Michael D.Heath-Caldwell M.Arch.

1851

Hannah Eliza Roscoe - age 65/66       

James Stamford Caldwell of Linley Wood - age 64/65       

Anne Marsh-Caldwell of Eastbury Park – age 60/61    

Eliza Louisa Marsh-Caldwell – 'Louisa' –  age 32/33    

Frances Mary Crofton (ne Marsh) - age 31/32   

Georgina Amelia Marsh-Caldwell – 'Gies' – age 30/31  

Rosamond Marsh-Caldwell – 'Posy' - age 27/28  

Mary Emma Marsh (Lady Mary  E. Heath) – age 23/24  

\Hannah Adelaide Marsh (later Loring) - age 21/22



File PB130128

Letter from Elouisa Marsh-Caldwell - aged 32/33

to her uncle, James Stamford Caldwell - 1851 - aged 64/65

Lower Durnford Street

Stonehouse. [Plymouth - May be at Leopold and Mary's place]

My dear Uncle Caldwell

Aunt Amelia and myself arrived here on Saturday after having spent a couple of pleasant days at her hospitable friend Lady Bradfords in Eaton Square.

Emily Buxton fetched us from the Euston Station in her carriage which, as we were neither of us in the most flourishing state of health, was a great boon. We first dropped Aunt Me in Eaton Square and I afterwards went back with Emily to her luncheon and spend a little time with her.

I was charmed with her new house in Grosvenor Crescent. It is a very pretty and cheerful one, as well as very handsome and nothing like a [brewers?] fortune to enable one to do the furnishing part well. Some of the rooms are fitted up with American walnut which is a wood I had not seen before and with which I was very much pleased. It is a dark, small grained dun coloured wood and takes a most beautiful polish.

On the sideboard in the dining room all your candelabra which they bought at the Exhibition and which are very handsome indeed and Uncle Caldwells present look, I can assure you, very magnificent.

Aunt Roscoe and Aunt Holland came also to luncheon and I thought I never saw the former so pretty looking as she did and so beautifully dressed for an elderly lady. She was quite a picture.

Lord Palmeston had seen Dr Holland the day before and Emily told me that he said that Louis Napoleon had done quite right in making this coup de etat but that was on Thursday and his opinion may leave no dreads of attacks from them. This must be done.

The 12^th Lancers have arrived and a part of the 60^th Rifles. The latter description of force will be the most efficient, and consequently the most dreaded by the enemy. It was the desire of Sir Henry to dress the Troops like the native levees in a cheap and more appropriate costume for [Bush?] work than the Scarlet coats &c &c, but I am told the Horse Guards have objected to this, and the consequence has been and will continue to be, the loss of many valuable lives which in all probability would be otherwise saved, and make the men more efficient, for the very idea of a buttoned up red jacket in the [Bush?] of Caffraria surrounded by Kaffers is absurd and exposes the men unnecessarily both to the effects of the climate and the shot of the foe.

When will common sense be a component part of the very wise at home? The Queens have by last accounts from the Frontier, suffered severely (Captain [Helham?] of the Grenadiers killed), also the 73^rd.

This is a long extent from my uncles letter but I thought news from the spot might interest you. It is settled that I am to return with Aunt Amelia to Stonehouse as I thought that the cold here in the winter will not quite do for me, and I must say I shall be delighted to escape it. I suppose I shall remain there about two months or six weeks by which time I hope I shall have laid in a sufficient stock of warmth and strength to carry me through the remainder of the winter.

Good bye, cher uncle, je vous [faile?] les mains and am your always affectionate niece

Elouisa Marsh.

File PB110032 – already listed in 1850

Letter with black border. 

From Ann Marsh-Caldwell - aged 60/61

to her daughter, Posy, Rosamond Marsh-Caldwell - aged 27/28

Difficult to read, writing horizontal and vertical over top again. 1850-51

July 24^th

My dearest Posy.

Yes I do wish for you often and often and most when the cloud is upon me. I have felt very low at times and my spirits a good deal disturbed by the change to London and back again, and the sort of hurry we have been in since. Such things are not good too me yet[?] It is rather too early days and I have often wish too my dear friend and child and should be glad to get her home though happy to think she is away from home as these absences are the best [lys, things?] for you all, both mentally and bodily.

My dearest Polly too, I should be glad to see her sweet face again, and yet am so glad she is enjoying herself. And I hope you are both laying in a stack of fresh health and spirits. I am a good deal oppressed by the [interie arsuity?] I have yet to get my book finished. I have only 75 pages more to do, and as I approach the wished for goal I feel an impatience not to be expressed for the blessed rest of having done.

All my affairs too are got into such arrears during my absence. And I have felt so [west and loginard?] that I have been able to do little [duty?] but work my duty portion of my book.

The Croftons leave us to day. Our dearest Fanny seems so sorry to go that it quite delights me. She is indeed the sweetest married daughter that ever mother had. The naughty little babe is at last beginning to take to me, just as she is going away. It is a sweet child indeed, full of intelligence or rather I should say sense for she is not a very lively child I think.

Richard was looking very badly but Dr [Nelby?] has helped him a good deal. The negotiation for the exchange still goes on I believe, but there is nothing decided yet. Louisa felt ill again last Friday of a sore throat and I was obliged to send for Dr [Novosire?]. He says the windpipe is affected, and she is very much out of order. I think she is better, but you know what a difficult invalid she is to manage and her impossibility as it would seem to help doing too much. I think we shall do better with her when we are quite alone.

Adelaide went off [pens pervenly?] with Mrs Barnardiston [Greenwood relative] yesterday (at lent?). Two squires William Roscoe and Frank were in attendance to conduct her to the Eastern Rail to join Mrs B. She was half sorry to go and I was whole sorry to part with her but insisted upon her going according to my usual principles.

Sir Nosy comes next Tuesday and stays till Friday or Saturday. I don’t know exactly what I shall do with him now Richard is gone. But I have asked Sir William [Milman] and Lady Milman to dine with him Wednesday and Mr and Mrs Fowler Thursday, and I think of jelly the [stardy?] chap Mr Tooke for the first day. Tuesday was not to him his honour quite alone.

Fanny and Richard and the [Bobs?] are just [disaster?] I still miss my child much more than her child after all she is as infinitely sweet and amiable. Take care of your dear dear children and bring me two nice healthy girls back, that’s my dear.

Louisa I fear will require more care than ever. Give my kind love to Mary Greenwood who I think you are now alone with and to my own loved to Polly. This is a sad short stupid letter but [as?] my lover’s of all kinds go into this frosty book, the last years of my life are like a cleaner of books with brief intervals of sanity.

Ever my dearest Posy’s tender Mother. [??]

File PB1010017

Letter from Gies, Georgina Marsh-Caldwell - aged 30

to her elder sister, Frances Mary Crofton (ne Caldwell) - aged 31/32

Envelop

Sherness

Mrs R.H. Crofton

Banks Terrace

MileTown

Postmark 2^nd August 1851[?]

Friday evening

Thank you dearest Fanny for your note received yesterday and for the veils which are beautifully done I think, and just as good as new.

I daresay you will not mind our remaining in your debt till you come. I am very glad you are not going to take any more such hugely long walks. Mary and I intend making you walk with us every morning, will not you. It is so very pleasant you cannot think. Mary and I have been just down to the Grove, and leaving Mamas cards on Mrs Kelby. The good Dr looks so happy and it must be more comfortable for him when he comes home, must not it?

Fancy how grand I was this morning, the only person who had letters and I had four. I must say goodbye now dearest Fanny. I am very sorry we are not to have your journal after all. I thought you were in earnest at first when you said that it would be a very good thing for me to go and see Aunt Roscoe. Mary R goes there the 18^th . Laura Roscoe is to be married in the Spring. Henriettas [Margaret Henrietta New 1858-1919? Wrong date for to match envelop?] marriage is put off, for another year. Ever dearest Fanny your loving sister,

Georgina A. M.

File PB1010089

Part of letter Page 2 [November 1851]

Continues.... have [beezed?] round since then. From Emily I went to Mrs Edens where I found a large party of people and heard nothing in particular except that such was the confidence that all could end quietly in Paris that Mr Charles [Eyres?], who was married on Tuesday last intended, when I saw him on Thursday, to go to Paris for his wedding journey.

You have no doubt heard from my mother as a letter was forwarded from you to her the day I left home and she, I daresay, will have much more public news to tell you than the few miserable scraps I heard.

Of gossip, the topic was the marriage of the Duke of Richmonds daughter to the Prince of Sax-Weimer. She is to have no real rank in this country. I mean to say that she is not to the rank as a Princess and will be received at Court only as a Dukes daughter [whod?] be married to a commoner. The Prince, some people say, is a most agreeable, fascinating person and that Miss Lane Fox did die of a broken heart about him. Others that he is inane and stupid and that Miss Lane Fox grew good (what that had to do with it I can't see) and broke off the engagement some time before she died.

Lady A Gordon Lennox is not handsome but clever. Her father was against the match. Her mother for it. Her trousseau was magnificent and contained a great many of the waistcoats which are at this moment so much the rage for ladies attire, and approach to Bloomerism you will think. This is all the gossip with which I have to regale you. We are made glad by my cousin George Marsh having .. continues?

Charles Dickens, re Ann Marsh-Caldwell

Dickens took great pain in revising "The Spendthrift's Daughter."

In a letter to Wills, Oct. 8, 1851, he wrote that he had undertaken to correct the story so as to show Mrs. Marsh what he considered "its faults of details"; he instructed Wills to be particularly careful that the correction were printed with scrupulous accuracy, repeating the admonition in a flowing letter of the same date (MSS Huntingdon Library).

On Oct. 9, he wrote to Wills: "Mrs. Marsh's story [name omitted in Nonesuch Letters; reads Marsh in MS Huntingdon Library] will be very good now, I think. It would be as easy (almost) to write one, as I found it to get point and terseness out of such an infernal hash."

Dickens himself sent the author payment for the story (Office Book: "£20 per C.D.").



File PB110055

Black bordered letter.

Mourning letter and mentions Arthur but he died 23 Dec1849

Arbury [Louis Napoleon revolution in Paris, 2^nd Dec 1851]

Letter from Ann Marsh-Caldwell - aged 61

to her brother, Stamford Caldwell, aged 65

4^th December [1851?]

My dearest Stamford,

My being at this place I am quite vexed to think will occasion the loss of a post in thanking you for your very kind letter and its enclosure, like Hamlets gift to Ophelia. The words of sweet perfume “made the gift doubly rich.” I thank you for it heartily. I will not pretend that it is not a very acceptable proof of your affection, but I think you will give me credit for the feeling that as a proof of your affection and esteem its value is doubled to me.

Your approbation heartens and cheers me on, in my now lonely course. And no one that has not lived that life of perfect confidence which existed between me and my dearest Arthur can imagine how lonely the one left behind sometimes feels in spite of these good and affectionate and dutiful girls, that it has pleased God in his mercy to give me.

I left home last Wednesday with Rosa, for this place. Mr Newdegates, and we stay till Monday. I am in the very heart of the Protectionists, as you well know, (page 2) and can only exhort them to get rid of the name as fast as they can, and look out for some other sobriquet for their party. I have a great esteem I might almost say affection, for Mr Newdigate who is an honest England heart if ever there was one. His mother, who lives with him, for he is a Bachelor, is a lively clever woman, and we have long been intimately acquainted.

This Revolution at Paris of course is like a great stone thrown into the waters. But nobody here seems to know more about it. Nor perhaps so much as you do yourself in your hermitage, where you sit and do, what nobody else seems to, hear both sides and weigh contradictory evidences and opinions.

I hear now of Louis Napoleon having been known to the Elphinstones as a boy, and reckoned very clever. His mother used to say, “La calme ostination de Louis, via loin.” A Mr Hope who is here met him at the Eglintown Tournament, and when I asked what impression he really received of him said, that he was “a good deal of an ass.” It seems a [thorne, shorne?] I can pick up and tell, being here. But really people talk of little else than the F.Neo and know nothing whatever about it.

Louisa and I Thursday set off for Devonshire, where I have agreed with Aunt Me to pay her board in order that she may stay there during the more inclement part of the (page 3) winter, and thus avoid those painful attacks of neuralgia, which cold seems to produce. One winter well spent I hope, will restore her constitution, which requires a little good care but is, thank God, a good one all found.

Rose looks very nice and her singing is much admired here. The others are well. Dear little Adelaide the happiest of happy. And I trust when we have the pleasure of introducing Mr Loring to you, you will say she has good right to esteem herself as she does a very lucky girl.

Yey I trust we shall meet in peace and affection at the dear old place in good time next year, though I have not succeeded yet in the object of letting the farm. I thought the matter was accomplished, but when we came to the reference part of the business there proved to be a deficiency of capital. But as I have now had two bonafide offers besides numerous nibbles I trust the business will be accomplished ere long.

I am going out a drive with Mrs N but am resolved not to lose another post. Rosa’s love and believe me dearest Stamford your truly affectionate sister,

Anne Marsh.