emblems &
inscriptions which I could not understand & all kinds of patterns, all
formed of differently shaded woods & seems to be very old. In her
bedroom is a most painful picture of . . . [George?] when bleed, & a pretty
stool forming a bed, worked by Victoria as a present to her Aunt. The old
Swiss who went round with us spoke very affectionately of her Georgey will I
hope write to Mary before long for I shall feel very anxious for a further
account of you all. The air here is delightful. Mr Baxter told me he
used to suffer very much from asthma, but has never had a fit since he came to
reside here two years ago. They call on all the English, it must be very
fatiguing. I do not think there would not be a pleasanter place to spend a
few weeks in the summer for those who have plenty of money & many
acquaintances & have spirits to cater into the quietness of the place.
It is not so dear as a fashionable English watering place but by no means cheap,
we find everything almost at London prices: of course we will not be so anywhere
in the winter. At Frankfurt we remonstrated with the washerwoman &
said it was more than we should pay in London on which she only said "Frankfurt
is a very fine place too". I hope I have not tired you with all this
gossip, you will of course have laid down my letter whenever you have had enough
of it. I hope G will write as soon as you get this, as we shall very
probably be here just long enough to receive it. I suspect the letter to
Bonn has been lying in London from the inland postage not having been paid as I
have had notice from the . . . [Geneva?] Post Office that there is one there for
me. I have begged William order to get it & forward it. Farewell
dearest Anne. May God support & comfort you, he will no doubt &
has. My kindest regards & most affectionate sympathy to your
husband.
Yours most tenderly HE Roscoe.
19 October 1846. Letter from Hannah Roscoe to her sister Anne Marsh. The outer addressed to Mrs Marsh, Eastbury, Watford, Herts. Postmarked Heidelberg 19 Oct 1846, another postmark 22 Oct and another 24 Oct. The letter reads as follows:
Heidelberg
Poste
Restovei
Oct 19th [1846]
My
dearest Anne
My dear boys are just off, & I feel
more inclined to write to you, than to do anything else. I have not
written by them, partly because I had not time having three letters to write
which I had promised to send by them, & wished to lose as little as I could
of their last few days, & partly because I wished you to receive my letter
before seeing William. If William has no return of illness to detain him
on the road, they hoped to be in London on Saturday, & if so, he means to go
down to Eastbury on Sunday, if you would like to see him & can give him a
bed, which I have ventured to be sure you will, but should it not be convenient,
I hope you . . . [can venture?] some way of sending him a line on Saturday if
you should not get this till that day, but I hope you will have it on
Friday. I have been anxiously looking for a letter from you, but if you
were not able to write in time to catch us at Hamburg, you would perhaps not
know, for I do not recollect whether I said, where we should be
afterwards. It will be a fortnight on Wednesday that we have been
here. Most unfortunately William got a little cold before we left Hamburg
increased it on the way here & by being imprudent in going about when first
we came here, which brought on a return of his troublesome complaint much . . .
[slighted?] than before, but I would not let him set out whilst the least
tendency remained, as travelling seems to bring it on; though it is very
inconvenient both to him & Arthur to be so long from their work, however I
could not have been at all happy if Arthur had not remained to accompany him
home. When he is settled in London he says he shall be well & I hope
he will, but I fear he has great delicacy . . . [often?] situation & will be
very unequal to his arduous profession. I endeavour to impress upon him
the extreme importance of his life & health, & that he must not look
upon himself as a single man, but as one who has many of the duties of a
husband & father to fulfil. A short time before we left Hamburg, I
received the sad letter which you wrote to me on the 3rd of September. I
cannot express to you how deeply I feel your kindness & affection, in
writing to me so fully at such a time. I cannot read it over even now,
without tears of sympathy, & admiration at the spirit of resignation it
manifests. These feelings are excited in everyone who knows you, they are
no real comfort, yet to be loved & appreciated excites a soft & tender
feeling in the midst of the heaviest afflictions, which seems to take something
from their bitterness. When the treasures of our love are taken from us,
there seems some little gratification in feeling how much is excited in those
who we like, & even in those not immediately connected with us. Mrs
Henry Roscoe said in one of her last letters, that she has not ventured to
write, to write to you. How I honour her for her self command & noble
faith. It is one of the deepest pleasures of life to see calamity borne
with such a spirit. I wonder who that old gentleman was who came into our
. . . [treuie?] (I do not know where she was going) the day the news reached
London & told me of the event, he seemed so deeply deeply affected? H
[Harriet] Martineau was praising Mrs Marshes heroic & exacted
character, & said she had heard from a gentleman who knew her well, that
anyone who witnessed her conduct during the Fauntleroy affairs, & the
leaving Whitehall to practice the most rigid economy, & the giving up all
those advantages, she knew so well how to prize & . . . [adore?] can tell
what Mrs Marsh is, & the nobleness of her devotion". I do not know
whether you will like me to send all these details, but one likes to be
appreciated. Perhaps you can guess at both these gentlemen, which I
cannot. This is certainly take it altogether the most beautiful place I
ever saw. The ruins of the castle magnificent perched on a rock which rises at
the top of the steep hill clothed with wood, now dressed in the . . . [lovely?]
& most brilliant autumn . . . [tints?]. Wooded & rocky
hills rise far above & extend along the banks of the . . . . . .
[hechar to a far?] some miles; on the opposite side beautiful high hills,
gardens vineyards half way up, then low woods, the clear & rocky river
running through this enchanting valley, & then to the west issues a fertile
plain studded with towns & villages to join the Rhine which when the sun
shines glitters like silver thread about 7 miles off. The beautiful walks
& rides seem as if they could never be exhausted, & almost every step
affords new views, each one a picture worthy of an artist, but requiring the
greatest . . . [tative?] to do it justice. Last evening the sun broke out
just before setting, & flooded the castle & woods which we see from our
windows with the most exquisite light, a rainbow arching overhead. We have
decided on remaining here for the winter if nothing unforeseen occurs to call us
home. Two of William Hutton's sons, friends of William who are here, have
kindly undertaken the instruction of Frank in classics & mathematics, which
William thinks will be very advantageous to him as they are very clever, &
agreeable society for us. Mrs Erskine gave us an introduction to a Mr
& Mrs Browne, who are very pleasing indeed, & extremely kind in giving
us advice & assistance, & much disposed to be sociable. Mrs B
tells me he was at college with Robert Mackintosh . . . [&?] on his card is
. . . [16 Chester Square?] . . . [in her,?] Millington. Do you know
anything of them or their connections. Mr Boyd is the English chaplain,
(an Irishman) & his wife & daughter are also very civil to us, & we
have become acquainted at the table d l hote with a young clergyman of the name
of Robertson from Cheltenham who preached yesterday, & gave us one of the
most beautiful & excellent sermons I ever heard in my life, & one which
might with the exception of a few words, have been preached in any Unitarian
chapel, the human example afforded by the death of Christ. Next Sunday we
are to have a sermon from him for the benefit of the famishing Irish. I
see no newspapers, but I hear the accounts from that unhappy country are
dreadful. We have had a good deal of difficulty in procuring lodgings, but
at last have engaged them at the house of one of the Professors, whose wife is a
pleasing young woman, & speaks English. She cannot however allow us a
kitchen, so we must have our dinner sent in, which is rather more expensive than
providing for ourselves, but it saves a great deal of . . . [trenoce?] in many
ways, & the wages & keep of a servant. Our lodgings are to be
45fl. Not quite £4 a month with the allowance of a servant to arrange our rooms
& serve breakfast & tea. Dinners sent in for 3/4d a day for
four. . . . [Tuet?] candle & breakfast & tea we provide. So
I expect our board & lodging will not be expensive. We must economize
now, for travelling & living at hotels, for so large a party so long a time
has . . . [neu?] away with a great deal of money. I believe this thin
paper is a humbug. I pay the . . . [some whole oir?] kind my letters are written
on: but as this is so thin I venture to send half a sheet more. I am
reading Father Darcey [by Anne Marsh, 1846] which I desired Arthur to bring from
England. I think it extremely clever and powerfully written & like it
more than I expected. Mary desires me to say to Georgy with her kind love
to her & all her cousins that she had meant to write to her by William but
she found I meant to write to you today, thought it would be more acceptable a
little time hence. I desired JW to order a little book to be sent to you,
which I found very soothing in my first great sorrow. I wish you may do
the same: not that it will say much that your own mind & feelings would
suggest, but sometimes it is easier to read than to think. I have not had
a single line from JSC [their brother James Stamford Caldwell] since I left
England. Pray mention him when you write, & pray write as soon as
possible to your tender affectionate
HE Roscoe.
Kindest love to your dear girls.
Letter from Anne Marsh (Marsh-Caldwell) to her daughter Posy (Rosamond Jane Marsh). This letter is complete with envelope, both with a wide black border. The envelope is addressed to Miss R J Marsh, Mr C Barnardistone[?] Esq, The Ryes, Sudbury, Suffolk. It is postmarked Watford 23 Oct 1846 and Sudbury 25 Oct 1846. The letter reads as follows:
Oct 23rd 1846
My
dearest Posy,
I send
you a P.O. for three pounds if that is not enough, let me know in time. I
think you had much better wait to come with Mr.Barnardistone[?] as
Mrs.Barnardistone[?] is so kind as to ask you. I think my dear child you
seem really getting on again under the love of this kindest of friends. My
dear love to her. Her books are in London. I shall go there next
Wednesday and will write the names in them and send them off. You must
return, my love, for the visit to Mrs Morrison must be paid, and as soon as
possible. I hope after this bad October you may have a mild . . . At
all events I hope the visit will not undo what the . . . has done, but it must
be paid, there is no remedy. Thank dear Adelaide for her letters, we all
find them very entertaining. I will write to her soon. I am very
busy with my history now and find the occupation interesting, though when
it is over the tide of regrets seems to set in with more force than ever.
Fanny and Mary set out today for Ramsgate and I have
only that dearest Robinetta to stay with me and play the part of a daughter, is
not that strange. Louisa I expect tomorrow. I do
not feel afraid of being alone. I am as I have heard someone say, my tears
and thoughts are food enough for me but I am well and wonderfully
cheerful. I am glad to hear a good account of both you dear girls and glad
you enjoy the thoughts of coming home but take care your admirable friends do
not mistake such feelings, and misconceive what you feel for them. I have
sent you a paper which you will sign and return to me, by next post. The
P.O. will arrive with this letter. I have been writing to Miss Page[?]
Turner[?] to enquire did you see in the papers or has any one told you that Sir
Edward is dead at Tunbridge. Mr Noth[?] and Emily come for two nights on
Monday. I have bespoken Emily for a longer visit when you return.
Dr.H has been in Poland and Gotheim! Farewell my Posy, dear, love to Adelaide, to Mrs Barnardistone and
Louisa. Your dear Mother. I have written so many letters today this must
be brief.
26 December 1846. Letter from Hannah Roscoe to her sister Anne Marsh. The letter is addressed to; Mrs Marsh, Eastbury, Watford, Herts, England, via France. Postmarks include STRASBURGH 26 DEC 1846, HIDELBURGH 27 DEC 1846, BO 1 JAN 1847. It has a black letter seal with the impressed monogram HER The letter reads:
How could you believe - dearest Anne that I would dislike or misconceive
what you call your polemical outbursts, or receive it as any thing but an
additional proof of that tender interest in my happiness, which is one of the
most precious treasures, I have left on earth. Our interesting clergyman
from whom you hope so much, left us very soon after I received your
letter. I hope and trust that his excellent & beautiful discourses
& the advantage of his society will have had a permanent effect in elevating
our religious views & feelings. He has a peculiar talent of conversing
with ease on religious subjects, of leading others to be the same, by opening
the heart to religious sympathy & of making one feel as if one could confide
all ones feelings, on such subjects to him, combined with the taste &
manners of a well bread man of the world, which I never met with in anyone
before, but he made no effort to convert us to his own private views: it was far
more agreeable, I think beneficial to us all, to converse on those points which
we believed & felt alike, than on the few in which we differed, & he has
very much the same opinion as I have on conversing that such opinions as have
been adopted on sincere earnest conviction, with prayer for assistance are
probably those most suited to the individual mind in short that the great point
is that each one "should be fully persuaded in her own mind". This does
not include the idea that opinions are of importance, & preclude the wish
that those which we believe to be true, & therefore most calculated to
produce the greatest degree of virtue, & happiness should prevail, but only
the fear in any individual case of controverting those in which have been
adopted unless manifestly prejudiced to religion & morality, lest I should
be unable to give anything instead that would be equally advantageous to
individual progress. Thus were I to endeavour to acquire your views, of
what I believe you mean by the Divinity of Christ (for in his Divine mission I
am as firm a believer as you could be) but by which I fancy you mean a superior
nature, it would cast me a sea of metaphysical contradictions &
inconsistencies which would in my mind have any effect at other than that of
increasing my faith, it would take from Christ the beauty, the simplicity, the
humility, the human affections, the human sufferings which make him so . .
.[pecutivey?] our brother the perfection of human, the object of human
love. I do not deny but that I believe that is in many of those who
believe his divine nature a stronger more intense love & dependence, than in
those who regard him as by nature mealy a man, but then I think there is a
danger of this love being given as to a God, & that it is taken away from
their undecided love which ought to be given to the Father alone. You say
that without your views Scripture would be unintelligible, to meet would be so
with them. In no part of Scripture so much as in St John's gospel does
Christ speak so decidedly of all knowledge & power being given him, not
inherent, see particularly . . . [Le.g.v19. Le.ol.v.26 & o L.12. o 44
& 49. C.14 u.10?] the whole strength of all his arguments for believing in
him I receive the promises of Christ as the promises of God sent by him but I do
not attach my faith to words, but the whole character of the Christ, "God
manifest in the flesh" mind manifest showing as in one of like nature of
ourselves, the feelings of God to his creatures, & the dealings of his
providence towards "the word made flesh". The whole will of God
exemplified in a perfect human being. Then as to the advantages &
disadvantages of the orthodox views, & . . . [huitasiouesne?] , I am quite
willing to allow that you have much more faith & more elevated religious
feelings than I have, but then I think this arises much from your possessing so
much more feeling & imagination than I do, & from my sinfulness
interfering with my convictions more than from any difference in our
opinions. When I think of my dear Mrs Edward Roscoe, lying for seven
months on that bed of exquisite pain, with the head of Christ . . . [covered?]
with thorns hung at its foot, I cannot but think her faith which was the most
undoubting, I ever knew, sufficient for her, though she never even . . .
[faultered?] than I am in rejecting any thing divine in the nature of
Christ. Most deeply as I feel the extraordinary excellence, beauty of that
character of your beloved son, formed upon the principles you advocate, I will
not allow that the one I have lost, & was at last of those whose remain
yield even to him in aspirations after heavenly men . . . [express?], in earnest
desires to do the work & will of God on earth. In the general effect
of the two systems I think as far as I have observed, that if Unitarianism has a
tendency to verge towards rationality which however most of them, utterly
reject; yet the contrary has a tendency to vest in form without spirit, or to
place a true faith too much before the discharge of duty, & if the orthodox
faith may, as I think it does, produce a more decorative spirit, towards Christ
particularly, our views produce in general more truthfulness &
contentiousness of charm, but indeed I believe in sincere & earnest hearts,
there is enough of real Christianity in both systems all I might say to produce
the fruits of the spirits in not quenched by our own faults. Certainly my
dear Anne I never can become what you call a Church person. Beautiful as I
allow many parts of the Church service, to be the oftener I hear it, even when
read by such a man as Mr Robertson, who gave it, its fine beauty, the more cold
& unspiritual does it appear in comparison with the prayers I join in at
home, but there we are particularly fortunate in that particular.
Certainly the . . . [levitacian?] view of our young days, was cold enough but
then we must recollect that it was a period of general indifferent . . . in
religion. How there is rising among us, a set of earnest, devoted, self
sacrificing young men, who are quite changing its spirit. And now I must
beg you to forgive this long homely, when one enters on such a subject, very
interesting to me, it is difficult to restrain one's pen. Next I must
thank you for your kindness to my sons, but I must not only beg but insist that
you will not let them intrude on your kindness, only ask them rarely as I know
it must be a great tax, to have two coming upon you & by no means consider
it necessary to ask Arthur so often as William, as he cannot poor fellow, pay
for his entertainment by agreeableness. How thankful I am to receive on
the above so good an account of you, & that you have had the courage to go
on with your writing. There is nothing like work in these sad cases, as I
well know by experience. It is I believe true, that there was a bitterness
in my affliction which made it for a time more difficult to bear, but yours is
an incomparably greater loss. I am however surprised to find how improved
I am in health & spirits since I came here. I have not been so well in
either since my first sad loss. Partly it is owing to change of scene
& new impressions, to the lovely scenery which I have been able to enjoy to
the utmost, & to taking so much exercise, partly to our happy communication
with Mr Robertson with whom our friendship, I hope will not be only a transient
meeting in a foreign country, he inquired when we should return to England &
how he should hear of us when we got home. He gave us a most beautiful and
affecting address the last Sunday he preached to us, which touched every member
of his little congregation, all of whom had become warmly attached to him, &
regret at his going away is universal. At one time he talked of fetching
his wife & child, & staying here some months but various circumstances
seemed to make it better to return to England. We shall never read the
20th Chaps of Acts without thinking of him, & indeed our parting on the last
evening when he come in to bid us farewell was a counterpart to St Paul's with
his converts, only we hope the parallel will not stand, that we shall see his
face no more, though I fear his health is for him strong. It is also a
happiness to think that we can contribute to that of our excellent two young
friends the Huttons. Richard is a most extraordinary & interesting
young man, so clever & agreeable, so enthusiastic in all that is high &
good & beautiful, with his health & spirits, I fear irreparably injured
by overwork & self devotion acting on a naturally delicate
constitution. His brother told me the other day that he considered it a
merciful dispensation of Providence that had brought us to Heidelberg, for he
know not how he would have got his brother through the winter without us.
I do indeed look upon our having been brought here in the same light. Last
night, they came to spend the Christmas Evening with us. Frank had dressed our room with
evergreens most elegantly & made some excellent punch & was quite the
life of the evening. He is so sociable & agreeable, & so anxious
to give pleasure to his friends, & promises to be so handsome, that I expect
he will be a charming fellow. This letter has been longer in hand than I
expected, for Wednesday brought me letters which obliged me to write three
immediately, & now I must get ready to walk with the Huttons, who have a few
days at liberty, which we wish to take advantage of, as well as all the nice
mild frost, after the heavy rain, which feel some days & succeeded the frost
& snow, of which however I think we have not had so great a share, as you in
England. I have not been able to finish this till night for before I had
written further the Huttons came to walk, & we had a charming walk through
the hills high up seeing the town at our feet just like a toy town set up on a
table: only of course so much larger & . . . . . . [real
vained?] I think I am as young & active up & down the rises as any
of the party after two hours walk we found our dinner waiting, & were out
again as soon as we had finished it, to see the prizes given at the infant
school, & the Christmas trees lighted up with all the prizes, which are much
larger in amount, than what are given at the schools in England, & all the
children have a present of cakes, togs & . . . [cloathes?] besides.
The children are in general pretty & intelligent . . . [luo ping?] but we
did not see the . . . [right for?] advantages, as from the ridiculous custom of
the German ladies going everywhere two or three hours too . . . [some?], the
room was quite full when we went in. Now I am so tired I can write no
more, but I will end this night, as tomorrow is Sunday, on which day I have
never as much time for reading as I wish, so good night dearest Anne. Mary
& Frank join me in love to their uncle & in every good wish for the
coming year. Alas what words are these? How little do we know what a
day much more a year will bring forth. May we be enacted with faith &
cheerfulness to leave it in the lands of God & be prepared to do & to
suffer his will.
Yours most tenderly
H E Roscoe
Heidelberg, December 26th.
JW sends
me word that Jos & Caroline would have liked a boy. Maer.
Certainly none of his family suspected this. I know they fancied & he
thought it unhealthy. How unfortunate people cannot be more open. I
think they could have made some arrangements to console him to do
so. Tell me what you pay for this letter. I want to know if the half sheet
adds anything.
21 Feb 1847. Letter from Anne Marsh Caldwell to Mrs
Thompson. The edge of the sheet has a very thin band of black around it
indicating that the writer is in mourning. Anne Marsh Caldwell’s son
Martin died in Athens 10th August 1846 and so we can assume that the date of the
letter is 5 months later.
My dear Mrs Thompson
I thank
you very much for your kind invitation ever since I had the pleasure of being
introduced to Sir Edward Lytton [Sir Edward Bulwer-Lytton 1803-1873] at your
home I have felt a great wish to see him again but I want courage as yet to go
into general society. I am better quiet at present. Though much
better, time has its influence & there are better influences for than
that. I hope soon to be able to come among my friends without the pain it
still is to me, but I am sure you will excuse me now. Mr Marsh best
compliments, and requests to return his best thanks to you for your obliging
invitation, but it is not in his power to dine in town this week.
I am my
dear Mrs Thompson very truly yours
Anne Marsh
Eastbury, Feb 21st
[1847?].
26 March 1847. Letter from Hannah Roscoe to her sister Anne Marsh. The letter is addressed to; Mrs Marsh, Eastbury, Watford, Herts, England, via France. Postmarks include HEIDELBERG 27 Mar 1847, WATFORD 31 March1847. The letter reads:
. . . [Bin Nouie?]
Heidelburg
finished March 26th
[1847]
My dearest Anne
I do not mean to return your long silence in kind, knowing
well how much more fully occupied your time is than mine, & I should not
have delayed writing so long had I not been at last after all my boasting seized
with influenza which has been very prevalent here, which laid me up for some
time, & left me very weak & incapable of doing anything. It was
partly brought on as my bad colds usually are by imprudence, fancying I was so
strong & might do anything , so one Sunday morning I went to church though I
was forewarned by a lady who had come out again from finding the floor of the
room which is our substitute for a church, wet with a fresh mopping. After
dinner I added to this imprudence by going out in an intense cold east wind
& at night was attacked by a severe sore throat. I however cured the
most distressing symptoms in two days with my . . . [homoepathices?], but then
imprudence the second, fancied myself quite well, & set about my usual
occupations sewing & writing one or two letters instead of keeping perfectly
quiet as I ought, & so brought on fever which I could not get rid of &
so Richard Hutton [her son in law] would not let me rest till he sent Dr
Pickford to me, whom I found a remarkably pleasing young man, & who did me a
great deal of good but I have not been out two or three times & still feel
very weak & . . . [can de liate?], though it is nearly a month since.
It is mortifying not to get out "more", now we have beautiful weather, & the
feeling of spring, though there is still a coldness in the air which brings on
cough if I expose myself to it, however I have almost entirely escaped the old
enemy in my throat which is a great proof that my general health is much
improved. I cannot be surprised though I am grieved to hear that all your
poor dear girls are failing, & that you have yourself been not at all
well. Even the efforts for patience & resignation will tell on the
physical frame. I often think of what Mrs Tollet said at the time of my
mother's death, your father will feel it more & more till the first year is
over. I begin to feel better now the year is over, now that sad week is
past in which that sad sad face was scarcely ever from before my eyes. Oh
my dearest Anne your loss as a loss is unspeakably greater than mine &
certainly required more faith & submission to resign such a treasure, but
you are blessed that you did not for so long a time witness such fearful
suffering which at this time agonize my heart to think of, that your beloved one
was taken from life & joy & happiness here, to blessedness there, what
she is gone to blessedness there. I do not for a moment doubt, & that
she was taken when she was, is a source now of unutterable thankfulness, but the
dark comes between me & the sight of her in bliss. You can only think
of yours as having been, & being happy, grievous as is that left to you
& your dear girls & perhaps as William [Hannah's husband Willam Stanley
Roscoe] says to me blessed are those who die giving. I am very
glad that those two dear young men were such a sweet comfort to you. There
is something in the affectionate attentions all very young men, very soothing
& touching & they have that great charm of being demonstrative. I
often feel the wave of this in my children, with most tender & affectionate
hearts. They have all a shyness & reserve which checks the free play
of feeling except when very strongly brought forth. I have however here
some of the consolation which arises from a new spring of affection being
opened. My young men are rather remarkably definitive in the advantages of
person & manner, which add & charm to the real excellences of our two
delightful nephews, but it is impossible for two young men to be more
affectionate more attentive more admiring (something to an old woman) than mine
are. It is also a very strong interest that I almost think I have been the
means of saving Richard's life [Hannah's son in law Richard Hutton]. He
looked so dreadfully ill, worn down to over work at too early an age with a
naturally delicate frame & . . . [excitable?] temperament that I thought he
would not live & he has told me he thought he should have been left in the
cemetery if we had not come. He is still far from strong, but I am
thankful to see that my motherly care & advice which he is very . . .
[duiele?] in taking, pleasant & cheerful society, & greater inducements
to taking exercise have already done much for him: he is indeed worth saving, so
fine & advanced on intellect (he carried off almost all the prizes at
University College) combined with such a high moral sense, & such deep
religious feeling I have seriously ever met with in so giving a man only
twenty. His brother too, though less interesting, is so very excellent
that it is impossible to see much of him, & not feel an affection for him,
& has also a good deal of taste in the arts. So they have made our
stay here much more agreeable than it would have been, particularly since we
lost Mr Robertson. I have also the satisfaction of seeing my poor dear
Mary [Hannah's daughter Anna Mary Hutton] improved both in health and
spirits. I was scarcely aware till we came here how very deeply she has
suffered, she is one of those who naturally conceal their feelings & she
also feared to aggravate mine by showing hers. Since we came here our
hearts have been more opened to one another, to our mutual happiness. We
owe this in part to Mr Robertson who seemed quite anxious to impress on me,
& when he went away . . . [with a role?] to her in the subject the danger of
fancying there was any virtue in . . . [successive?], concealing the feelings
& not being willing to give or receive the sympathy, & it made me think
that I had been . . . . . . [weary auihert eving?] her my sympathy &
encouraging her to show it to me & now to my delight she has really quite a
different expression of countenance to what she has had since her sister's
illness began. So coming abroad has . . . [answered?] in this, & Mary
. . . [wogs?] & I hope we shall come home renovated & strengthened for
whatever duties lie before us. I cannot keep so formed for society.
I have desired William to give you a sovereign from me & 5 shillings from
Mary for the Irish it is no doubt by far the best mode of administering relief
& if all the money had been given in this way by persons on the spot who
knew how to give it in the best way, much more good would have been done.
As it is, I fear much has been wasted & much given to those who were
undeserving or were not in extreme need. I have had to give to the
collections both at our chapel in Liverpool & the church here: all the world
seems very liberal in this most distressing occasion. I think nearly a
thousand pounds, was a great deal to collect in our two congregations in
Liverpool & the little chapel at the Park for though there are a few . . .
[nill?] person among us, the numbers altogether are comparatively so
small. Mr Mortimer will I believe take care that what he collected, will
be well disposed of. I have also sent to desire . . . [&3?] to be
given to the poor in Liverpool where the Irish all flock over in such numbers
& where fever has already begun its ravages. I hear the most dismal
accounts of the state of the poor both there and in Manchester. I only mention
what I have given that you may not think me parsimonious in what I have sent
you: or that being at this distance makes me forget the sufferers at home.
There are also claims on ones charity here, for there really seems a . . .
[generality?] of distress throughout Europe. What is to be the end of it
God knows but no doubt it will eventually result in good. I have always
the greatest faith in that. On Sunday we were at a Lutheran
christening. Our German Master Dr Deppe had a little girl born about a
month ago & asked Mary & Emma to be god mothers, & as I found it
involved no confession of faith & no responsibilities, I did not make any
objection. The Ceremony took place at Dr Deppe's house, as they do not
take very young children into their very cold churches, at this season.
The clergyman was a very rotund, well to do looking person. First, there
was a long exportation of which I of course did not understand a word. As
far as the girls did, they said it was generally on the importance of religious
education. The child was brought in, in a sort of little mattress in a
case & washed . . . . . . . . . [mosticl matter?] which
the girls had . . . [geued?] they held it in turns. The clergyman did not
take the child in his arms, but desired the cap might be taken off, & that
one of the godmothers would support the child's head while he washed it all over
with water, baptising in the name of the Father, Son & Holy Ghost. She
was called Anna Maria Emma. I like the idea of our having a little object
of interest to connect us with a place we are got so extremely attached
to. Then we have chocolate wine & cake. Dr D came out with us to
walk, took tea with us, & joined our Sunday evening service which Joseph
Hutton always gives us. Dr Deppe called on me the day before, & the
rest being out, we had a good deal of religious conversation. He is what
is called a Rationalist rather Antisupernationalist. He told me he was
brought up in the strictures & orthodox opinions, & gave me a
description of the agonies of mind he suffered when he found he could not retain
that belief, numbers he said cast off all religious belief entirely. In
consequence, he was thankful he had stopped short. There may be a great
deal of religious feeling & faith & even a good deal of Christianity
retained which the belief in a particular revelation is abandoned. The
first I can well understand, but how the existence of Christianity is accounted
for, & how it retains sufficient hold on the mind to produce faith, &
obedience without us being considered as at least a divine revelation sanctioned
that is proved by . . . [nuiades?], I do not understand, in fact I do not
believe it ever can have the same hold on the mind: but I fancy you would say
& feel the same as me, that I do of the Nationalists yet I think there must
be a difference in all those who considered Christ as divinely appointed, the
image of God, & the . . . [word manifest?] in the . . .[flerk?] from all
those who consider him only like any other very good man sent by God for the
benefit & instruction of mankind which is the idea of the
Antisupernationalists: but these are excellent men among men. What a
letter I have sent you. When I get to chattering to you my dearest Anne, I
know not where to leave off. I send you a . . . [pessae?] I cut out of a
newspaper lent to me, thinking it might be interesting in your farming
affairs. Mary begs me to say that she was on the point of writing to
Georgy when I said I was in the middle of a letter to you so she will defer it a
little time. She joins in kindest love to . . . [your family?] & Emma
begs you to accept her kind regards. Yours most affectionately
H E Roscoe.
Hoping that you and yours will by the same experiment in a
year or so I wish you and some of your girls could come and meet us somewhere
this summer. Do think if it would not be practicable? I see Robert
Mackintosh is made governor of St Kitts. I suppose he will like it though
it seems a kind of banishment to me.
28 April [1847]. Letter from Anne Marsh to her brother James Stamford Caldwell. Black margin around the page. No envelope. The letter reads as follows:
Eastbury April 28th
My dear Stamford
I desired Mr Bentley to forward you a copy of my History,
addressed to you at Linley Wood near Newcastle Staffordshire. I think you
would not have received this little tribute of an honest affection without one
little line to assure me you had received it and as I am afraid Mr Bentley has
been rather negligent in this respect, or that I may have given him the wrong
address, perhaps you will have it enquired for at Newcastle, and let me know in
order to regulate my accounts with him. I do not hope you will have the
patience to read my book, it looks so formidably long but I have endeavoured to
make it as entertaining as I can. The subject interests, it is such a
romantic time, of the Roman story. We have been in London for two days
staying with Sir Hyde [Sir Hyde Parker 1785-1856]. He has let Melford
[near Sudbury] as I think you know, and got a very pretty home in South Audley
Street. He offered it to me for a month, but I was too busy with a
dreadful novel [Norman's Bridge was published by
Richard Bentley, 1847] which I promised Mr Bentley & which the terrible blow
of last year [death of her son Martin, 10/8/12]
made me for some time unable to undertake that I really have worked till I am
half dead, & been obliged to before all plans until my task was done.
I went however for the change & refreshment of a few days. We had a
very pleasant stay. He is the kindest of hosts. We had the use of
his Brougham [an enclosed horse drawn carriage on 4 wheels], & got about and
amused ourselves very well. One night we went to the Hay Market & saw
Money the . . . Planet, & the light troops of the 1st Jones's. It is
so long since I have been at a play that I was amused very well by Money, which
is a much better comedy than I should have expected our day could produce, &
with Buckstone [playwright and actor John Baldwin Buckstone 1802-1879] in the
two little pieces, he is capital. We did not get to the new Opera House
which they say is very brilliant & the new female counter tenor Alboni
[Marietta Alboni 1826-1894 was a renowned Italian contralto opera singer] one of
the finest voices that has appeared among us for some time. Many jokes are
made upon Miss Jenny Lind [the Swedish opera singer Johanna Maria Lind,
1820-1887] & her clemele with Bann. I leave them to your ingenuity
& will not do them the honour to repeat about "hot cross Banns" & so
on. They say her voice is too delicate to fill our vast theatres.
Who should come down to see us the other day but Francis . . . [Nares?]. I
have not seen him since happy Anne Caldwell days. It was like a
revenant. It is as a revenant of that past which now is beginning to look
so distant. He enquired much after you and Linley Wood which it appears he
once visited, but I had forgotten the occurrence altogether as I dare say you
have. Louisa is staying at Ryde with Lindy
Pele. She says she has met a Miss Vernon there "dressed in pink gange
& a profusion of curls & is a fine looking woman about 40 I should
think, who played really most beautifully, & was very good natured about
it. She came to me and asked whether I was not a niece of Mr
Caldwell's. She did not know any of the rest of the family". Louisa
says she spoke as if she had been well acquainted with you. Is she a
revenant. I never heard you mention her, but as you have . . . [hosts?] of
acquaintance de par le monde, with whom I am not acquainted, that is no proof
that you are not the Mr Caldwell in question. I am in hopes to see the end
of my novel today. I have found it a very tiresome task this time &
feel very much exhausted by the labour & expect that it will prove my Anne
of Geierstein [a very successful novel by Sir Walter Scott, 1829]. I had a
letter from Eliza a few days ago. She has not been quite well, but is now
talking of her movements southward altogether this wintering almost seems to
have answered perfectly. William not with us two weeks ago, looking better
than I have seen him for a long time. London suits him well which is
fortunate in deed. This is the longest letter I have written for a very
long time. I have been obliged to give up letter writing almost entirely
till I have done this horrid task of the novel to which I must now return.
I am ever my dearest Stamford's affectionate sister
Anne
M.
Letter from Hannah Eliza Roscoe to her sister Anne Marsh. Addressed to Mrs Marsh, Eastbury, Watford, Herts, Via France. Postmarked München 13 Aug 1847, Watford 19 Aug. Black wax seal HER.
Munich August 12th [1847]
My dearest Anne
I will begin a
letter to you, though I know not when I shall finish it, but I have a little
time before we begin to see light at this place & before William comes whom
I am expecting in a few days. F Wedgwood told me of your novel which in
some degree accounted for your very long silence which I did not expect you to
break till your history was out [The Protestant
Reformation in France, by Anne Marsh, 1847], & you had returned home
from London, but after that I was wondering not to have a few lines till I heard
this explanation. The worst of these long silences is, that one can never
write with the same ease, or feel though one may know that those we love have so
much care to hear of one. It is as you say vain to attempt to give any
history of my life & thoughts since I wrote last which was soon after I
received your letter, the beginning of the year: but I think you will like to
hear from myself, that we are all well, & that we have enjoyed our journey
extremely. We have been a tour embracing much beautiful & good scenery
& many fine towns, but it is vain to attempt to give any account of what we
have seen, or the impression on my mind, though I have often in the course of my
travels felt a wish that I could impart some of my feelings to you & have
the sympathy of a person more of my own age. I certainly have some of the
rapture & enthusiasm with which I should have seen these things in my early
age a good deal sobered, I should rather say than diminished, & though my
companions I saw had a little more of these than remain to me, I think my
enjoyment was on the whole nearly as great as any of them: & I think I have
a more active spirit in seeing every thing than any of them. We have great
cause for thankfulness that we have all got so far safe & well. We
have not even had a hazad that, R Hutton says was all we wanted to give a zest
to our travelling, but I was not at all anxious for this excitement, & must
confess to my weakness in having my pleasure rather diminished by the tremendous
precipices the road goes over in the finest parts of our tour but they are
generally well guarded, & really no danger. What I have been most
struck with in towns was the Cathedral of Milan, which though so little all the
pictures of it, strikes one as something grander & more . . .[sooknee?],
& more perfectly beautiful, than one could have imagined, & all this is
much increased by going on the marble roof, & seeing all the sculptures so
finely finished, all so perfect. Then Verona such a picturesque town, full
of memories of the middle ages, with its most magnificent amphitheatre taking
one back to the Romans. These two buildings fill one with wonder &
admiration at the skill & power of man, how contrasted in their objects, one
devoted to the glory of god, the other to feed the worst passions of men.
After that came most enchanting Venice which charmed all our party. When I
was put, on first arriving, into one of the black gondolas on the grand canal
& saw some of the grand desolate palaces on the side rising as it . .
.[well?], out of it, & then entered the narrow . . . [seleve water?]
streets, it seemed like realizing a dream. It is so like all the accounts
one has read of it, & all the pictures one has seen, & yet there is a
beauty & a charm about it which must be seen to be felt. I think it
consists in some degree in the great contrast between the decaying splendour,
the remains of former magnificence, the extreme quiet occasioned by no sound of
wheels, & on the grand canal no sound of feet, with the life & gaiety of
the people, & the vivacity with which everything seems going . . . [only?]
the continual sound of music, the lights passing in the evenings along the
water, & the clear air & splendid skies. One evening we went out
in our gondola to hear a band which went down the canal in a boat. It was
a most gay scene. The females of all classes dress very gay, & smart
people have many of them their gondolas rowed by servants in gay . . .
[biveuirs?] or fancy dresses, such pressing forwards, the boats darting by one
another, such calling of the boatmen, particularly when a shower of rain made
all press to get under shelter of the Rialto, that it was a most animated scene,
& as we passed the fine deserted palaces, one could not keep thinking of the
splendid scene it must have been when the nobles followed the . . . [doge?] to
wed the . . . [Adriatic?]. It was very hot whilst we were there, &
nothing but going about in the most easy of all conveyances & catching a
little breeze on the water could have enabled us to bear the fatigue of seeing
so many pictures & the magnificent churches with their fine pictures, &
statues, wood carvings fine basso & alto relievo, marble pillars, & the
affluence of beautiful marble inlaid in the alters & floors in the most
elegant patterns, the gold & silver & decorated alters takes off from
the effect. We went into one of the few palaces still inhabited by the
descendents of the former owners, & saw what must have been the former
splendour, the floors all inlaid marble. There is something very oriental
in the style of the buildings in Venice. St Mark's particularly one might
fancy a mosque or pagan temple more than a Christian church. The roof
& walls covered mosaics, which are very wonderful, & some really
striking pictures. You will imagine how interesting it was to go over the
Doges Palace, over the bridge of Sighs into the terrible prisons, & see the
scenes of which one has read so much. The walls of the council &
senate rooms still decorated with the pictures of the . . . [anuivet?] triumphs
of Venice. The person who showed us the prisons was anxious to prove to us
that they were not so bad as we had been led to believe, in fact though stone
dens they had been lined with wood, the great suffering must have been from want
of air & light; different sets of prisons, different passages over the
bridge of sighs for common & political offenders, the former tried and
executed publically, but the latter as he said significantly . . .
["seqretamene"?] & pointed out the dark passage through which the priest was
introduced to confess the latter, the stone on which he was afterwards seated to
be strangled with a silken cord, & the low door through which the body was
taken to the water to be thrown into the sea at a place where it was death to
cast a net. We went several times out on the . . . [Layuixe?] to some of
the numerous islands among others to Lord Byrons . . . [Ouheniou?] convent,
where we found a most cheerful agreeable brother of the order taking four . . .
[Conyuoyes?] which they are all able . . . [ea?] to learn . . . [a?] two dead
ones, . . . [whe?] showed us their golden printing press, for the distribution
of religious tracts, . . . [library xe?] & looked amused at R Huttons simple
question whether he had known Lord Byron & gave the very satisfactory answer
"Je v'etours pas alars envie". This town is excessively uninteresting
after all the old picturesque towns we have seen. All find buildings &
most of the churches are new & not in very good taste, a great tawdriness in
the ornamentation, streets often unpaved & always . . . [unglayzed?]:
the air does not agree with us, & we are impatiently expecting William that
we may get away. The gallery is certainly well worth seeing, its treasures
& all of the Dutch & Flemish schools, very fine Italian pictures.
The . . . [sale?] filled with Rubens is a very fine collection of them.
Many pictures by very old masters, are I suppose very valuable, but not
interesting to common observers. . . . Innsbruck is a beautiful town in
the most charming situation, in the fertile valley of the Inn, with wooded &
cultivated hills bounding it, & beyond but so near as to seem almost to over
power it, the grand precipitous mountains, some with snow at their
summits. Our whole tour through the Tyrol was one changing scene of beauty
& grandeur, the valleys are so lovely & the mountains so steep &
precipitous, & the defiles so narrow, sometimes only room for a rapid river
in the deep cleft of the mountains, & the road are upon a ledge on the side
of the hill, sometimes going close to the river, at others far above it.
The decent from St Gothard is very striking, & the road most . . . [uneven?]
descending by such a number of zigzags, looking like the coil of a serpent
beneath, with a grand steep mountain before you, & the rapid . .
. . . . . . . [Seieire, hard not seen at the foot?]; its whole valley from
thence to . . . [Bellarizona?]most beautiful, the beauty of the Italian
fertility gradually taking the place of the wild scenery we were leaving, but
mountains all the way, & a continued succession of cascades, any one of
which one should have . . . [quell nules?] to see in Scotland & Wales.
What I have seen in as much of, Switzerland as we came through part of it gave
me however no idea of real mountains till we ascended the . . . [Helvid?].
The highest & grandest of all the mountain passes. We slept at small
inns at the foot & little way all, three nights before the weather would
allow of our going up, but at last had a fine day, rain below was snow on the
mountains, & it was intensely cold when we got to the regions of perpetual
snow, & came to the dreary house at the top of the pass: the highest
permanently inhabited house in Europe. The mountains give a greater
impression of height because they are more conical & more isolated, &
the snow is such a pure white, lies so high on the highest parts. The road
is formed in that some zigzags rising first above the fine woods, then glaciers
beneath us, then to the barren regions with only a little grass, &
quantities of wild flowers of the most vivid colours as they always are in the
alpine regions, then snow, long before reaching the summit the road is seen far
above in this form on the mountain [small diagram here showing a zigzag going up
a mountain] covered with a strong wooden shed to protect it from the snow, we
were down to the first station on the other side, where we dined, & most
fortunately met our two boys who had gone a pedestrian excursion through the
mountains to . . . [explore?] the other way, & had got lost in a snow storm
& met with no little peril, & great fatigue & discomfort. The
descent is always the grandest part of these mountain passes, & we had the .
. . [October?] Spitz the 3rd mountain in Europe in full view, & one seems
sometimes almost hanging over the immense depths below. I did not think of
writing so much description of our journey when I . . . [took?] rather a small
sheet, so I have ventured on a second half. It has added much to the
pleasure of our journey to have such agreeable companions, & Richard Hutton
is so clever that he has done everything in the world for me, made all the
bargains & kept all the accounts, he is quite at home in Germany &
learnt a . . . [bough?] of Italian in his last month at Heidelberg for
travelling purposes. I found the little Italian I know very useful, &
could . . . [give?] really understand what the sight showing people told
us. We are much later in the season than we expected at this place, &
are now waiting for William who said he should leave London on the 3rd &
about we are anxiously expecting every day, being quite tired of the place,
where we have not been a week, & where there is nothing interesting but the
galleries, which are very often a few houses in a morning. We went last
night to the opera last night & heard some pretty good music & singing,
but the latter is very much spoiled by the orchestra playing so loud. It
ended by a representation of an . . . [autodase?] flames & a poor . .
. [feusep?] dropped into it, which as RH said excited my moral indignation that
such a spectacle should be brought forward in a place of amusement, & I
contend that it is much worse than to represent men killing one another in
battle or in fact the representation of any other form of death. Now I
will finish this long letter which I have been several days about having another
to write in the mean time. I do not expect dearest Anne, that you ever can
get over the . . . [immediate?] loss you have sustained, & I can fully . . .
[anticipate?] the feelings you express, it is not so much the loss, to that I
can reconcile myself with the thought of how much it is . . . [her gain?], but
it is all the dreadful circumstances, & my own regrets which come upon me
now & then in any scene with such a sense of pain, & I very much dread
the going home. I have some way or other lost . . . [Hilary
Carterl's ?] note which I showed to you at Eastborough, which I
regret very much, it spoke of my dear child in such a gratifying manner. I
fear there is no house in . . . [old have'y?] found by any of you. I hope
we shall be at . . . [fever?] about the middle of September where if you have
time & inclination I should be very thankful for a few lines from you.
I expect to be in London the 2nd week in October. JSC [their brother James Stamford
Caldwell] wishes me to come to him that month in which case I shall return
to London to pay my visits then. With much kind love from Mary to your . .
. [uide?]. Ever yours affectionately.
HE Roscoe.
25 December 1847. Letter from F (Frances?, Fanny?) Allen, to Anne Marsh. Envelope addressed to Mrs A Marsh, Eastborough, Watford Station, Herts. Penny Red postage stamp. Postmarked Tenby 25 Dec 1847, Watford 27 Dec.
Haywood Lodge. December 25th [1847]
My dear Anne
I am disappointed that
I am returned home without having seen you. I had determined that this
should not be the case, but winter & weather over ruled me. This day
week Fanny & I returned from a breakfast at Mr Roscoes with a faint
expectation of our seeing you but the rain was so incessant & violent that,
my feeling was more of a wish than a hope. Winter came on me, not
unawares, but so swiftly that I found I had left much undone, that I wished
& intended to do, and that it was time to get home for duties & warm
clothing. I left 3 little visits unpaid that I would have given a good
deal to have paid, viz: to yourself, Joe Wedgwood & Mrs Sydney Smith.
I fear I may never see the latter again, at least the chances are against
it. She looks as if a fatal disorder had laid hold on her, the
dropsy. She interests me deeply now, "her life, of life is fled", & I
should have been very glad if I could have arranged it so as to have arranged a
week with her. I dined one day there & met her daughter Emily &
her husband and girls. I liked what I saw of each of them, but I fear very
much for the result of Mr Hibbert's illness. I was very glad to catch a
day of Eliza [Hannah Eliza Roscoe] her foreign journey & stay seems to have
done her so much good that I am sorry she could not stay longer at
Heidelberg. I did not see Mary [Hutton nee Roscoe], and I am glad I did
not, her dejection and unwellness would have painfully recalled her poor sister,
and I should have been anticipating for poor Eliza fresh trials &
sufferings, now when she recovers from the effects of the influenza, & the
dejection attendant on her return home, I may hear of her as cheerful &
making her mother happy. I have passed a very pleasant, more than 3 month
absence, and I find on my return . . . [Jessie?] looking particularly well &
cheerful. Emma is absent at Isabella's but the carriage goes for her on
Monday. If you had come on Saturday last you would have found Laura
Coleridge waiting to see you. I cannot say, she pleases me much, though I
think she is a favourite of Fanny's. She was pouring forth a lecture on
poetry, & verse, and I did not feel inclined to agree to her canons of
criticism. Lord Byron was a bad writer of verse & not a good poet
etc. Shelley & Tennison much before him. His Spencerian measure
very bad owning at the same time she had read little of Childe Harold & not
at all the last canto. I wish you had been there to have stemmed her a
little. I saw Patty yesterday. She is much better off here in health
than in London. . . . [Jessie?] complains a little of her being too much
of the "Ancient Mariner" to her stopping her till she has told her tale. I
will not play the same . . . [part?] by you though by paper &
ink. Therefore God bless you my dear Anne. I was very glad to catch
that little sight of Mr Marsh which was a pleasant one, for he looked well &
. . . [weathered?]. Kind love to your girls.
Ever
your's dear Anne affectionately
F Allen
When I come again into your parts it shall be summer, &
I will see Eastbury.
. . . [Jessie's?] love.
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