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Priscilla May to Ann May 19 Dec 1825 Stoke Newington School . 12/19/25 My very dear Mother I received the box yesterday and all its contents have come very seasonably to hand and I am very much obliged to thee for thinking of so many things for me and I am afraid I shall not be able to recompense thy the trouble thou hast had since I have been here but I can assure thee it is my present wish to please both thee and father - and I hope the time will come when I shall have the opportunity of answering your wishes and repaying you for the your kindness. I staid at Francis's last evening where Aunt Holmes, William & Sarah all joined us and we spent a very agreeable visit there I came to N. [Newington] about nine o'clock and found S.E. was gone out to Edward Harris's. What a stir there has been at the Banks every day we hear of some stopping but I hope the Leighton Bank will escape as I suppose it would be of consequence to us - We get to hear of a little of the news of the world through E.Harris and W.Allen - the latter told us that he would not take a shilling out of any bank even if he knew it would stop and before he left Plough Court on first day he gave them all a commission not to mention any thing about a Bank having stopped or had a run upon it as he considered it an injury to such a Bank. Benjamina Aickman came to the School last second day she knew S.Hallam and after the lecture she invited us to spend the day at John Hodgkin's at Tottenham accordingly Sarah & Catherine Hallam and I went about twelve o'clock Benjamina met us half way we spent the day very agreeably E.Hodgkin making apology for all her family being out but we thought it was all the more pleasant as her sons are such quizzes that it almost deterred us from going. In the evening in consequence of not having taken places there were none to be had and we all set off for Edward's to see if there was any chance there but instead of that we staid all night I went to have half a bed with Rachel Halpen we went the next morning. Benjamina gave us her little Album to write in which we have done. I suppose those {remind} her she is to be married to Edward Lucas she is very agreeable and fair and seems to be the most unaffected young woman I ever saw The lecture to night is to be Metals again I suppose A.Barry is to be the Lecturer. I tried to persuade Francis & Jane to come but found they {? same on the borough}. William asked if he might come but of course a negative was the reply - We are having a carriage made for us which is to hold twenty comfortably but four more can get in it is to be painted dark green. Until it is made we shall not all of us go to meeting on a fourth day but we {form} one at home in the evening our dear friend William Allen comes and we sit about an hour and a quarter sometimes one or tho other friends come - I think it is very likely we shall be characterised in the carriage as we have been already at the lecture - In disputing about ages a few days ago we asked S.C. W.A.'s age - we guessed several ages but not near the right. Thought I had heard Will say he was younger than {?} but I now find he is five years older - I thought of thee on thy birthday and was very sorry I did not let Edward know of it in time as he would have liked to have written to thee but I am sure we all wish thee many happy returns - I do not know whether you have written to Samuel to let him know he has another little niece if I knew you had not I would write in his letter he seems to expect Father to go & see him but I should {send} by the coach I do not think the letter is so well written as he generally writes, I am afraid he is getting into a cramped way of writing which is a great fault - I hope he learns French - As to my learning I am afraid I do not improve so much as I could wish. In Algebra I have not got far am impatient to get to Logarithms but almost despair of ever doing it as I am not very bright over such things and besides that I do not think Dr Fisher has the best method of teaching Algebra. With respect to Clothes I truly want a black silk apron but if I can get to see Father again I will tell him of it I asked him last time he was up but I suppose he had forgotten it. As to staying such a very long time at Aunt H.'s I think it is almost out of the question about ten days I think is quite sufficient she only said it at random.- Albums are all the go now it makes me long for one and I really think I might have a {commercial} one as I do not like to ask some to write on cards there is no room on them and they get bent some of the girls have got some at five shillings but think if I had one that is about eight or ten it would be best. Edward Harris has ordered on purpose for us to write in so that it seems as though every body is to have them. With dear love to C. & N. Aunt D. the Bennells & M.M. accept a double share for thyself from thy affectionate Priscilla Ann May [Seal :- seascape with skiff & boat with sails down] Ampthill Bedfordshire.

19 Dec 1825

From: 1825 To: 1825

No. of pieces: 1

paper

item

May, Priscilla,
May, Ann,
Holmes, Sarah,
Holmes, William,
May, Francis,
Harris, Edward,
Allen, William,
Aickman, Benjamina,
Hallam, S,
Hodgkin, John,
Hallam, Catherine,
Hallam, Sarah,
Halpen, Rachel,
Lucas, Edward,
Barry, A,
May, Edward Curtis,
May, Samuel,
May, Debby,
May, Charles,
May, Nancy,
Bennell,
Morris, Maria,
Fisher, Dr

women's education, out county schools, Stoke Newington School, horse drawn coaches, clothing, teacher, French, Stoke Newington