| Sender Location | 10 South Street, Park Lane [London] |
| Administrative History | - Ellen Brooks, born about 1839, (mother of Maria Elizabeth Brooks, born in 1860), recorded in the 1881 census living at Fritchley with children Sarah, born about 1869
- William, born about 1871 and Gertrude, born about 1878
- Mrs Swann: not identified
- Girl Cottrell: probably a daughter of Peter and Grace Cotterill/Cottrel of Bonsall
- Lydia Prince, born about 1810, living at Commonside, Holloway; and Dorothy Prince, born about 1835, living at Commonside, Holloway
- William Yeomans of Holloway House, land agent to the Nightingale family and Poor Law Guardian
- Mary Gregory, born about 1805, living at Commonside, Holloway (1871 only)
- Nurse Deebank: possibly Thirza Debanks, born about 1846, listed in the 1881 census living at Commonside, Holloway
- Harriet Broomhead, born about 1823, living in Holloway
- Elizabeth Shardlow, born about 1830, living at Commonside, Holloway
- Boy Bunting: not identified
- James Foulds died October-December 1878, aged 56
- Mary, wife of John Bratby, former servant to the Nightingale famliy, living in retirement in Holloway
- Charles Henry Lee, born in 1875, son of Andrew Lee and Elizabeth Lee, formerly Woolley, nee Henshaw
- Elizabeth Holmes, born about 1858, living at Commonside, Holloway
- Mrs Holmes; not identified
- Ann Peach, born about 1825 living at Holloway Common with daughter Louisa born about 1866 (1881 only)
- Eliza Limb, born about 1830, living at Up Hollow, Holloway
Sources: Civil registration indexes, 1871 and 1881 census
"distress at home" - may be a reference to significant numbers of people in economic hardship and poverty during a time of recession. |
| Transcript or Index | Jan 21/79
My dear Sir
I have to ask your pardon for not having written before.
The truth is: I came back so worn out to my usual hard winter's work and pressure of business that I am ashamed to think how much I am in arrear. And the hardest work is that which one does not do.
You have, I hope, quite recovered your strain.
I was very much obliged to you for writing to me about Lizzie Brooks' mother. I have placed Lizzie in a very good situation at Bath, not out of my reach but I hope out of reach of her mother who harrassed her continually. Yet I feel sorry for her little sister and brother at home. And I do not think it right for the girl to break off entirely with her home. She must try to be of use to the little sister.
Pray remember me kindly to Mrs Swann: I was sorry not to see her before I left Lea Hurst: And pray ask her what is become of the little girl Cottrell she had a place for: and of the mother whom you so kindly attended.
Good old Lyddy Prince -one of the best women I know & a core of saint I am afraid she is very uncomfortable with her sons - they not assisting her as they ought. Please be so good as to keep your eye on her health.
I shall be very glad to give Dolly Prince the benefit of the Nottingham spectacles. I left the money with Mr Yeomans.
As for Sister Allen, who always reminds me of a prophetess of the Old Testament - it is quite remarkable to hear her talk Scripture - I am overjoyed that she is so much better under your kind care. Please continue it: & tell her to write to me & say whether she has had what I said from Mr Yeomans.
And is there any particular diet she ought to have?
As for Widow Gregory, poor old soul, if the others are a [word overwritten] Saint & a prophetess, or something like it, she is an animal or something like it; thinking of her "creature comforts" and of Philip's (the lad ought to be in the Workhouse: he is dangerous) I am glad her nurse, Deebank, is so much better: she sees well, I suppose, to[?] the old body.
Poor Mrs Broomhead: how patient she is: it is quite beautiful. I would like to have seen her as she wishes to see me, but I scarcely can wish her to live another year Please tell her how I always remember her & continue your kind care. Is there anything else she should have?
2.
Is Miss Shardlowe returned from the Infirmary? She wrote to me from there. But I have not heard from her since. How is she?
I am very glad to hear good news of the boy Bunting & glad that poor old James Foulds is at rest.
Mrs Bratby, your patient, is still at Ramsgate & doing well.
Your little patient, the spine child, Lee, is very much better, & gone back to the Ascot Convalescent Home
Please be so good as to look after Lizzie Holmes still.
I hope we shall clear out that abominable place at Buxton. But we must do it with quietness & caution.
I am afraid Mrs Holmes has not submitted to you yet. I trust that you will also be so good as to look in from time to time upon poor Widow Peach's daughter and tell me whether she wants for anything more. She has such a hereditary weight of sickness in her She became wonderfully better under your care.
Poor Mrs Limb. She is such a good woman: so unmurmuring I am very sorry to hear of these heart symptoms; but I hope she may still get better under your care Please remember me to her.
I hear often from Miss Joby. she has a hard battle to fight. Almost all her fugitives are gone back into Bosnia, without homes, without seed, implements or Cattle : food so dear that the Austria money allowance is insuffificent quite: dying of hunger & exposure.
The Famine Mortality figures are coming in from India they are heart sickening : rather more than 2 millions Deaths in Madras Presidency [later Tamil Nadu state] alone : altogether it will not be short of 3 1/4 millions ascertained Deaths in Mysore [Karnataka state since 1973] & Madras alone : & Bombay [Mumbai] & Hyderabad figures yet to come in : perhaps 2 millions more.
But we have distress at home, Leeds & Sheffield & Manchester
^Forgive this scrambling letter.^
I hope that you & Mrs Dunn are well.
Pray believe me
ever yours ffully
Florence Nightingale
C.B.N. Dunn Esq. |