Reference
Z699/121
Title
Edward Harris Strange to Priscilla May 17 May 1834
Ampthill 5 Mo. 17. 1834
My dear Priscilla
Thy father having concluded to drive up to Tottenham to morrow instead of going by our coach on second day as I expected, has taken me rather by surprise, and when I tell thee that it was past eleven o'clock before we got out of the shop no further apology will be necessary for me to make for writing so short a letter - I should have been pleased to have had sufficient time to give thee a detailed account of our proceedings, and of the progress made towards the disposal of the farming department of our business, but as it is so late a short account must suffice. Thy F. has just suggested that I might get Ward to give my letter to Charles at Luton, I will therefore finish tomorrow.
1st day afternoon. Thou wilt be pleased to hear that thy Father has quite concluded to relinquish the whole of his farming land - and that Charles has taken to part of one field already, and the remainder of the ground which is now under crop he will take into his possession at Michaelmas. I may say that this transfer has been made without any apparent regret except that a fear exists in the mind of the present occupier, that his successor should not cultivate it as profitably as he has done.
We have not quite turned everything upside down, but have really accomplished much this week.
Gobby is turned over to Charles and he will enter into the service of his new master on second day, and is I understand to preside over the horticultural department. - the cows instead of being caged up in that dusty yard feeding on clover and other green food mowed for them are to be turned loose into the grass and Jno. Mann is to milk them and take care of the calves. - He is also to be groom at home, head gardener, and jobbing man besides. - With all these offices J.M. may safely calculate upon having his hands tolerably full.
It is very pleasant to me to see thy Father give up his favourite pursuit with so little appearance of reluctance, and if it was not for some doubt he unfortunately entertains as to the future mode of cultivating I believe his resignation would prove a means of great comfort and solid satisfaction - I hope Charles will manage it in a way that will be profitable to himself and that it may not be a constant source of uneasiness to his Father.
We have had some conversation respecting the proposed partnership and it was thought best to inform the young men what was in contemplation - it seemed due to the journeymen especially to know that an alteration was about to take place and if any objections were made on their part an opportunity would be afforded for stating them. - On 5th day evening after supper thy Father stated the circumstances to them and they all seemed well satisfied with the suggestion [sic] - Joseph Cook has spoken to me on the subject since very pleasantly -
I met Charles at Hitchin on my way home from Town as proposed and was glad of the opportunity of having some conversation with him - he was very open and communicative, and I hope now the stiff partition wall has been broken down, and more familiar intercourse will be established.
Thy Father & Nancy have been to inspect our intended habitation and they pronounce it to be a nice comfortable house - both the parlours are rather small nor can they be enlarged without great expense - I suppose thy Father can give the dimensions of each room and many other particulars -
I hope thy Aunt A. is fast improving under thy arduous attention and good nursing. Tell thy Aunt Hooper that I hope when I go down to see her again, she will be in as good spirits as when I was there last - I think it has done me a deal of good. I forgot to pay the postage of a letter I received at Cornhill - wilt thou be kind enough to pay it for me. My memory does not improve but I excuse myself now by laying the blame on thee.
We have been disappointed by not hearing about Francis, I hope he is well enough by this time to go down to Peckham to look after his family and business. I should be glad to hear soon how he is going on. - & as I may calculate on receiving a long letter from thee in a few days thou can then state how he is if no information is received before - but thou must understand no information about him received from any other Quarter will supersede [sic] the necessity of thy writing very early -
In recurring to the few happy moments spent in thy company last week, (and indeed they were but a few) and the greater part of that time was so occupied as to allow but little opportunity for entering minutely into the various interesting particulars connected with our future prospects yet I feel much encouraged to believe that if we do not allow ourselves to build too many castles in the air, nor look forward too confidently to nothing but a succession of pleasant things, I believe neither of us will be greatly disappointed. There is indeed a degree of risk and uncertainty attending every thing here and unless we are prepared to expect a portion of the rough as well as the smooth, of the bitter as well as the sweets of life to fall to our portion as well as to the lot of others, thou readily will prove that we have been but poor calculators.
Do not my dearest Priscilla imagine I am inclined to create or anticipate trouble and difficulties that may possibly attend us, I only wish to guard against being too sanguine - the bonds of love and affection by which I feel united to thee are so strong and inexpressibly dear, that I shall always be compelled both from inclination and duty to do all I can to promote thy comfort and secure thy happiness -
If thy Father returns home on 6th day as I expect he will, I may probably be in Town the beginning of next week, peradventure he does not return, when I hope to have a little of thy company again and hope we may find some quiet place. I like to be in the quiet with thee for my companion.
Please to give my love to my numerous London friends when thou feels liberty, thy dear Mother in particular and believe me to remain
Thy sincerely attached Edward -
J.Daniel died yesterday morning about 10 clock - he went off in a very serene state of mind and was quite sensible to the last. Samuel Hobson's Daughter who has long been an invalid died the night before.- E.H.S.
Address : Priscilla May Seal : PAIX A MON AMI and dove of peace.
61 Cornhill [this was Ann May's seal]
London
Date free text
17 May 1834
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From: 1834 To: 1834
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No. of pieces: 1
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