Title
Mercy Greene to Ann May & Samuel May at Ampthill 10 Aug 1819
Walden 10th of 8th Month 1819
My dear A M
I think I cannot fully express the pleasure the receipt of thine gave me - 8/26 - as I had been long wishing for a letter from thee, as roundabout intelligence is not always correct - I am truly glad that thou could give me a favourable account of thine and thy Husband's state of health. Trouble & Anxiety wears down, but believe it is our duty to endeavour, which I trust you are enabled to do, to bear up and be thankful for the many blessings still allotted to us - Health I esteem no small one, which I am favoured to enjoy in as good a degree as at my age may reasonably be expected, the long season of hot weather has been rather trying, & the approach of Winter always wears a little gloom to my solitary allotment. My sister is also well, Agatha not very strong, when her spirits are good she exerts more than is quite suitable. Priscilla is just now an invalid, as she is under medical care, hope she will soon get better; My niece Green's family are in usual health; among so many some little complaint will often occur; on Third day, walked over to breakfast with them and walked back in the evening, which is about the extent of my performance in the walking way. They had just got through the bustle of Harvest, which has been a favourable one in these parts, and no doubt in many others, which calls for thankfulness. - How pleased we should be to see thee and thy S M among us, my relatives would share in the satisfaction, but alas thou has so many near connections that claim thy spare time, it gives us but little room to hope.
Cousin Hancock & Daughter are well. Some share of trials falls to her lot, just now two of her sons are out of employ & with her. It is a great disadvantage to young men to have nothing to do, they say situations are scarce, perhaps they are looking too high.
Francis Gibson's son Jabes is just recovering from a dangerous fit of illness, and his Wife is in a very delicate state of health. Their daughter Mary rather better - George his Wife & sons well. Thus I am going on, as I thought thou would like to know the state of our little Circle here, tho I don't know if thou art much acquainted with these last mentioned friends, thy Husband is, I think. - I took kind thy particular account of friends your way: a son of Joseph Dunhaven's lives with my Nephew Day he had been to see his parents and informed me that Nancy & Charles left Ackworth while he was there. I am glad they have got the dear Boy home & that his leg was preserved, perhaps it may still be very useful to him.
William Morris must look quite consequential with his children & grandchildren about him, perhaps as happy as his richer relations. What can Joseph be building, they have a nice house, perhaps a Country Residence; so much money they must be doing; I should have been pleased to have seen John & his family more attached to our principles, which I once thought there was some hope of - Oh what a danger surrounds the rich - I should be glad if they could see a propriety to increase poor J Pumphrey Salary that he might be enabled to get on more comfortably, I don't know how they can get on without a servant, though that must make a great deal of difference in their housekeeping, suppose their oldest Girl is gone to Ackworth, my love to them & M. Bennell and family, am pleased to hear of their welfare, the account of their sister Grimes' removal had not reached me before thy information; a great loss to her Husband - thou does say that Ann Wheeler's School is full, she seems as usual, brushing through her Bodily infirmities, to the wonder of her friends. It gives me concern to hear of Sister Ransome being so poorly; J B Tatham was through here yesterday & gave me a rather more favourable account, and that Joseph continued much the same. he informed us of the decease of our valued friend William Lucas safe arrived I trust to a Mansion of Rest & Peace. We also have an account of the death of John Prior of Baldock.
When thou gave me a pleasing account of P Bassett's increasing family and thy Visit to Leighton, thou don't mention my Son William, but hope he was well, find a few weeks since he got as near as Cambridge and did not come & see me, my niece Mary Ransome was with him; a party of our young folk from Walden was there at same time, they spent the whole day there; but had not the pleasure of meeting them, they had a little distant View but each concluded they where strangers, which since has afforded them an unpleasant reflection. - Thus I scribble on as to an old acquaintance, I doubt my dear friend thou will not find much interesting subjects, but it is the best that presents at this time. Thou may inform E {Samson} that her Niece Mary is well and give my love to W J Morris & family, to A Wheeler, to {J.N} Pumphrey etc etc. I think I may hand thee & thy Husband love from all my relations - Sister Day & Niece Priscilla desired in particular I would include their love when I wrote - so with this long string of love I shall include thy affectionate friend
Mercy G. [Mercy Greene]
In reply to my dear friend S May, a few lines. I may say I quite approve of the Mortgage being call'd in, and request thou will do it for me in a regular mode, I suppose there is a certain time allowed in such cases, no doubt thou will be careful not to part with the writings till the money is paid - O'Dell gets rather behind with his payments which I am not quite satisfied with; if thou has opportunity perhaps it may be as well to tell him my mind - I think we settled the 11th Month last year. Perhaps when the year is up it may be best to send me thy account as I shall want some of the balance by that time. Remember to rectify the mistake in the quit rent as I wrote about charged 1.11 which should have been 1s.11d.
Mary Mason's love, and desired I would inform thee that she would like to have the money thou has of hers when the year expires, which she says is in 12th Month. It may be paid into Green & Day's Bankers, as thou does mine, and I will be the recipient of it, see the note destroyed or send it to thee - whichever thou prefers. Mary has some money in the Stocks, and thinks what she has saved here & what is in thy hand will purchase another Hundred, which we advise her to do. Thy expressing it would be pleasant to have a visit from me, conveys to my mind that time has not quite erased that friendship that has, and I hope ever will subsist between us. Dear friend. I have no view of straying from hence, as I know of no friends or place that has stronger attraction. I did intend sending this note yesterday but it did not get finished and today there is no post out - farewell - affectionately says thy friend -
M.G.