Michael D.Heath-Caldwell M.Arch.

1845-46 Oxford

C51

Wilburton [Pells place]

Monday 27^th October

My dearest Martin,

Now you are fairly settled at Oxford I will let you know that I am still alive and without the slightest symptom of that death and burial which Grandpapa seemed to think a necessary consequence of my coming to the Fenns, and really I do not think this country so very hideous after all. There is much more idea of foliage than I had any expectation of though to be sure what I expected was about one tree to a quarter of a mile distance round and the immense expanse of country from the heights looks to me rather pretty than ugly though it is so flat from the depth of the indigo blues.

Still now after what I have said I have no doubt that if you were to come here you would pronounce it frightful.

On Saturday morning I went to Ely which is certainly the finest Cathedral both inside and out that I have seen in England and I am not sure though, smaller if I do not admire it as much in its way as that of Cologne. The service as far as the chantry goes is very well done there and it does one good to hear it in that noble pile. Very different (you see I have made a mistake in turning the (page srept?) but I shall not waste another piece of paper so pardonney) from the way it is done in Wilbarton Church where it is performed by a stammering and half (paved?) clergyman in manner which puts me into such a state of irritation that by the time we leave church I am ready to (scratch?) anybody! And I feel convinced that I shall return home in a very unchurch like mood.

Please dear boy write and tell how you got through you (sittings, settlings?) as I am very anxious to know and I have not heard though they are very good in writing to me from home where all seems to be going on well, only think of Mr Thomas Roscoe telling Papa that Mama was “undoubtedly the first honest (honed?) writer of her day” not that I am surprised for I myself cannot doubt it but it sounds (plaid, ward?) said by another person.

Tomorrow we are going to Norwich and Yarmouth by the Railroad as an expedition which it is very kind and good natured I think of Lady Pell to do, and on Saturday we go to Cambridge which I wish very much indeed to see.

By the way Bridge, Lady Pell’s maid said she wondered whether Miss Marsh’s father was the Mr Marsh she recollected a fellow commoner of St John’s. How oddly things and people meet again in the world. Papa’s (Jips?) is not that the word? Was a friend of hers.

Dear Martin I must now stop suddenly as we are going out. Mind and don’t forget to write me a line and direct the Honourable Lady Pell’s, Wilburton, at Ely.

Ever your truly attached sister, E Louisa Marsh.

C54  (letter from Martin Marsh to his sister Rosamond (Posy) Marsh-Caldwell)

June?

Page from a letter written both sides horizontal and vertical, signed M.Marsh

–

Suffering from the remains of a stiff neck and fireless in a draughty room on a windy day. I sit down to comfort myself with auditing an epistle to my well beloved sister Posy!! But what to say, that may interest you, exhausted as I have all the news of the past week in my journal.

So arrival that remains my – really so sorry that it will not be in time this week but I lay in bed on Saturday morning, not able to turn my head round and so I saw no one to ask to carry it to the box.

I was very much –ed when I found it was too late and offered our Cerleras a sop in the shape of two pence to admit it, but alas! In vain the door was closed. The mail made up and I rejected and disconsolate returned my steps now slowly and desponding.

But it shall fly upon the wings of love(?) duly to Eastborough tomorrow morning. We have had such showers here, the trees look green and refreshing even to my garret view.

I may ask you how old Tippy dog is? Whether you have tickley wickley’o him lately. But I shall be back as it were tomorrow the 4^th of June, is the day, any how the first of May is here. I rather look forward to being at home this season of the year as I have not experienced it, and I certainly am fond of Summer, and then if it is possible as well ask John (Greenwood) over. And be very merry.

Pray remind Adelaide to be careful of the dear dogs safety. N likes are not there running away’s. Thank her very much for her letter and I do hope the Polka is a pretty one and if it is not I am most sorry but it is hard to fudge if you have never heard it played, is it not?

Please whoever next writes to the Giffords will they be so kind as to tell her Ladyship that I have performed her Ladyships behest and have already written to

To have heard my little girl from so unpartial an authority as the gallant Lasc that you have written a faultless German exercise.

The boat races being on Monday evening, that is tomorrow. You must all breathe your best wishes for our brave boat at 7 o’clock and ½ of an hour precisely, and the same repeated every other evening for the next 3 weeks. There is something for you to do and please if you write to Emily will you ask her about that book of mine that was to have been left at Brook Street.

Kiss the dear dog for me and hold, as ever your most affectionate brother,

M. Marsh.  

C47  (letter to Martin Marsh from his eldest sister Louisa Marsh-Caldwell)

1846?

My dearest Martin,

It is an age since I have written to you and now we hope to see you so soon that it is hardly worth while. Georgey will have told you all about their proceedings at the Maines and at Gorhambury and I do not think that I have much to amuse you with as I have been most part of the week alone with Aunt Georgey, Grandpapa and George that is to say very nearly by myself as the little hot room was impossible to sit in up stairs. I did not however find it in the least dull as housekeeping, music and drawing filled up the time completely.

I could not help thinking while leading these few days of solitary life what a gift to man the arts are in them. There is not as in society any disappointment to the feelings and affections. You may love them and devote yourself to them and they daily improve under your care and attention not like some that have been and yet are to be loved, return it with coldness, neglect or changeableness.

How I have been talking and moralizing, you must be quite sick of me.

Yesterday Aunt Georgey and I went up to London for the day. She to do some business and I to have my teeth done. We walked about London and were very tired. I do hate pegging it in London. A most charming place it is for a short time with your carriage and servants but without these appendages I think it perfectly odious, being pushed about in a crowd, now to one side or the other. May be into the kennel or against the wall. This is only disagreeable for ladys as for men c’est tout autre chose.

Aunt Georgey says it is being very proud to dislike walking in this way but I confess I do not see that it has anything to do with pride.  A woman has a natural feeling, not to like to be jostled about in every way, if it is pride it is a pride of nature and I say justifiable as long as it does not prevent your being useful. If I had a sick friend and would not go and see them because I did not like walking without a gentleman in the streets that would be quite another thing and what one never in such a case should a moment think about.

Mama, F, P and M come back this evening after dining (at least Mama) at Sir Benjamin Heywood’s. 

There seem to have been a great many people in London and to have had an entertaining visit.

Had anybody told you that last Sunday we had Lizzie Pell and her future husband Mr Alex Pym [Married 21^st Dec 1847] staying here. They seem very happy and talk of taking carpenters(?) which would be delightful and as Mama says quite a piece of “(prike?) justice.”

Everything is looking in its lovely (tinted?) springness and as the wind has changed today I hope we may at last have some warm weather. I amused myself this week by cutting a walk through that part of the large wood which we call the Beechwood and Papa has let me have two benches put up which both command pretty views. I hope when you come you will think it an improvement. I must write to Kathy Mainwaring so will close this dear Martin and with many kisses and much love,

Believe me our ever affectionate,

Louisa Marsh.

Eastbury,

Saturday.

File PB130008

AMC to Martin? Time of the Corn Laws debate, December 1845?

Letter continues from somewhere else??-

Continues...

of the carpet I took much pains to choose what I thought would be to his taste.

We lunched at Lyons yesterday and saw Emilias [pretendu?], he is not a very handsome fellow it must be owned. And the fair Emilia has not chosen by the eye, but she has, I believe, got a very worthy young man, with a pretty fortune in expectation so I hope she has done well.

We called too upon the Gregs. Do you remember them. At Boulogne. The girls are grown up, not to much elegance or beauty, but I dare say they are very good, and will do to add to Mary and Adelaides slender stack of friends.

All London is full of the Corn Laws. Nobody seems to know what to expect. Very few people expect any good from all these new measures. Most people don't seem to have a guess what will be the result of them. And I believe those who do not attempt to guess are the wisest. It seems the general expectation that Sir Robert Peel will carry his measures and keep his place, because, says the world, if we take Lord John we shall be so worse still.

But Emily writes us word that the Duke of Richmond says he can make an administration. This Lord Dacre says would be a very mad attempt and only throw us into the hands of the Whigs. But for [mine?] our part I cannot fathom wishing that the experiment might be made.

You do not tell me what you heard said at Kirtlington [Dashwoods home] upon the subject.

The hay keeps selling, and I wish we had 12 hay stacks for the 12 months of the year, for the flow of 20 or 30 pounds each week makes the pot boil surprisingly well. When shall you want your last £10 replaced, pray ask for it as soon as you want it. I really think you must have lost it. It is a dear lesson if such be the case, but I am happy to say you are not one upon whom lessons are thrown away.

The grass grows fast and there will be more feed in the country than animals to eat it, so I hope all young creatures will fetch a good price next year. I am most excessively busy just now, having about 16 pages of close print to write every day, and this makes me very stupid. Farewell my own and beloved boy, Your tender Mother.

[perle?]- is very well, but does not like the new dining room so well as we do.

File PB130069

Letter to Posy MC from Mary M [Lady Mary Heath] about 1845. When Martin fancied Miss Chester.

Dearest Posy,

I must put a little bit with Mamas letter to thank you for your letter which I received on Wednesday. Mama will have given you a full and accurate account of all our doings.

Mr Abbott, not Mr [Tapman?] but the then[?] one enquired most particularly after Miss Rosa and hoped she was quite well. I suspect you have given that gentleman a smile, for he said he wanted to call after the Milmans wedding party and asked Mr Fitz whether he thought he might. Mr T said Oh yes, he might if he liked but he would not see any of us as we had all got colds.

I suspect Mr T thought his unsolicited call would not be quite the thing. [S?] and I saw a good deal of him and the Fitzs and we do not like him, quite the bad style of man.

Harry says it is a great shame that you should be from home [crosswise] now and he says if his purse would permit he would run down and fetch you himself. And proposes that a subscription should be made up. In short you situation with respect to ball missing fills him with compassion. He is so very charming. If possible more so than ever.

Adelaide and I had a evening at the Milmans yesterday, polking with the Aldersons. There was no one there but the party in the house. As Henry, L and Arthur Milman and Robert M except the little Major and Mrs Burrows. Martin looked so charming at our party. He says he has taken down the bill at his heart and let in on lease to Miss Chester. But Mrs Milman is very unhappy about this and desires me to tell him she will not give her consent, that she is nothing but a pretty picture for she has known them all her life. She told me a great deal more about them which she desired I would not repeat but M must [hedge?] no such unworthy tenant and the bill must be put up again.

I have no more paper as I am keeping the last bit to write to E upon but Mama will have to tell you all particulars my darling child.

Ever your affectionate MM

C66 – 1846?

Black edged writing paper.

Eastbury

Wednesday

My dearest Martin,

It is an immense time since I have written to you but there are so many always writing from here that there is a constant fight for topics. Consequently I retire from the lists as considering it a mere form when there are so many more (and of greater epistiolatory talents) waiting to do so, however, as I have now been staying in London a fortnight there must or ought to be some variety.

In the first place though you will be sorry to hear that poor Elizabeth Roscoe is dead. You know that for some time she has been very far from well and under medical care and an attack of Influenza seems to have been too much for her as she sank most unexpectedly and suddenly under it.

Aunt Roscoe had just been to see her and found her better and stronger than she had expected and left the house, then before she could be recalled poor Elizabeth suddenly sank and expired. For her poor girl one must consider it a great release as her life latterly had been one of much suffering but her poor mother will feel it deeply and Mama started this morning with Papa to go and see her in Tonington Square where she is now staying.

I spent a pleasant though not very gay fortnight in London, our party consisted of Lady Pell, Lizzie, Mrs Bedford (Lady Pell’s sister) and myself. Alex Pym, Lizzies affianced dined there almost every evening but of course they were not very lively company.

Minny is gone down to Emily Fowler’s little girls christening and was only there two days of my stay which was a great loss to me. The night we went a larger party to Exeter hall to hear Beethoven’s “Engede” and Mendelssohn’s “Hymn of Praise,” both magnificent pieces and the choruses really stupendously grand but the music is of that kind which requires one to hear it once or twice before one truly understands it which I think is generally the case with all really good music.

Our party consisted of Lady Pell, Minny and Lizzie, Maria Milman, Miss Pym, Alex’s sister who is a fine handsome girl of 19 with immense spirits. Mr Charles Pym, an uncle, very handsome, formerly, clever and satirical, a bad temper and therefore as the place was very hot not at all communicative. Mr John Vaughan the eldest son of our predecessor, very handsome, a widower, evidently thinks himself perfectly irresistible and a great flirt. I don’t admire him, and lastly Alix Pym.

This was our party and Lizzie Pell and Bessy Pym made such a noise in their high spirits that Mr Charles Pym was ten times crosser and I am not sure that he was not right.

In coming out I was accosted by the charming Crompton who as he saw me in the midst of a gay party thought me, I suppose, worth hunting up, however, I had not exchanged many monosyllables with him (you know I don’t like him) before I espied Lady Gifford, Scott, John and Bella Alderson. Scott is settled in his lodgings and at the Foreign Office and seemed much pleased at the idea of coming down here. Not like your friends Martin, John has got a living at Guildford, not a very good one I believe but as a make weight till he gets a better.

While I was in London I went with Minny one day to the Tower and as we were with an authority saw all over the Record Office and the dungeons of the White Tower which are not generally shewn. The dungeon where Fisher was confined and also another where Sir Thomas More was before he was beheaded are the most dreadful dark holes you can imagine below the level of the ground beneath the White Tower with no opening to the breath of day.

Here is an end of the paper dearest Martin so good bye and ever believe me your truly affectionate LM.

C64

Monday.

Dear Martin,

If you will walk as far as the Essex’s Alms on Wednesday I will be there with the Poney chaise to meet you at 10 1/2. I hope that is not too early. We must make up some fun or other. We shall be quite alone at Number this week. I think I forgot to tell you that.

I remain

Yours affectionately

RH.

C62

Woodchester, May 8^th.

My dearest Martin,

Many thanks to you for your kind assistance. I don’t know what I should do without you and I do not so much regret troubling you as you do not dislike it, and it is a (regretted?) German less or negotiating with him.

Scott has been from home with Gifford ever since your last letter to (me?) so I can hold no consultations with him on the subject, but some friends of ours, or rather two cousins of mine are going to Germany the last week in May or first week in June and as Scott has never been abroad it might be pleasant to have company instead of going alone, so I do not think he will start till then, but if you will kindly tell Herr Doll I should be glad to send him there for about three months and it will be at that time but another letter as to the precise time. I will come again a week or a few days before he comes.

You say he will take Scott on the same terms he did you but you do not say what those terms were and how did you manage about your money? The exchange of it or did he manage it? Does he understand English at all or not?

Will you be at Eastbury next month or not. I hope we may get there in the course of June if it suits your mother and because we are moving from home the middle of next week. Were we not I should ask if you would come and see us. Very feasible now from Oxford to Cirencester. It would give me much pleasure to see you. Ever dear Martin, affectionately hours MS.

Will you give me at time before the 14^th Inst.

B127

Letter from Louisa Marsh to

M. Marsh Esq,

Merton College,

Oxford

Note –

Commission (in red ink)

Martin Marsh Esq

MertonCollege

Oxford

 (red ink) Existed(?) as sent by Wm Marsh.

Dear Martin (black edged paper)

The Post Office orders are just arrived and I have only time before the bag goes to say Mama begs you will send us one line/only one (Guinea?) to acknowledge the receipt of them.

Your ever attached

Louisa Marsh

Thursday, quite dark.

B135 – [1845? Mentions Pell coming in January?]

Letter to Martin

Brook Street

Friday

Dearest Martin,

At last I shall have the pleasure of writing to you having reserved myself till I had been here as I hoped to have something more to tell you.

We were in luck in having Harry here who is come up to eat his dinner, he looks very well and is in high form. I have engaged him and Frank for the St.Albans ball. I do hope Mr (Foctees?) and Garth will positively come.

We are just come in from seeing the Lincolns Inn it is extremely handsome, the Hall very fine indeed but as I dare say when next you come to London you will go there yourself. I will not trouble you with descriptions which I quite agree with you unless very well done are (immensely?) dull things.

We had a party of young men to dinner last night, and very pleasant it was. Adelaide performed and was much admired and Fanny and I sung and terrific it was. Harry nods his head as I look up and desires just his love not knowing to whom I am writing and having ascertained who his (blessing?).

Papa is come back quite mad about draining, he is going to drain the (graves, grasses, gases?) under Mr Pells guidance who comes to us about the beginning of January for that purpose. He is delighted, Papa I mean to say, with the farming of those parts.

As to Louisa I don’t know when she intends to honour the fraternal roof again with her presence for she does not talk of coming back yet and is enjoying herself much. They say Papa looks very well but we girls missed him as we were down with the Lyons who are all very flourishing and with whom we are going to make an exchange of sisters, Georgy going up to the Lyons and Eleanor and Blanche coming to us.

Tonight we are bound for the French Play, Safous and Mode il Mare. You ever I was going to say you cannot imagine what pleasure it was to hear that you had passed as “Little Go” so very well. Mama as you may imagine was much pleased at the (Logie?).

We were all so very glad to hear that Garth had passed his too.

Mama is going to make an expedition down to Charles Crompton’s tomorrow to investigate all the froue and contros of the Temple and Lincolns Inn that beautiful Hall and Library make one long for you to be a member of the Inn. Adelaide was very desirous to write to you but I could not let her as I had not had one scribble to you yet, though she fought desperately

(letter ends?)

B141 [Oxford, Frank was with him there?]

York Gate

Monday

Please dearest Martin, don’t think me very shabby but Aunt Georgy has got no note paper and besides I think I am in conscience bound to use her worst.

You wretched young man!! You left your waistcoat behind after all though I did it up in paper and laid it on the table for you, I dear say I carelessly though forgot to tell you of it.

Saturday I spent the day at Mrs Edens where of course I had a most pleasant one. She asked me to go there again some evening this week but I am really horrified at the till of cabs I am running up for Mama and so must unwillingly have written to tell her I cannot come.

It really is horrid work being a girl in London and not able to move anywhere by oneself. Tonight I go to a party  at Lady Aldersons. They asked me to go there on Saturday to meet Emily but I could not. Emmy has written to me again to press my going to Brook Street so I suppose I must go which I shall like to do much.

How stupid they are about Posy. I gave a most desperately broad hint about her in the note I wrote to Emily but without any effect, I suppose Posy is too brilliant. It can be the only reason I should think and Mrs Holland considers me a safer a kind of animal. It really is very provoking but certainly Posy is a little bit of an enchantress.

I had a scrap from Eastbury the other day but written just after Papa and Mama had returned from St Albans and nothing said as to whether they had succeeded in their appeal or not.

I was frightened the other day by hearing that the poor’s rates would not be taken as any (cortance?) as to the value of the property as they were almost always taken at too low a value. I do hope this may not prove true.

I feel much better for Mr Stone’s medicines. I only hope their good effects may continue.

I will send your waistcoat with your shirts. I have had a letter from Miss King who seems delighted with hers. I will write to you again dearest brother before very long and hope I shall have something more entertaining to tell you. In the mean time,

Believe me your ever affectionate,

Louisa Marsh.

The cook behaved shamefully. She was engaged and on the day agreed upon which she should go down to Eastbury if her character suited, when the next day she called to say she had changed her mind for she had got a place in a nobleman’s family. However I heard afterwards from Mrs Eden who knew her former mistress that she was (fired, sacked?) for her bad temper so it was a good riddance to bad rubbish.
Love to Frank.

B153

Letter addressed Mats Marsh from R Rede Rede.

My dear Boy,

I fear there will be a great sameness in my letters to you, but this I hope you will forgive and believe me when I assert that I feel a warm affection for yourself and dear companions and to prove this I am most anxious for your welfare, those who love you a little are anxious about you for a time, and after a time forget you, but I love you much and therefore am anxious for your eternal welfare.

I should delight could I hear you were making the enquiry “what shall I do to be saved.” You my dear friend I should rejoice and feel you had received a blessed portion tho’ you were stripped of every earthly good if a heavenly gift were yours, if the Lord lift up his countenance upon you. I will ask for nothing more. God is your Father and tho’ each tribulation and crosses may be yours you will be safe and rich indeed. May this be the case with you. May your soul be enabled really to call God your Father and I will be content.

Your affectionate

R Rede Rede. 

C28

10 Eaton Place

Dear Marsh,

I am very sorry to find that I shall not have the pleasure of seeing you at Cambridge. I still hope to hear that you can manage to come day before the 25^th. It will make no difference to me which it is. I return there I hope on Wednesday next. Such a wretched day, rain all hours.
With kind remembrances to your sisters,

Believe me,

Yours truly,

George (Allward, Asllard?)

C30

Mr Sedgwick compliments to Mr Marsh and begs to inform him that Mr Robert Grimston and some friends of his from Gorhambury with Mssr Milman and Pell &c will have a game of cricket in Mr Stuart’s park on Thursday next at Aldenham Abbey and if Mr Marsh would like to play Mr Sedgwick will be glad of his assistance. Play will commence about 11 o’clock.

Watford

Tuesday

B071 [may be referring to Martin visiting Eton after leaving and going to Oxford]

Letter to Martin from Emily Holland

Knutsford, Wed 10^th.

My dear Martin,

You are a most honorable young gentleman for fulfilling your engagement with such promptitude, and I feel a little more reconciled to my hard bargain indeed if it had not, that the thimble is too small to make any use of and if you did not crow over me too unmercifully upon the good qualities of the knife, I should begin to think you rather less (ferish?) than I did at first.

The paper will be very useful tome, not however that I shall do much German exercise while I am here for I have not the wherewithal they will require more study to understand before making use of them.

Do you expect me to forgive your pun of impertinence in accusing me of fault finding? I am sure you have no reason to tax me with it, after the magnanimous manner in which I have forgiven you. I will allow you to correct my faults in German but do not intend to let you go any further, it would indeed be letting you loose on a wide field, and open a further (range?) of fault to you, so no more innuendos, on the subject if you please.

Frank is duly jealous and irritated by the vision of you and Miss Clark flitting before him in the light fantastic too. Is Miss Clarke to be at the Ball? Because I think (Parker?) has more reason to be jealous of you than Frank if that is the case.

Tell Posy I expect a full account of the Ball. You don’t tell me, unnatural brother as you are whether Louisa is well enough to go. I do hope she will not lose all her gaiety.

Aunt Amy tells me they have been asked but do not intend to go as the children have had so much dissipation lately. The boys have been riding with Gpapa, Frank in the carriage horse and he is obliged to precede the others a quarter of a mile as when his horse is with the others it insists upon standing in the middle of the road and kicking.

The most of the morning they shut themselves up in the study from which doleful toots having been heard to issue at intervals when we concluded that Frank is exercising his musical talents.

We have long evenings here, which we pass by reading aloud and chess playing. Yesterday we took to conglomeration. I should like to know whether you have the least idea what that long word means.

Frank will be very happy to make the appointment you propose for returning to Eton. He and Harry leave us tomorrow evening. I shall lose a great (piece?) of their holidays. I hope you mean to manage Miss Duckworth’s dance. I shall consider you very faithless to Charlotte Coltman if you do not. Don’t ask her to dance a country dance, or at least make it count for nothing. I have not got over that awfully stupid one at (Cassiobay?) yet. (Cassiobury House, Watford)

My letter looks almost as illegible as yours of which one sentence still remains a profound mystery to me, but then I have the excuse of a bad pain and no knife to mend it with. Return all the love you throw upon me a hundredfold, Ever your affectionate coz[?]

Emily Holland.

B109

Envelop address – Marsh Esq, Merton Coll. [check date for year]

Saturday March 15^th.

Sir

If you will attend the Lodge at two o’clock on Tuesday afternoon the Well will pass you to the Second degree in Masonry. Will you oblige me by sending either this evening or on Monday morning your fees for Initiation and Dinner ticket in all £6.16.0

Yours obediently.

W Thompson.

B023

Short invite to dinner.

Dear Mr Marsh,

We are all going to a Windsor Ball on Thursday, are you inclined to join our party? We can give you a bed and shall be happy to see you at dinner at seven o’clock. With compliments to Mrs Marsh and your sisters.

Believe me truly yours

James Clarke

(Thakelys?)

Tuesday.

B035

[After Germany visit at Herr Dolls]

Letter to Martin, possibly from Louisa (LM)

My dearest Martin,

I had written half a letter to you on Monday when I found that Mama was going to write so took it and tore it up.

We are all recovering fast from the influenza Mama is plagued with a cough and poor Mary (Jill eht” ?) looks shockingly pulled down.

Yesterday Mary and Adelaide went to be confirmed in London, which was done by the Bishop of London, who they said was very impressive.

I see that one of the poets you met at Herr Dolls is become a person of some political importance owing to his books. Herr Frulligrath, I mean, he makes a great noise in one of the articles of the Revue des Deux Mondes. I should think that society at St Gras must have been some of the most really clever you ever mixed with. Certainly the foreign form of society is much preferable to ones there. You get really good refined and clever without all the luxury which is indispensably necessary if you mean at all to mix with your fellow creatures.

Fanny and Posy are going to Putney Park next week where they stay for a ball which they are going to give there which will be a change and entertaining for them.

Owing to some circumstances too long to explain Sapsford never sent your groceries but Papa will get them for you and send them down to you. Papa is come down from town with Mr Slack and he says that if you don’t come and see him when you come home he will cut you out of his will.

The farm as far as it goes, continues well. The grass fields look very green. The oats look very well and the barley beautiful, but for the wheat, alas! Alas! Papa says he shall let it stand as it is for a month and then if it does not behave pretty well and look pretty he will plough it up and sow turnips which there will still then be time for.

What do you think the naughty Mr Tip did yesterday? Aunt G and Georgy went up yesterday to Betchworth Heath to speak to some workwomen and at their house was a poor little dog whom Wasp and May most civilly made their bow to and entered into a little polite conversation when Mr Tip, who had lagged a little behind came up and without saying anything most cruelly and barbarously fell upon the poor little dog and rolled him over and frightened him very much. What do you say to “The dear dog” for this very unjustifiable conduct.

I hope you are of Solomons opinion about the rod. The dressing bell has rung so I must go and dress after this interesting little anecdote about your son, which I sincerely hope will not too much afflict the paternal heart.

Fanny Tower, the Paragons eldest sister is going to be married to a Captain Hamilton of the Navy, a match at which they are all much pleased. I shall get no dinner and shall get scolded for being so late so good bye,

Caro fretillo mio sempre la vostia soulla,

Affectuos essima. LM.

A103

Letter

My dear Martin from Harvey Winson Fellows

Money Hill House. Saturday April 15^th.

I shall have great pleasure in dining with you on Friday next at ½ past 6. Edward, I am happy to say is quite recovered, he came home on Thursday last, and he goes away again

Continues.

A115

Letter to Martin Marsh from his sister Louisa Marsh.

Wilburton. [Pell Pym residence] [1845?]

Friday 13^th

My dearest Martin,

I have nothing in the world to tell you but I must send you a line to congratulate you upon getting through your little go with such success and which I do with my whole heart dearest brother.

You know that Papa has been for a few days which I think amused him as he seemed interested in all the farming pursuits of course. I was to have gone back home with him but Minny wished me so much to stay that here I am for a few weeks longer.

Yesterday we went for the second time to Cambridge and nearly finished seeing all the colleges, and most beautiful the bulk of them are but the Town itself is perfectly hideous, the streets so narrow and dirty and the houses so shabby, you beat them out and out in that respect at Oxford as much as I remember of the Town though your colleges are not to be compared I think, still as a whole I prefer Oxford.

Harry is now in London so of course I saw nothing of him.

I heard you are getting up an immense collection of picture for your screen and that there will be no end of pasting at xmas. Are you not delighted.

The drawing room is done. Mary writes the word that it is quite lovely and that I shall scream with delight when I see it, the glory thereof is so intense.

You said in your letter to Papa that you had written to me, if so I have never received this document but I think you must have meant that you intended to write. If you knew the dearth of incidents you would be less surprised at the exceeding dullness of this letter, for though I am very happy and content here there really is nothing to relate, and all I intend this for is to show how truly anything that relates to your interests and whatever success you may have really sympathises in.

Your ever most loving sister,

Louisa Marsh.