Reference
Z699/26
Title
Eliza Beck to Priscilla May 4 April 1825
Hitchin 4th Month 4th 1825
My dear Priscilla
I fear thou wilt begin to think it rather long since thou heard from me but my time has been so occupied lately as to have little for this kind of employment. but 1st before I go any farther accept my sincere thanks for thy kind letter the perusal of which afforded me much pleasure
Thy account of school was very interesting to me and I assure thee I shall never be tir'd with hearing whatever thou may'st have to tell me on that head.
I hope to go to London in about 4 weeks and as I shall lodge there during the Y M I fear I shall get but little of thy company. however we will be together as much as possible and I hope thou wilt come to see us during the vacations.
Our Latin gets on about as well as we can expect though I find myself still a great ignoramus.
Dear Brother Edward has been paying us a visit of about 2 weeks and left this morning it is very hard to part with him for at least 14 months and {to} so distant a part as the East Indies but we must bear these separations from those we love with patience as these trials are no doubt intended for our good
This day week was our Monthly Meeting at Ampthill we went outside the coach with quite a large party of friends E & M Townsend were inside. we din'd at thy Father's and after dinner had took a very pleasing walk into the park. J Lucas has been over here for 2 or 3 days to see he Edward & Charles who are now here and returned last 2nd day. I should have told thee that all your family were quite well. Lewis was very shy and did not like to come in to speak to us but we had a nice kiss of him in the kitchen. I enjoy'd the short visit very much though I must confess there seem'd to be something wanting and I long'd much that I could have had thy company as well.
I have never studied either mathematics or botany the latter I think must be very interesting - as to the former I fear it would be above my comprehension.
The weather is beginning to be quite spring like.
O'tis delightful to see vegetation coming forward the buds beginning to expand the bursting seeds to shoot their little green heads above the earth and all nature to rejoice as it were in the genial rays of a returning sun! how the little birds seem to warble their little anthems of praise to the Author of their being
among the flowering thorn
And minds us o' departed days
Departed - never to return.
everything is fraught with beauty everything must excite admiration and delight to the love of nature and ought to remind us whilst enjoying the innumerable beauties tho which the hand of nature has scatter'd with a so bountifully around us to " look through nature unto Nature's God"
"O who that hath an eye see
An ear to hear a tongue to bless
Can ever undelighted be
With nature's magic loveliness"
But it is time I am sure to seek excuse for thus running on in a style which can hardly be interesting to thee.
Hast thou heard any thing of John Appleton he is now assistant at O.Foster's he is a very singular youth and one whose case cannot fail of exciting interest. His father was is an officer in the navy or army and his Mother is deceased. they were both exceedingly averse to his becoming a friend, but feeling it to be his duty he attends meetings has changed his dress and speaks in the plain language. He has been here to tea once and was very agreeable though his manners are very singular. I will tell thee more about him when we meet.
M Foster has been quite poorly for some time with a very bad cold but is we hope getting better.
Poor A Brown continues in a very suffering state though I hope rather less so than some little time back. she does not seem to think she can live much longer for on Edward taking leave of her she said "Farewell I shall never see thee again" and really for her own sake we cannot wish for a much longer continuance in this vale of tears. as she seems to be ready with her lamp trim'd to go out to meet the loved groom {whenever} he may this see best to call her from this state of trial to a habitation incorruptible "and that fadeth not away".
If thy thoughts my dear girl ever wander to Wratton Cottage thou might'st now view with fancy's eye its inhabitants busily employ'd in running large socks for our dear Sailor for whom we have been working some time and in all probability we shall not finish what we have to do for him for some weeks to come.
As to thy In thy ideas that I shall soon see thou hast no talent for letter writing I cannot agree at all. however I can plainly see thou hast no deficiency in the art and when thou see'st how poorly I make out in writing thou must alter thy opinion.
I hope thou wilt excuse this miserable scrawl and an uninteresting epistle, for as well as all mistakes and only accept it as a token of love
From thy sincerely affectionate Friend
Eliza Beck
Mother & Debby desire their love - be sure and write very soon Adieu
If thou see'st my Aunt F L soon wilt thou give my dear love to her and say that hope she will excuse my not writing to her as I believe she is well aware how my time is now occupied.-
Obliged by Charles Lucas to Susanna Corder's
Priscilla May Stoke Newington
Date free text
4 April 1825
Production date
From: 1825 To: 1825
Exent
No. of pieces: 1
Format
paper
Level of description
item