Reference
Z699/85
Title
Emily Hooper (cousin) to Priscilla May 14 Feb 1832
Kennington Valentine's day
My dear Priscilla
It seems high time for me to write to thee, lest thou shouldst attribute my silence to forgetfulness, or indifference towards thee, which I assure thee is far from being the case; but I have not sometimes [had much] of an opportunity, or when I have, some other trifling obstacle has occurred to my writing, which one having so "little aptitude to the business" as I have, is willing to deem a sufficient excuse but that in reality it is not such, is proved by my writing now, as I know not when or how this will reach thee, but intend sending it when finished to Cornhill from whence I hope my Uncle or Cousin Charles will ere long convey it to thee. Thou seest I can make but a poor defence but I trust thy clemency for pardon.
We have been very often reminded of you recently by the very interesting memoir of C.Capp which we finished reading last evening. Aunt Mary wished to have the perusal of it, so we shall not be able to return it to you. We hope to send you Stewart's voyage with it but the family we have lent it to are so interested in it that we cannot get it at present.
Aunt Mary spent the greater part of last week with us & had little Emma with her part of the time who seemed quite to enjoy herself as she had been confined to the house some weeks on account of a cold.
I have been very sorry to hear of the death of poor little Mary Manser from what particulars I have heard of her illness it must have been a very distressing one -
About three weeks ago I spent a few days with Elizabeth Tylor she said when thou wast last in town she did not know of it till just before thou wast going home, or she should have been very glad to see thee at Highbury. We took a walk to the school one day to call upon Louisa but unfortunately she was out it was a bright frosty morning and the girls were gone on a long walk however we went into their play room which is the coach house & stable where they have a spinning board which they all seem very fond of but they sadly annoy their neighbours with the noise of it; in each stall of the stable is a swing and they have a drilling master come once a week. I think no-one can complain now of the Newington girls not having enough exercise, indeed they go rather to the opposite extreme.
I have been working a pair of watchcases & a pincushion for Francis Prichett which are now nearly completed they are made of very light silk with white flowers.
Aunt mentions in her note that thou hast been going on with crepe work how dost thou like it. Mamma said she wished she had been by thee when thou wanted Aunt to write short.
We liked the gingerbread very much but do not trouble for any more at present as Mamma is going to make some at home.
My letter will not have to wait long for an opportunity as I hear my Cousin Charles is now in Town & Cousin Nancy also we are in hopes of seeing her at Kennington, but the weather has been so wet Mamma has not been able to go to town lately to find out where she is, but hopes she will not wait for invitation.
We are looking forward with much pleasure to having my dear Aunt and thee with us at the Yearly Meeting do write to me very soon my dear Priscilla and hope not to be so long again in answering thy letter.
We are having several anti-slavery lectures in the Borough there was one last night by the Missionary Burchett which we were prevented attending by the rain there was one the evening before at the Friends Meeting house by someone from Highbury College, and will be another next fourth day by Burnet which we intend going to should nothing prevent.
Believe me with very dear love to Aunt & thyself in which Mamma unites.
Thy affectionate Cousin Emily.
Cally does not like my letter to go without her love to Aunt & thyself.
Priscilla May Ampthill
Date free text
14 Feb 1832
Production date
From: 1832 To: 1832
Exent
No. of pieces: 1
Format
paper
Level of description
item