Michael D.Heath-Caldwell M.Arch.

1839

Elizabeth Caldwell (Bessy) of Nantwich -  72/73  

Hannah Eliza Roscoe - age 53/54           

James Stamford Caldwell - age - 52/53       

Arthur Cuthbert Marsh - age 52/53  

Anne Marsh-Caldwell – age 47/48    

Eliza Louisa Marsh-Caldwell – known as Louisa –  age 20/21    

Frances Mary Marsh (later Crofton) - age 19/20    

Georgina Amelia Marsh-Caldwell – Gies – age 18/19  

Rosamond Marsh-Caldwell – Posy - age 15/16  

Martin William James Marsh - age 13/14    

Mary Emma Marsh (Lady Mary  E. Heath) – age 12/13

Hannah Adelaide Marsh (later Loring) - age 10/11

[Martin Marsh goes to Eton Xmas 1839]

File PB120133

Letter to Stamford from AMC

Post mark London 4^th January 1839[?] But written before Christmas?

J. Stamford Caldwell Esq.

Linley Wood

Lawton,

Cheshire.

My ,     [?]

I have been waiting a few days to answer your last kind letters because I could not exactly tell you where the money was to be paid. £80 of it will be wanted on the 10^th January at Liverpool to answer a call of the Railway. If it is not inconvenient will you desire your banker to transmit it – eighty pounds – direct to Eliza that she may answer this call for us. It must be paid on the 10^th. The remainder will you be so good as to order to be paid to-

Messrs Booth & Pettet

Lancaster Place

Waterloo Bridge

Strand– on Arthur’s account.

If you will find it inconvenient to send the £80 to Liverpool by the 10^th will you give Arthur a line to his lodgings,

Kings Road,

Bedford Row.

To apprise him of this, in order that he may provide funds from London.

With regard to the receipt for the legacies, you are no doubt aware that they must be given on forms furnished for that purpose by the Legacy Duty Office in order that you may pass your account and get your [sureties?] from that Department. Mr Tomlinson will tell you all about that.

I am just bothered to death with lamps, flowers, cakes and jellies preparatory to an xmas dance for the children. And oh how I wish you could be at it. And play the young gentleman of what your nieces are much in want. And as they think you are a agreeable gentleman as well as very kind uncle, you would be most especially welcome.

We have nothing but young boys and married men. The Baron des Lyons who is rather of the make of a Beefeater and at least 50 is to open the ball with Louisa, followed by Arthur with the principal lady. And the set will terminate with a little French boy of six and our little Adelaide. [sentence crossed out].

I here is not doubt, I suppose, that as Executor it was your duty to look over the letters. I am sorry you found anything to give you pain. But I will pledge almost dear to me upon Eliza’s truth and fidelity to your interests even at the risk of offending our dear father. Whatever she said was, I am sure, intending it for the best. It was, I assure you, often very difficult to say the right thing.

Miss [Manning, Mainwaring?] begs her best love to you and she is going to take lessons in music in order to please you.

I must end hastily dearest Stamford, being obliged to go to town. Miss [Manning, Mainwaring?] is just too come in as merry as possible. She tells me you said you would marry her if she could sing. And makes herself very merry with the idea.

Ever dearest Stamford with many many happy new years to you, your affectionate sister,

AM.

Your xmas cadeau to your nephew and nieces brought all with it pretty things.

File PB110091

Letter AMC to Posy,

Post mark

8Nt8 – MR7 1839

TP King Williams St.

Miss Rosamond Marsh

Dr Hollands

25 Lower Brook Street,

Grosvenor Square.

March 6^th

Thank you my dearest little Posy for your nice long journal. I feel as if I almost saw more of you when you are away than when you are here with this charming method of telling me all that passes before your eyes and through your dear little head.

I am going to send this answer by M. Tollet who goes tonight to pay her mother a visit. And as I have many letters that I must write by her and am not very well today this letter will be not so long as it would otherwise have been.

First for business. I have sent you a parcel containing your dressing gown. That lace [tippet?] of mine which you longed for to wear with your black gown, two pocket handkershiefs, your black [tippet, tuffet?] and some pattern stockings for your Papa to get for me and the children. If you want anything in the way of dress do not scruple to get it. You should have had one of those [Chulby?] or [Monpitine de Paines?] at Coopers & Bachelors which your little eye seems to covet.

But your poor Aunt Mary is in so sad a state that probably before you had got it made you would not be able to put it on.

However, dearest Posy our affairs are no longer in that state that a very close economy is the first duty. A wise economy is the order of the day and it is wise when it can be afforded to have those little matters of dress which make one comfortable. So [‘tell me’ crossed out] get any little matters if you want them. And I will ask your Papa to give you more money as soon as you want it.

I hope my dear Emily intends to pay me a visit this Spring, the time of course when it best suits Mrs Holland to part with her but it would be a grievous disappointment to me not to see her. I could not hear of such a thing. However, Easter is rather too early as she could have no sea bathing. You do not tell me how she looks.

Your story of that extraordinary little Coo is excessively pretty. She is a very clever child certainly. I am very glad to hear so good a report of your dear Aunt Holland. I shall be very glad to have the trilobite at [-?]. I am going to write to Lucy soon, but if you have an opportunity in the mean time of letting her know that [expect] to secure the Trilobite pray do.

Thank you my dear little girl for your offer to work me a little cloth border. I shall like to have one extremely. I am delighted at your good news about your old grievance. Is Emily yet subject to grievances?

Now I think I have discussed your letter so I will give you an account of our proceedings. The first few days after you went I think nothing happened, except that [Oustes & Pytocles?] Sir Harry and Mr Piers ran in to shelter from a rain storm on Monday or Tuesday. I forget which.

Wednesday we went into town and had a long sit with Mrs Wilkins [Williams?] and found her sister is very intimate with Mrs Gore, the novelist of whom she told us many odd stories. Georgy and Frederica certainly intend to make out a regular friendship which at least will [served?] fine those dear girls, Georgina and Frederica.

Thursday we went to a party at Mrs [Hibiters?]. There we met Mr and Mrs Annersley, that pretty creature. Shows made us in some degree acquainted with [Ad, Gen?] Sir James Alexander, the man who has just published his travels in Africa and got whipped very unjustly in the Athenaeum. I was introduced to him. He is a very pretty young man and his got a little wife of 17 that he found at the Cape. I had a little talk but not much as they got up to dance.

I arranged with the Annerleys to call us. He is really a very nice sensible young man and she very well bred and pleasing. And I thought they would make a nice acquaintance for your sisters. We had a very pretty little supper and Mrs Hobden played quadrilles which the rest danced. Captain Hobden I like very much.

The next morning being a horrid cold day I put on my dressing gown and plunged over head and arms in dust in my history of [prince,Greece?]. When just as I was in full [joss?] Mr and Mrs Annersley rode [‘over’ crossed out] up to the door. I like him still better by morning light.

Sunday the girls went to Church but I was not well and could not go, but spent a sweet quiet morning in our garden. The day was lovely, birds and bees and bells [passing?] at the distance and a fine sun and sweet air.

In the evening I was better and went to Church and heard another person being the third since you went, one worse than the other.

Monday we were busy in our garden which is getting into beautiful trim[?].

Yesterday I went out in the carriage to call upon the [Hebries?] and the Annersleys and the Mainwarings[?]. It was a terrible cold day, birds and bees and sun all gone and today there is snow.

I shall hope in a week from the time you dispatched your last journal to get another. For to receive them is a very great pleasure to us all. Tonight we are going to [John’s, Tole’s?] to hear the 8 Pianoforte concert given, Mr Greenwood having bought us tickets.

Now I must go and write to Martin from whom I have had a nice journal too. So farewell dearly loved Posy.

Ever your most affectionate Mother, sisters. - - in bed with a bad cold all the rest quite well. My dear love to Aunt Holland. I hope for a letter from her soon. Pray tell her love to dear Emy and a kiss for little Coo.

Anne Marsh-Caldwell diary

10^th March 1839 – At Boulogne

Sunday – Poor Mary’s death [health?] confines us to the house, but our little Mary ill of a  cold, baby with her. Louisa with a sore throat. Weather very cold. 

PB110103

Letter to Posy from

Friday March 16^th 1839

Miss Rosamond Marsh,

Dr Hollands

Lower Brook Street,

Grosvenor Square

London

Anglaterre.

Post mark 25^th Mar 1839.

My dear Posy,

I have only just time to answer your letter by return of post. I cannot comprehend the plan for Martin, but all I have to say is I will give my consent with pleasure to any of your dear and kind Aunt Holland’s plans for getting him to the ball which I am sure he will enjoy very much, and which I should be particularly happy that he should be at.

Pray give my dear love to her and tell her I give her charte blanche to arrange everything and that I am very much obliged to her for taking so much trouble to plan for him. Tell her too that I wrote a letter to her by your papa but that it was penned in doleful damps thinking I must give up my visit, but your papa begged I would not quite give up in despair. So I burned my letter and I still hope to get to her for two or three days.

We had a happy two days with your dear Papa and Sir Hyde [Parker] who was just his old self only a little or rather a sad guest [dene fatter?]. He dined with us one day. In the morning we drove about in our little carriage looking at houses for Mrs [Gris?] and dined with him afterwards at Colonel Parkers. The next day they went away.

I am very glad you get on so well with your singing, but I shall not be content it should be your only accomplishment. Drawing I expect you to excel in. I am sure you will too. Bessy and Mary are going on very nicely.

Love to our dear Emy [Emily Buxton/Holland]. I shall be so glad to see her. And so happy to see my dear Mrs Holland [Saba Smith/Holland] and Coo [Caroline Holland] for a few days. I have been dining out with Miss Mainwaring and are so tired that I cannot write one line more.

Write to Martin and make him understand what he is to do for indeed my love I cannot understand you. Continue your journals my dear Posy, they are a great pleasure to me, but write more legibly. In the first place I don’t write so badly as you do. In the second if I did I would not allow you to do so.

I am an old woman, too old to mind, you are a dear little saucy girl who wont a great deal of mending. With love again to all from all here, ever in haste your most affectionate mother.

Memoirs of Anne Marsh-Caldwell

September 1^st, 1839.

Since I have written the above [her memoirs] I have discovered within me the seeds of a disease which must sooner or later prove fatal – soon my presentiments tell me… (Mrs Marsh-Caldwell died in 1874, aged 83). It is remarkable how this event has changed the whole colour of my thoughts – already do I feel as if I scarcely belonged to this world – and all its interests take so feeble a form that it seems scarcely to my present mind worth taking the trouble to record what I have been – who must so soon be as far as this life is concerned, nothing.

Yet among the many regrets for opportunities for good and usefulness wasted, which now grieve me and make me most earnest to employ the few precious moments better is one, that my talent for persuading by my pen has been so little brought into use. My mind is penetrating and my understanding just and original and I often observe the hidden truths and relations of things that escape others.

I have, I think, a great insight into the cause on which human happiness and improvement depend – and, as I often laughingly assert of myself, see farther into a millstone than other men.

The peace and happiness and broad understandings of my children, I am willing to flatter myself, is owing in good measure to well directed efforts of my own – yet who know? I do not think any one must think so, and am perhaps mistaken in this – but I am not mistaken in the influence I perceive my eloquence exercises over my friends and the world in general – and I am sorry that of my talents in this way I shall render a poor account. Little has been done – So forgive me!

Therefore I will try to go on with this my life, if I can take interest enough in it now. My sweet Fanny (Mrs Marsh-Caldwell’s eldest daughter, afterwards Mrs Richard Crofton) seemed to wish for it and to treasure it – and in the course of thus recording my experiences remarks and lessons drop from me which may, when I am gone, supply my presence a little to those left behind me.

Ah my girls – when I am indeed gone, let my devious wayward course – too much governed by circumstance – too easily swayed aside by influences from without – be a lesson to you to keep the clear path of duty and usefulness from which I have often deviated – misled by phantasms of my own imagination, or by the wavering lights presented by the wavering principles of those around me.

When I look on the simple truthful energy of my younger days, can I choose but grieve that I could ever become a valuer of the vain things of this world – of fine company, idle ambitions, distinctions – and not held my path pure and uncontaminated by all this clay – far above them in the heaven of the spirit!

These things grieve me – I was too timid, afraid of being singular, afraid of being romantic – thought it wise to be calculating, wise to be worldly… Ah, whoever reads this last legacy, let them remember that now I know what life really is, I have found that the best wisdom is to be true to the first childish love, to adhere to the most elevated and noblest principles – to endeavour to walk by the pattern of the purest excellence – to do good and to choose to disregard self, casting one’s bread upon the waters.

No one will be so foolish as to believe that I am here advocating wanton imprudence and careless inattention, but a highly elevated way of living above the world – doing one’s duty wherever one is called upon – and casting all selfish cares aside… I express myself, I perceive, too ill to make any impression, so I will not go on now, but resume the story…

File PB120137

Letter to Stamford from Anne Marsh-Caldwell

Post mark London 10^th September 1839

James Stamford Caldwell Esq

The University Club,

Suffolk Street,

Pall Mall

London

Angleterre

Sunday Sept 8^th

Indeed my dearest Stamford, I thank you very much for the present you are sending me by Arthur. It is very kind indeed of you to think so much about our enjoyment and I am sure it would give you pleasure to know how very much you have increased it.

Dear little Fanny is in raptures at the idea of being of the party and I had very much wished to take her. But really could not afford it. You have not only enabled us to do this, but we shall now be able to reach the Rhine, which our funds would not before have enabled us to do. Indeed, dearest Stamford, all the pleasure I have in seeing your generous desire to make us all happy is not merely selfish.

You may imagine the pride both Eliza and I feel in seeing you so well deserving the love, and approbations of the whole world, by your determination to spread happiness around you. And our beloved father and mother, if they could witness, must witness with pride and joy what is done by their sacrifice.

I am a bad expresser of thanks, I believe. But, dearest Stamford, if you could read my heart you would find it overflowing with the sweetest feelings.

I have not yet your letter, which Arthur is bringing me with your present. Given he says with so much kindness and good feeling that it was impossible to refuse it. I accepted it with cordial thanks.

We hope to set out on Thursday for the weather is lovely. We shall go to Ostend as the nearest point for getting on the Inv[hole in letter]od which will carry us in one day to Brussels. Another we shall be at Liege, and in two more at Cologne. The weather is charming and we shall have a most happy journey.

I shall really be very glad to get your letter for I have every day been hoping to hear something of you and of all our old London set. I have only heard of you through the Huttons. I wish you would take carriage and come and pay us a visit here. I should you enjoy some chat with you. All the letters in the world are nothing to one hours chat. I was happy with Eliza that it made amends for many months of exile. Not but what I could be very happy here if I were not so far away from you all.

There is a meeting of French savants here this week. Dr [Fulton?] is come from England but I do not yet hear of any one else. Dr [Bashford?] has been invited by the Whitmores, who are here. They are relations of Mrs Ed Holland, only to think of Bessy Holland taking unto herself a husband. I like late marriages and am convinced she has done wisely.

I have no news from here. How should I. I see no new books and have no idea what your world in London is intent upon. Lord Elgins [nors tournament?] I have time for no more. I wish you could see Fanny’s happy face.

Their dear love, all of them to their kind uncle, ever dearest Stamford, your truly affectionate and grateful

AM.

I had just finished. It is and was gone into the drawing room to have it sealed when I got your most interesting scrawl as you call it. I do not mean this as an answer. I shall still consider myself in your debt, dearest Stamford and will write to tell you of our journey.

You are very very kind in what you say about my mentioning the [fruist?]. I did and do think it a liberty to one so [proudly?] considerate as you have shewn yourself to be in all things, but I felt sad you excuse it as you have so very kindly done on account of the occasion. I love you very very much, and have a pleasure inexpressible in the feelings that your feelings excite in my mind, so tender an interest and admiration. I must say if you will not think I use the word too bluntly.

Indeed, dearest Stamford, I am sorry at the melancholy which sometimes pervades your mind. I do not wonder at it. I believe you would be very happy with a family of your own. No one more so [hole in letter from wax seal] should you not? Why should you not secure yourself that blessing. As I said above, later marriages do answer very well. I believe in my heart you would be happier now than you would have been some years ago.

I think your imagination is more subdued to expect only what that relation, tender as it is [in between part mortals produce?] that you would accept that [shaded?] happiness which is all we are to have in this world. I am very very sorry you cannot run over to see us over here. I am quite sure we could have had a happy time together. A very happy one.

Do not quite [hole in letter] your expectations of [affair?] ..make my heart quite yearn to yours, do you know that sweetest feeling. I am glad you were happy with our dear [Condine?] Hutton. As for Erasmus, he is une Citionille precassee dans de la neige and always was. C.D [Charles Darwin?]. is shy and busy, and not an old friend but I wish it had been otherwise for Emma Wedgwood’s sake who would have been a [chatting?] friend for you.

You will enjoy your pretty Linley again when you get to it. I shall write again soon and tell you how happy we have all been. I am sure if you could tell how happy you had made [bottom of image] in the [stig?] by – her to me free of all money cares – would