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Archive Reference / Library Class No.D2546/ZZ/57-58
TitleLetter (on mourning stationery) from Florence Nightingale to Dr Dunn updating him on the status of several of their patients and expressing concern regarding young Rose Limb's attempts to leave the family home, believing that she has gone morally astray and wishes for Dr Dunn to help set her straight
Date25 Jun 1880
DescriptionA portion marked "private" is written on different paper - it is unclear if both items were part of the same letter. If not, at least one page is missing from the first item, and the second is not dated
Extent2 items
LevelItem
RepositoryDerbyshire Record Office
SenderFlorence Nightingale
Sender Location10 South Street, Park Lane [London]
RecipientDr Dunn
Recipient LocationNot given
Archive CreatorChristopher Blencowe Noble Dunn of Crich (1836-1892), medical doctor
Florence Nightingale of Lea Hurst, Derbyshire and Embley, Hampshire (1820-1910), nurse and social reformer
Administrative History- Jane Alison/Allison born about 1840, a needle worker living in Holloway
- William Shore Smith (1831-1894) Florence Nightingale's cousin
- William Yeomans, living at Holloway House: land agent to the Nightingale family and Poor Law Guardian
- Mary, wife of John Bratby, former servant to the Nightingale family living in retirement in Holloway
- Platts separation: not identified
- Eliza Limb, born about 1830, living at Up Hollow, Holloway
- Rosey Limb, born about 1866, a servant in the household of Cassandra Peach in Holloway (1881 census)
- George Allison, born about 1836, a railway employee living in Sheffield
- Anthony Boden, born about 1804 and daughter Sarah, born about 1864, living at Commonside, Holloway
- Jane A Brocklehurst, born about 1830, living at the Holt, Lea
- Mary, wife of John Bratby, former servant to the Nightingale family living in retirement in Holloway
Sources: Civil registration indexes, 1871 and 1881 census
Access CategoryOpen
FormatDocument
CopiesA digital copy can also be viewed on the public computers at the record office.
This letter has been digitised and can be viewed on The Florence Nightingale Digitization Project website at http://archives.bu.edu/web/florence-nightingale
Transcript or Index10 South St.
Park Lane W.
June 25/80
My dear Sir
I am very much obliged to you for your welcome note
Pray be so good as to send me my Quarterly Acct.
1. You do not mention Jane Allison. Thank you very much for having written to me before about her. I let Mr Shore Smith know at once about the unfortunate separation with Platts; which you did so much to prevent & that you, who had done so much for her, thought it "very wrong that she should live alone."
I also wrote to Mr Yeomans & Mrs Bratby.
I am afraid that this matter is irreparable. But would you kindly look in upon her (medically) from time to time? & let me know how she is going on:
(I have been told the neighbours are not too kind to her)
And if you could kindly let me know also how the children (Platts) are going on, I would be very grateful.
2. Mrs Limb poor woman, what a sufferer she is. I have very bad accounts from herself uterine disharge, loss of appetite She says she cannot now take her cocoatine, which she used to be so fond of
Could anything else be recommended?
She is full of gratitude, and indeed it is a wonder that she lives so long.
I have had much anxiety about Rose Limb. She wrote to me that she wished to leave school & go to the Mill; & "have her books at home On enquiry I found, not from herself, that she had already been dismissed from school, because she had often not been there when she was supposed at home to be there: & that she was already at a little place, "Peach's" (I am afraid she does not know what truth is)
I am told that "Peach's" is a good service, & that she will soon be ready for another place.
If she goes to a good place, I would gladly give £1 for her outfit, but if she goes to the Mill, which it will probably end in, of course, I should not. But do not trouble yourself about this
Private
I find that Rose Limb has already applied at the Mill, I have also alas a confirmation that "she is not so good as she might be." She will not take a place in service, but she is only to be "employed at the Mill upon this condition" I "name" viz. Women's Club & 1/ a month P. O S. Bank
I have also received a hint that I run some "risk of imposition" from this and other families.
I pray God that this child may be saved. Hitherto her short life has been one career of deceit I pray you keep your eyes upon her.
1. Thank you very much for the letter from Geo Allison, Jane Allison's brother. He was here on Saturday (came up to London as Guard, on a train) & confirmed the good account as to Jane being happy & well. ^She was still with him.^
I shall be very much obliged to you to see her when she returns.
2. I hope you have been able to pass Boden's daughter for the Women's Club
3. Thank you for your good account of Mrs Brocklehurst We have been able to prevent Mrs Bratby from leaving Ramsgate for the present. I told her what you had kindly said.
F.N.
AcknowledgementsTranscription completed by catalogue volunteer RJ, 2020
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