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Priscilla May to Ann May 15 Dec1833 Frenchay 12th Month 15th My dear Mother About a fortnight having elapsed since I last wrote & having no doubt of thy wishing to hear again of Anna, I gladly employ the present spare hour to communicate the good news of her being better than could be anticipated- to-day she has been sitting up but fatigued herself very much in dressing, but soon recovered - Young Philip Debell has not been very quiet lately - he is much smaller than he was, but seems healthy - we saw Anna for about 1/2 hour on 5th day I gave her thy message, she desired her dear love to thee & that thou hast named the baby quite to her mind - her father & mother are both here & every thing seems to wear a cheerful aspect.- But it is quite time to tell thee of our journeyings since I wrote last - last 3rd day was Q.M. at Cirencester; accordingly Aunt kindly invited Emily & myself to join her & we set out on 2nd day morning about ten & had in the carriage & had a most stormy ride as far as the Cross Hands beyond Sodbury, where we took a post chaise & after another wet, dreary ride arrived at Ann Wilkins's at Cirencester the family consisted of the mother three daughters and one son & his wife a German, who were on a visit to England - - before tea we were joined by Hannah Fisher & her daughter Mary Hannah - the members of the select of course withdrew after tea & we were left to amuse ourselves though they were very kind & polite a more silent party I had never been in, Aunt says they always are so - the next morning we proceeded to meeting which was a crowded one; G.Withy said a few words at the commencement, & then E.Bates stood up & gave the most impressive & beautiful sermon I ever heard - his subject is everywhere the same - he commences with the fall & goes on to explain how all the forms & ceremonies under the Levitical law were typical of the one Great Sacrifice of the Divinity of Christ &c. &c. he is the most eloquent minister I know, with a good choice of words & quoting very largely from the Scriptures - his mission extends to Ireland - he is most likely at Reading now - he was to hold a meeting at Cheltenham the day after the Q.M. & then go on to Bath - & is going to London - he has a great deal of travelling backwards & forwards in order to take the Q.M.'s he has been to the one in Cornwall, Bridgewater & Southampton - he intends being at Y.M. We dined at Edward Bowley's (who married a Wilkins) they are very gay as thou mayst imagine when I tell thee a footman in livery & white gloves waited at table - the company were S. & S.Jackson, Anna & Richard Fry, Rebecca & Elizabeth Shipley both of whom are very fortunately to lose their name very soon Jesse Sessions (Eliza's intended) was of the party Rebecca is to be married to a Welsh farmer. they are agreeable looking girls but I had no time for getting acquainted - after dinner the baby was brought, a very lively pretty child - the age of Helen's - we drank tea at John Bruin's with a large party,- their four sons & daughters were there & all the Fry's.- E. & I went to our quarters to supper whilst Aunt went to William Bowley's where E.Bates was. our evening finished in almost total silence - A.Wilkins is a complete gentlewoman in very delicate health increased by anxiety on her eldest daughter's account who is quite out of health & spirits - her 2nd daughter Rachel who had been staying here is likely to be married out of the society but he is waiting for a promotion in the navy & is now in the Levant.-- I should have said before this that I wrote to R.May before I went to C.[Cirencester] A.Merrell was there & was very pressing for me to go back with her but not knowing how I could get to Frenchay again & it was just in such a bustling time that I was obliged to refuse though I should have liked it. She said Rachel [May] was not quite well, Henry was about as usual . I spoke to David Bowley he enquired after you & desired his love. On 4th day morning we took leave of the Wilkins's & went in a postchaise to Thomas Brown's both father & son's houses, the father desired his love to you - - We had a bright morning to retreat towards home but about one o'clock it became very cold & wet & we were very glad to see Frenchay about 1/4 past three, after having spent a very agreeable time at C. & been introduced into quite a new circle of friends. We thought of our own homes whilst there & that it certainly was quite an event in our history. Last 6th day we went to Bristol shopping & in the evening Aunt received a note from J.S.Fry saying that he had had a letter from Dr Fry saying that they had heard that Anna Fry was about to be married & the information came to them in a letter from "Polly Bennell at Houghton who had it of Ann May" who had it of her sister Tuckett - of course Aunt knew she had not but on my telling her I had mentioned it as a very doubtful thing she thought it very silly of J.S.F. to take so much trouble about it. I must therefore beg of thee to contradict the report to "Polly Bennell" & hope she will be more careful in future not to exaggerate as I merely said "A.F. has had an offer". J.S.F. concluded his note with "I do think it is quite time to send such information round the kingdom when we can state such to be to be facts" it was a peppery note & gave us a great deal of amusement - I had never seem Aunt laugh so much she sent an equally peppery one with an apology from me & the matter is set at rest.- Emily has been very anxious on her mother's account but she had a letter from Uncle on 1st day which relieved her very much - - I was much surprised to hear of the alterations in the garden I hope one of the small beds will be made in the shape of a Maltese Cross thus: [diagram of a square with paths from corner to corner] I should like to have the whole planting of it unless a few quite small rose trees could be put in before the season is too far advanced - Aunt & I took a ride to Moorend on 7th day we brought Bessey back with us, we have kept her since as yesterday (2nd day) was so wet; she is an entertaining little creature & very easily pleased. Anna continues very comfortable sitting up every day & eating meat - Mariana is quite well & able to take a good deal of exercise - her mother & sister Charlotte are coming next month in readiness - C.Collier is still with her.- Aunt had a nice long letter from Emma Curtis on 7th day but which was deficient in mentioning domestic news except that they have a good account of John & that James was at Isleworth & expecting to go to Ampthill - is he not a very diligent lover? I am very much wanting to hear if the Clothing Club's accounts can be settled - I am afraid it gives Maria a great deal of trouble but to tell the truth I am glad to be out of it - We find time to go as quick as ever & that at the end of the day our work does not show for much & reading still less - we are quite tired of Bishop Heber & are quite wishing to leave it & begin the Family Portraiture of Leigh Richmond's children which Mariana has lent us. I hope thou hast a letter begun for us as thou art subject to so many interruptions a long one cannot be written in a hurry - I ought to have acknowledged the receipt of thy last which, though short, was very acceptable. I gave Francis the part that belonged to him, & he tells me the order is executed. We are expecting Henry very soon who I hope will bring nice letters from Jane & Caroline as I have written to them both & have no fancy for writing to those who do not write in return.- I suppose Lewis is at home by this time as it is about the vacation - Emily has had a letter from Uncle this morning giving an improved account of Aunt & that the boys go home next 7th day week - Thou wilt be surprised I think when I tell thee we have been here ten weeks yesterday & twelve tomorrow since I left home - it is a long time but we seem so much at home that leaving does not appear at all likely at present & without being tired I am more often thinking of home. I hope the dear children are quite well & do not forget their Aunt - With very dear love to Father, Aunt D. & thyself I remain Thy ever affectionate Priscilla Love to C.Morris & Maria [Seal : circle of lattice, ring of 7 dots]. Ann May. Samuel May Postmarks : BRISTOL No30 E Ampthill 17DE1833 18DE18 Bedfordshire. PY POST 1833

15 Dec1833

From: 1833 To: 1833

No. of pieces: 1

paper

item

May, Priscilla,
May, Ann,
Debell, Philip,
Wilkins, Ann,
Fisher, Hannah,
Fisher, Mary Hannah,
Withy, George,
Bates, E.,
Bowley, Edward,
Wilkins,
Jackson, S.,
Fry, Anna,
Fry, Richard,
Shipley, Rebecca,
Shipley, Elizabeth,
Sessions, Jesse,
Bruin, John,
Bowley, William,
Wilkins, A.,
May, R.,
Merrell, A.,
May, Rachel,
Bowley, David,
Brown, Thomas,
Fry, J.S.,
Fry, Anna,
Bennell, Polly,
Collier, Charlotte,
Curtis, Emma,
Curtis, John,
Curtis, James,
Richmond, Leigh,
May, Francis,
May, Jane,
May, Caroline,
May, Lewis,
Morris, Maria,
Morris, C

Germans, INNS, MARRIAGE, travel, farmer, Welsh, post, horse drawn coaches, private gardens, gardening, shopping, clothing, Cirencester, Reading, Bath, Cornwall, Bridgwater, Southampton, Germany, Cheltenham, Wales, Bristol