Reference
Z699/101
Title
Priscilla May to Ann May 26 Nov 1833
Frenchay 11th Mo 26th 1833
My dear Mother
Thy very acceptable & interesting letter ought to have a much better reply than I seem capable of writing just now from the very few incidents worth relating & having scribbled a few lines to Nancy yesterday in C.[Charles May]'s letter. -
Thy account of home is such as to make me feel easy in prolonging my visit here though I can assure thee I want to see you all very much but I consider such a visit as this is not likely to occur again very soon if ever & I feel disposed to make the most of it though I cannot say we have added much to our stock of knowledge with regard to books as we are still reading the same as when we first came.
In all probability Henry Tuckett will be coming about Christmas time & if he stays any time we may return with him at the end of the year if he does not we shall feel quite independent of any companion.
Since writing to thee we have staid a day or two at J.S.Fry's they were very kind to us though the idea of going there seemed very formidable it all wore off & we felt more freedom than we expected - Samuel & Eliza Lury (his sister) spent one evening with us they have not been long returned from a voyage to the West Indies for Samuel's health which has proved beneficial in preventing a threatened disease of the lungs of which no less than five in the family have died. Two of the Fry's are to come on fifth day to spend a day or two & for that reason we must write our letters in good time.- -
Thy remark about our work we have attended to but there is so little plain work to be done & plenty to do it & so much of the other wants doing & nobody to do that when we are gone that we are anxious to make Aunt a little smarter in that respect & to leave some evident remains of our having been here - this I think will meet with thy approbation, but it is not for want of offering to do things that we have not done plain work.- -
I should be glad if Aunt D. could turn my black bonnet which is in the leather trunk in my closet in readiness against I come home I must leave it to her to judge about the lining - -
We find a few walks about Bristol has done a deal towards making our frocks shabby but I think mine will about last four or five weeks longer. I suppose I shall be obliged to have some shoes in Bristol. -
Aunt's garden has still a few flowers in it - I see the gardener is beginning to take up some roots - Father I suppose will see about my Dahlias. If they are not potted wilt thou tell him I hope only the best will be preserved to prevent our putting in the poor ones again as I shall not wish to have them in a bed another year - I shall try and fish for some of Aunt's dwarfs which are all the fashion now & of course we should not be out of it; if I can I mean to get some seeds of annuals as Aunt says she has had a very great many new ones this year.- -
Father will most likely remember the sitting room will be too cold in frosty weather for my plants - the spare room is warmer.--
5th day According to custom the Fry's have again put off coming & as it is M.Meeting on 2nd day we could not get Aunt to fix a day for our visiting S. & S.Waring so we have written to put them off much against our will as we can see no obstacles - Hannah Tothill left a message at Redland when we were there hoping we shall call on her.- -
We dined & drank tea yesterday at Moorend - Charles lanced Betsey's gums & took a minute survey of Alfred's premises & we walked home (Alfred accompanying) to supper.- C. was to stay & fix a time for the termination of our visit after E. & I had retired & I will keep this open to hear what he says.- - Alfred & C. are gone to Bristol about a copper &c. to-morrow. Francis will take him to Clifton & Penpole point if it is fine.
I hope before I close this to tell you of the arrival of Philip the second as the signs of the times are in favour of it - E.Ship is there & Aunt is just gone - Nurse is come & all in readiness Mariana took too long a walk with us to Colonel Graham's & has suffered from it but I hope it will be nothing serious.
7th day - You will have heard before this of the arrival at Philip's after a period of much acute suffering & very great anxiety but I am very glad to give a bright account this morning Anna having had a good night & baby doing well.- Aunt was up the whole night but I hope she will not be much the worse for her exertion we have not seen her since 5th day morning as she slept at P.'s Elizabeth's services have been in request a well as E.Ship who has just recovered from a severe bilious attack.-
Mariana is pretty well but doubly dreads the 2nd month.- -
I shall hope to hear from thee before long. C. says he plainly sees Aunt wishes us to stay the winter if we can but he could not introduce the subject the other night of course. My story will be regulated by accounts from home which I hope will be candid.
Has any more passed relative to the subject of one of thy former letters.
With dear love to Father & Aunt D. & Nancy accept a large share thyself from
Thy ever affectionate Priscilla
Samuel May Seal : P.M. [Germanic caps.]
Ampthill
Ann May Bedfordshire
Date free text
26 Nov 1833
Production date
From: 1833 To: 1833
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No. of pieces: 1
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paper
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