| Description | Including references to the "Prince Albert", which Henrietta thought might be the one sent in search of Eleanor's father last year, the "Plover" Lady Jane Simpkinson being in poor health, the poor eyesight of Mr Griffin, and the stagnant state of agriculture the last two years. Letter dated only 6 Feb, but year is probably 1851, as the "Prince Albert" set off in 1850. |
| Sender Location | Wrangle Vicarage [Boston, Lincolnshire] |
| Transcript or Index | Wrangle Vicarage, February 6th
My dear Eleanor,
It appears to me to be very long since I heard how you, and those most dear to you were going on. When you can spare a few minutes remember that I am always interested in your concerns, and rejoice in being told that all things go on satisfactorily. Just let me enquire whether you have got an efficient nursery maid? So much does domestic comfort depend upon being well suited by a person who has to take charge of one’s children that, I have ever considered that the most important part of the establishment, when I had Infants . In London it must be extremely difficult to find those you can place confidence in. Pray, never neglect to tell me how your dear Baby is. By what name shall you usually call her. You must have found it inconvenient to receive Harriet and Alice, had not the latter been so great an Invalid, I should not have troubled you with two visitors at once. I wish I could believe that she is materially better, Catherine writes to beg I will let her consult a Physician in London, who did her much good when she was seriously ill, but I shudder at the thought of falling more than we can help, into the hands of London Doctors. We have tasted well how they can charge, tho’ Dr M. Hall it must be adknowledged, has behaved most liberally, and kindly, to Mary – she, alas! did not benefit by his advice, nor do I think she will ever be restored to health again. My daily prayer is, that she may have patience granted her to hear meekly the chastisement which has for more than three years not been “joyous, but grievous” – to herself, and all her friends – I am now completely tied to home, in the absence of Harriet, and Alice, I cannot think of leaving her to servants, whose care is not to be relied upon at all times – this constant anxiety and watchfulness, makes heavy demands upon my bodily strength, and upon my spirits also –
Did I not see the total wreck of the “Prince Albert” noticed near San Francisco ? Where she had gone to release a Sunderland vessel from the tyranny of the natives? – who it appears were Patagonians? The cruel massacre of the crew was also recorded. The circumstantial account of the ship makes me conclude it was the one sent out in search of your dear Father last year.
Do you know anything about some India rubber shoes of mine that Harriet, and Alice were commissioned to take to Harris’s in the Strand to be re-soled? When they were purchased there a promise was given that they should be repaired whenever they required doing. I heard of Mr Gell preaching a sermon on behalf of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel at the Brunswick Chapel. A niece of old Mr Pennington’s in writing to me the other day mentioned it. She remarked that she understood you were my niece. How strangely things came round. Do they not? Where is your Mama, what is she doing? I never hear from her. Her income must now be sufficient to enable her to pay off her liabilities – with the money she receives from other sources. I understand she had got £400 per annum form Mrs Guillemard’s death, is that in addition to the £800 per annum she received when Mr Guillemard died? Making in all £900 – or is it now £400 per annum? In all. How is Lady Simpkinson? I fear she is in a sadly nervous, and debilitated state. She always behaved very kindly to every member of your Father’s family, When she did as she liked her desire was to shew them every affection – Is Mr Griffin’s eyesight better? Or does his dimness of sight encrease? I confess I did not calculate upon receiving any tidings of the Expedition from the “Herald” and “Plover” this season, so I am not quite so disappointed, as many may be. Surely before another year is completed, we shall learn something decisive of their fate. My friends here look grave at the shuffling way in which the Papal question is managed in the Queen’s speech, and the poor Agriculturists are handed over very unceremoniously to look for comfort from the tender mercies of the manufacturers who they declare have always done what they could to ruin their making disturbances whenever they feared Agriculture was in a prosperous condition. It is sad to see the entire stagnation there is in these districts the usual remark is, when they are asked to purchase any article of clothing, or food, excepting what is absolutely necessary “Oh no, we must not for a moment indulge ourselves in thinking about housing anything but those of the commonest kind now. For we can get no money to pay for them.” – Numbers of influential farmers have been ruined within the last two years. I know several clergymen who ought to receive from 700 to 1000 per annum who have scarcely received half their rents, the tradesmen in Boston declare they not only cannot sell their goods, but they cannot get bills paid which have been due for years from once wealthy farmers who were most punctual when they had the means of being so. People are contracting their establishments pretty generally here. I fear the expected assemblage of multitudes in London will make every article of food very dear for the residents in the summer. Give my kind remembrances to Mr Gell, ditto to Baby with a kiss – ditto from the rest of my tribe – ever believe me dear Eleanor to be
Your affectionate Aunt
Hennriette Weeks Wright
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