Title
Ann May to Priscilla May 12 Apr 1825
Tottenham 4th Mo 12th
My dear P.
First let me say I was obliged for thy attention in forwarding the cap box & enclosing a note calculated to prepare me for a worse account of dear Caroline which I afterwards received from thy uncle Hooper & aunt Mary C.[Curtis] in short, here was some alarm excited last week owing to a bilious attack which proved very weakening, but am thankful to say that C [Caroline May] is now sitting up & going on very well, the little Lucy Ann too is in a thriving state & mostly asleep, as she should be.-
How I longed to have a peep at thee on 2nd day evening when I came here by the 7 O'Clock Stage in company with W & R Byrd, who had travelled with Brother Arch & me from Alton that day, & an oppressive melting ride we had, so as almost to spoil my enjoyment of being in such good company, & what was worse I took a cold which is not well yet.
With my love to Mary & Jane [Curtis] wilt thou say, all our Alton relatives were as well as usual, their mother had been suffering from toothache, your dear aunt Maddock was remarkably supported thro' her affliction, being preserved in great tranquillity, & it did not appear to affect her health - the interment took place before meeting on 6th day when being favoured with the company of W & R Byrd, they both appeared in testimony then & in the meeting, which provided a solemn instructive season, respectably attended by the neighbours too -
Aunt Wallis, Richard & Ann, also many other friends from a distance joined us - the nearest relatives dined at thy aunt's {house} the rest up street. Maria Gordon went the day after us & was likely to remain a few weeks with her mother, William could not leave Sarah as she was expecting every day to be confined.
I heard from thy father yesterday they have all had colds, or nearly all, but Lewis was well and depending on coming to see his little niece a pleasure we hope he will realize next 6th day, when he is to come with Mary in the chaise, & after tea to be settled at Francis's that evening I could say they are to be here at 4 in the afternoon, no doubt thou wouldst like to meet them but we think it will not do to unsettle thee my dear at every turn, so if I invite thee to dine at Francis's next 1st day it seems all I can promise, but possibly thy F. may call as he passes in the chaise with M & L but do not depend on it -
Would it do to ask the favour of S.C. to let thee go, perhaps with one of thy cousins, to H.Berington's on some trifling errand at about six on 6th day evening, when thou might see them pass, which would save the trouble of turning down your Street -
Henry Waterhouse left Ampthill yesterday, he is either in town or on his way to Bath, to join two of his sisters to Liverpool.
Thy aunt Arch was to come from Alton yesterday, as all leaving thy aunt Maddock at once would have seemed too sudden a change.
I met with J.Wise last 7th day at tea at Frank's [Francis May's]. M.Foster is coming to lodge there for a few nights we hope to see her here, she arrives there today -
I am a little puzzled & vexed at thou intending to employ S.King about repairing thy old gown, supposing she will make the new one, which I should greatly object to, as she is far from a neat hand, and spoiled thy former one, moreover I cannot make out how she is to proceed with the old gown while I have the pieces, if nothing is yet done to it I find a patient of E.'s may be depended on for not spoiling it, so let me know next opportunity -
It is not likely I shall go to town until the latter end of next week, as Caroline cannot see company so early as usual, but hopes to begin in a day or two -
It seems Charles has got the bone-mill in order at last, no doubt he is busy enough with it.
Thy F. intends bringing a new light bonnet for thee, as I thought thou must want one but I recall & a spenser like the new silk gown would be useful, as thou must perhaps have a light one for the wedding in the Autumn, say if thou shouldst like one & how much is left of the silk toward it {&} thy F. would bring sufficient.
I am sitting by Caroline, who requests to join me in much love to thee &c. &c -Thy ever affectionate Mother.
Priscilla May
Stoke Newington