| Sender Location | 10 South Street, Park Lane [London] |
| Administrative History | - Charles Henry Lee, born 1875, son of Andrew Lee and Elizabeth Lee, formerly Woolley, nee Henshaw (of Lea and Holloway)
- John Croft (1833-1905), surgeon
- Eliza Limb,born about 1830, living at Up Hollow, Holloway
- Harriet Broomhead, born about 1823, living in Holloway
- Hannah Allen, born about 1801, and her sister Ann Allen, born about 1824, living at Lea Road and later Haslam Lane, Holloway
- Mrs [Joseph] Smith: not identified
- Mary, wife of John Bratby, former servant to the Nightingale famiLy, living in retirement in Holloway
- Patty Cottrell: probably a daughter of Peter and Grace Cotterill/Cottrell of Bonsall
- Mrs Swann: a local nurse, not otherwise identified
- Frances Nightingale died 2 February 1880
Sources: Civil registration indexes, 1871 and 1881 census
St Thomas's Hospital, London and Ascot Priory, Berkshire
"Gaol Cradle Who Rocks It?" is a book by Benjamin Waugh published in 1873. |
| Transcript or Index | Little Lee :
10 South St.
Park Lane W.
Feb 21/80
My dear Sir
I have been & am very anxious about little Lee who, as you know, has been vibrating between St Thomas' Hospital, & Ascot Convalescent Home, according as his Medical advisers thought it best for his health.
I truly believe that, if he had been the heir to £80,000 a year, he could not have had greater advantages than he has had for health poor little man perhaps not so great. I saw the "Mother Superior" of Ascot (she served under me throughout the Crimean War) a short time ago. She described the boy as much stronger, happier, very intelligent & a great pet: but she wished him to return for a time to St Thomas', as she thought he must need surgical attendance. The deformity was not decreasing but increasing. He was accordingly re-admitted under Mr Croft, who has been his "Visiting Surgeon" from the first at St Thomas.
At St Thomas' he was described by the Sister as much better & brighter: & as "chatting away." But at my request Mr Croft has sent me his case: the following words are his
"You will be sorry to learn that little Lee has now a very large abscess connected with the disease of the spine. This makes the case much more serious. The parents ought to know that the chances of recovery are less than they were. This must have been "collecting for months, & his fretfulness and wan looks must be attributable to it." Signed J Croft.
"Feb 18"
When you are going Lea way, could you be so very kind as to inform the parents of little Lee, because you will be able to answer their questions as a Medical Authority: & neither unduly to frighten them nor to flatter their hopes. The last time the poor child was at St Thomas' Mr Croft told me, (and I think I mentioned this to you [next four words in pencil] at Lea Hurst last year)
2
that, while he considered the child much stronger, he thought abscesses likely to form. I believe he thought him incurably scrofulous: but Ascot has been for him the very best air he could have.
I think the "fretfulness" to which Mr Croft alludes must have been very temporary. For I have so cross-questioned the "Sisters" in charge: & all describe him as a peculiarly happpy child He is quite "master" at Ascot: and he objects to another little Patient being called "little man." "He is only a little boy: I am the little man."
Mrs Limb & Mrs Broomhead ^wonderful women,^ I am thankful to hear are improving rather than the reverse: This must be due to your kind care.
Please remember me to them when you see them & to the Sisters Allen, good women, whom I hope will remain pretty well. There is no one I have a greater regard for than Hannah Allen. I am going to send her a remembrance of my dear Mother.
I am glad that Mrs Jos Smith, thanks to you, is so much less suffering:
that the pig is still extinct: & no more scarlatina:
& good hopes of water supply & that Mrs Bratby is the better of the cess pool.
Thank you very much for your care of Patty Cottrell
- I wish she had your place in lieu of the present
- I wish the father, a preacher!!, instead of stealing his child's wages, could be made to pay towards a Reformatory, by all accounts much needed for another girl. (Did you ever read "The Gaol Cradle: and who rocks it?") I would glady give the child the boots: but it would go into the father's pocket. Far better Mrs Swann's plan that the Mistress, if to be trusted, should spend the child's wages on her before they become due. [text changes to pencil] I am so glad to hear of that.
My dear Sir I should not have waited for your more than kind note to write to you about my dear Mother's blessed going home. But oh what a gap to me! She sank to rest with a smile on her face as if she saw God. But I have been so broken down with seeing people & business- I mean however to give myself the pleasure of writing about her to you: but ^will not delay this note about poor little Lee." Pray believe me sincerely yrs
F. Nightingale
C.B.N. Dunn Esq. |