Reference
Z699/96a
Title
Eliza Beck to Priscilla May c.1833
I am very much obliged to thee my dear Priscilla for thy kind letter &, in the little veronica, thou hast sent me quite a treasure.
If I am not mistaken it is the V.Officinalis one of those long desir'd, long in vain sought for specimens of speedwell which eluded all my search when with you. The other is I think the Galium Uliginosum. I intend sending thee a fresh specimen of the V.Agrestis, Hederifolia, & Serpillifolia ( the one with ovate deeply serrated leaves, the other is lobed, the other smooth & spik'd blossoms) as I am sorry to find I misled thee about them & I should like to know where I am wrong as I have found them not a little puzzling & should feel much obliged if thou wouldst give me the right names -
I should have much liked to meet thy Uncle Sims & to have profited a little by his instructions but I am very glad he has rectified the errors I made in thine & if it would not be troubling thee too much I should be so glad to know where he detected them as I have doubtless made the same mistake in my own.
For thy kind proposal of sending me a piece of the A.Belladonna I am much oblig'd I shall gladly accept it if thou canst quite spare it & do tell me dear P. if I can in any way return thy kindness by sending thee anything thou art in want of. My herbarium does not grow much & I am sometimes almost ready to give up in despair but every difficulty I conquer makes me more than ever attached to the study so that I would not have thee to be discourag'd but remember my dear Grandfather's old saying "Incessant pains the end obtains" & if in any way I can assist thee believe me dear P. it would afford me real pleasure to do so.
I seem to have seiz'd on the flowers thou sent without knowing if thou hast duplicates. If not do let me know & I will return them.
We had John Pease at our meeting last 5th day. Dost thou know him? I never was more pleased with any one - his countenance beams with goodness & his ministry is beautiful. he left us the same afternoon.
Thou perhaps knows that Jane Foster set off on her long journey to Scarbro' last 4th day - she had agreeable looking people for fellow passengers.
M. & H.F. go to Chelmsford to morrow.
We heard very poor accounts of Priscilla Rickman. She is so weak as to be unable to move in her bed & yet the fever continues & of course renders her state a very critical one - quite as much to fear as to hope . Edward L. is gradually improving.
Phebe & Frank are returned from school to the Bakers, appear'd at Meeting this morning.
I must hastily conclude with affectionate love to thy Mother & self in which all our circle join, & I remain
Thy obliged & affectionate friend Eliza Beck
I am quite ashamed of this shabby note but hope thou wilt make all due allowance. Dear love to Nancy.
Priscilla May.
Date free text
c.1833
Production date
From: 1833 To: 1833
Exent
No. of pieces: 1
Format
paper
Level of description
item