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Helen Curtis to Priscilla May 7 Dec 1830 Frenchay Decr 7th 1830 My dear Priscilla I feel quite aware that I deserve a scolding for not writing to you before this time but as apologies are generally useless I will not trouble you with them, particularly as I have not a good on to make, except my inability at all times to write a letter worth any ones trouble to read but as I know my dear Priscilla will make every allowance for the deficiencies of her Cousin H.[Helen Curtis] I will begin without more preamble to tell you what I think will be the most interesting to you in our circle at Frenchay.- It is very pleasant to have our Cousin Henry with us tho' we have had very little of his company at present, he is obliged to divide it among so many, I am sorry we cannot prevail on him to stay longer, but business or some greater attraction - generally makes him in haste to leave us - I was very much delighted to hear of the arrival of your little niece and have had very favourable accounts of Caroline since, which is very gratifying. My Sister Maria tells me the baby is the nicest & quietest she ever saw, but of course I make a great allowance for its being the first, as there can be no exception to the first child being all perfection - I had a letter from Emma Curtis a short time ago who tells me she is glad her niece is a fine girl, as she will do credit to all the stitches her Aunts have done on her account, at present I believe she is nameless at least I have not heard of any name, but have proposed Adelaide Anna. My Aunt has been pretty well lately (for her) with the exception of a cold, but she is now getting quite uneasy about Frederick I hope there is no cause for it, but the vessel he is expected by is unusually long in landing, I was quite hoping he would arrive before Henry returned, that I might have the pleasure of seeing all five of my cousins together, but now I fear it is hopeless - I suppose the disturbances so general in the country do not affect you much in town, at present we have had nothing to alarm us, in this parish (as in all others about here) they have taken the only precautions they can, by swearing in every man that is willing, as Constables. We must now all be on our best behaviour as Philip is a Special Constable - Some of the Colliers have struck for wages about Alton 15 of them went to Alfreds but he was from the house so they went away quietly, but most of the farmers about there treated them very well - We have lately had night watchmen established in this village Philip has been very active in it & has taken all the trouble upon himself most of the people about the neighbourhood seem quite to look up to him as a prime minister among them & I know no one so capable of the office Francis is better, he does not complain so much of the pain in his side as he used to, he talks of going to London soon - as well as Alfred, who is well, & I think quite regained his usual spirits but as you must have heard every particular relating to his late trying affairs I shall not enter into it, as there can be only one feeling or sentiment on the case which must be indignation & sorrow that any young woman could have acted so unjustly, but I do not quite pity her for if she uses proper feelings (which I should think she must have come to by this time) the burden she must have upon her mind must be almost too much to bear - We have not been at Alton much lately as we have been a great deal engaged at home with having alterations made in the bed rooms, I am going to take up abode in Aunt's room & Frederick has got the most comfortable little room in the house made for him next to Aunt's - We dined at John Warings about 10 days ago & there we met Elizabeth H.Dudley & her sister who have been staying in Bristol some time they enquired after Aunt Hooper & family - I have spent a few days at the Frys since I wrote to you last, Caroline has been staying in London or near London & I have not heard of her return yet - Sophia Lean has been staying at Norwich for the last month, Anna was going into Wales to see her Brother Charles, (but her heart failed her the day before she was to go, so she gave it up, as she was going alone) Mr Walker & Lady Somerset's son who he has with him as a pupil dined here yesterday I was going to spend two or three hours with Mrs Walker today to relieve her a little by nursing the baby, as her nurse maid is taken suddenly & dangerously ill, the baby is the sweetest little thing I ever saw, it is now 9 months old - I must now put an end to my scrawl, as Aunt is waiting for me it is club morning Give my dear love to Uncle & Aunt Hooper & Emily, I am sorry to hear Jane May has not been very well lately please to give my love to her & Francis - and also to Uncle & Aunt Arch & all my other relations as tho' named, & with a large share of love yourself believe me my dear Priscilla your ever Affectionate Cousin Helen - Please not to let anyone see this scrawl but burn it as soon as read, I have no time to read it over. Priscilla May. [Seal : AMITE over two doves on a weeping urn.] [Note - Helen Curtis subsequently married Alfred Tuckett]

7 Dec 1830

From: 1830 To: 1830

No. of pieces: 1

paper

item

Curtis, Helen,
May, Priscilla,
Curtis, Emma,
Tuckett, Alfred,
Warings, John,
Dudley, Elizabeth H,
Hooper,
Fry,
Walker,
May, Jane,
May, Francis,
Arch

special constables, MARRIAGE, farmer, Frenchay, Alton