Title
Emily Hooper to Priscilla May c. April 1834
Kennington
My dear Priscilla
Once more I am about to address thee from my own dear home which appears to me after all the happy spots that I have visited "a dearer sweeter spot than all the rest." thou wilt easily enter into my feelings on this occasion, having so recently experienced similar thyself. I found my dear Mamma looking very poorly, but not worse than the accounts I received of her led me to expect, and I am glad to tell thee that she is feeling better than she did a week ago, and I quite hope that as the summer advances her health will improve more rapidly.
I suppose from the postscript to thy last that thou hast been looking for a letter from me for two or three days past and certainly had I not just then been particularly engaged from circumstances I will by & by relate, the secret related to me in thy last did call for expressions of sympathy, congratulations on my part, but thou wilt not I trust suppose I can be deficient in feelings of this substance on a subject that so nearly concerns thee & thy future happiness.
Thou wishes me to tell thee just what I think about it. It must be allowed to be a Strange affair, though I must tell thee that it did not excite my surprise, so much as thou fancied it would, as I had before had my suspicions, partly from some hints of thy own, but never pressed thee to tell me, thinking that if thou wished to do so, thou couldst not doubt my confidence. It must, I am sure, be a great comfort to thee to have the full concurrence of all thy family and since they approve it and it is what thou considers will contribute to thy happiness I cannot but approve it also and wish that all thy pleasant prospects may be realized which as far as we can see there seems every reason to anticipate. I remember thy saying that kindness & gentleness were in thy opinion the first requisites in a husband, or at least, words to that effect, & these I have no doubt thou wilt experience, & then thou wilt have the comfort of still residing at Ampthill that thou prefers to all the world beside & so near to thy Father & Mother & Brother & Sister Charles.
Thou wilt not be surprised when I tell thee I already begin to build airy castles for thy future but must leave a further communication of them till we meet. I am glad that time is no farther distant than the Yearly, as it will be quite convenient to us to accommodate thee then, how much we shall have to talk about!!
Thou wilt like to hear that Aunt Tuckett quite approved of thy decision. The same post that brought me thy welcome letter, brought one for Aunt from Uncle Arch in which he said he had long been of opinion that on account of Mariana's awkward indisposition my aid was rather wanted at home and that Papa had authorized him to say that if I would fix as early a day as convenient for my return, he would meet me.
We were that same morning expecting Anna & Caroline Fry to stay till seventh, who arrived with their Father before I could finish my letter to fix second day for my return. Thou wilt easily imagine, that what with Aunt's having a headache & being very anxious on my Aunt Arch's account too, felt hardly in spirits to entertain them, but as the first dull impression began rather to wear off, we much enjoyed their company, and I think upon the whole it was a pleasant visit to them.
The next morning C.Fry & C.Collier & I took a delightful walk across Grahams park & by the back of Glen Froom which thou may'st remember we walked with Francis, but now with the first green leaves it looks much more beautiful. It was a bright morning and so warm our single shawls seemed almost unbearable - it was quite like Summer. I often wished thou couldst accompany us, thou dost not know what a famous hand Charlotte is at scrambling, neither locked gates nor hedges could stop her when there were wood anemones & bluebells to be got, and at one time when I waited for her outside a small enclosed wood by the side of the Duchess's she said she could not enjoy her pick for the pricking of a guilty conscience.
I think when I last wrote to thee we were just going to attend the Q.M at Mildenham, the journey as far as Bath we performed in Aunt's carriage & from there on a fly & alighted at Thomas Jefferies's in time for tea. I am not aware that thou art at all acquainted with the family it consists of 5 sons & 2 daughters the oldest of the latter kindly welcomed us, the other is subject to epileptic fits & too ill to come into company, so we did not see her, the eldest son is living in Jersey [sic], the second son thou hast heard of as accompanying Henry T. into Spain and perhaps thou hast heard, made an offer to Susanna Lucas since H.T. - Edward Thomas & a younger one I believe still at school.
John Beard & his wife were already arrived the former much better in health. Christopher Bowley & his wife & William Bowley & his mate arrived soon after and at supper there was a larger party than the table would hold, the next morning at breakfast there were as many & at dinner we heard they had 36.
Aunt & I dined at a sister's of his Mary Powel also a largish company, Anna Fry & two of the Gundry's are representatives from the women's meeting, & Joseph Fry & pretty Dick are amongst the brethren appointed to the Yearly.
The meeting was adjourned to the evening when an interesting memorial of Rachel Fowler was read, after which Rebecca Fowler spoke a few words in reference to it, & two other friends, it formed a very agreeable conclusion to the Quarterly. On the whole I quite enjoyed our visit there.
Before leaving on fourth day we paid 3 calls, on George Withy who has since then sustained a heavy trial in the loss of his daughter Simpson. We afterwards called on Maria Simpson - the mother of the young man C.W.'s daughter married & on George W. junior & his wife -
Had a pleasant journey home - parted with the fly at Bath where Kirk was waiting with the carriage and as it was Papa's birthday & took some white wine & sugar to drink his health which she complained of as having made her muzzy - found all pretty well on our return, Elizabeth Fox & party had left Francis's soon after we did on second day & returning the same evening Francis was too unwell to be there. he got rather better after that, but was much worse again before I left with influenza & brought at last to send for John Hay. I left him rather better, & Mariana am glad to tell thee much more encouraged about the nursing department. She had a larger supply for the baby & not attended with so much suffering. Little Frank daily improving, tho' they still abuse him sadly, but he is really a very lovely baby.
I had messages of love for thee from most of them I think, C.Collier included - dear little P.D. continues to thrive & dear Mariana was well.
I parted with them all with very mingled feelings, sorry to bid them farewell though delighted at thought of so soon meeting again so many loved ones. I am sorry to tell thee poor Betsey Ship had so long been so much of an invalid, that she thought a change to Cheltenham for a short time might be beneficial to her, & on first day afternoon she left for Bristol in very poor spirits, the next day was to proceed to Cheltenham with her friend {Bobbel} or some such plan, so that poor Aunt is left quite alone. We have sent her an invitation to pay a visit here before the Yearly, but I think it doubtful whether she accepts it at present. She is so afraid from her frequent headaches of being troublesome - we wish she would not think of that.
Helen was pretty well but Alfred feels so convinced that change of air would be of use to her health, & to baby also, who is certainly stronger than he was, that he intends taking lodgings for them at Tenby in about three weeks. Lydia Davy is talking of going too with her little prodigy who they say can stand alone by the sofa and eat bread & butter as well as we can.
Although I did not suppose that I should mind travelling alone I was glad to hear that William Ball was likely to be my fellow traveller. He was outside the coach, but this I preferred I really believe that had he not been there I should have gone without my dinner as with no other ladies present my companions inside were a gentleman and his little girls the former read & slept the greater part of the way & the latter of about 8 & 10 years of age were very lively & agreeable companions. W.B. was very smooth & polite he passed the meeting on fifth day on fourth I saw him sitting in Ann Dale's carriage at the end of Houndsditch he said Ann was gone to choose silk for bonnets &c. but he thought he could not help her.
I am sorry dear Aunt Arch does not improve but you will no doubt hear all particulars from dear Aunt May
Farewell my dear Strange cousin, I long to have thee here to tell me everything & if thou dost not write very soon I shall think it very Strange.
As ever thy affectionate Cousin
Emily
Love from thy {Shaddow}. Mariana desires her love to thee & unites with me in kind remembrances to thy Beloved
Priscilla May favd by James Curtis
Ampthill