Reference
Z699/128
Title
Priscilla May to Edward H Strange 21 July 1834
Cornhill 7th day afternoon
My dear Edward
Having a little quiet time I thought it would be no bad plan to begin a letter - I came here this morning from Peckham in pouring rain which still continues & which quite prevents my getting out to do a little shopping before going to Tottenham at seven o'clock. I have been dining with Uncle Arch who is well, his eyes are better -
On fifth day Francis & Jane & I dined & drank tea at Kennington which was an almost insupportably hot day Uncle A. drank tea & staid till past ten, on our return to Peckham we found S.Holmes junr who is Maria Pace's bridesmaid the marriage is to be on fourth day at Gracechurch Street - I was glad to have only even one day of S.H.[Sarah Holmes]'s company as we have not met for any length of time for some years.-
I received the few lines that Mother wrote in F.'s letter mentioning a plan for my return home - I can readily imagine your having debated on the subject & concluded it is high time I made my appearance I am really tired of staying away but it seems as though I must pay a few visits now & leave some as I shall be in quite a scrape at Tottenham if I do not pay a long one at some future time - Francis was so pressing for me to stay that I found a difficulty in leaving. I went there two weeks last fifth day a longer visit than I have ever paid them.
Tottenham 2nd day - I arrived here on 7th day even. & found all well, was not a little surprised to find a letter in thy handwriting which I had not given me till after supper time - Edward & Caroline unite with me in not liking the plan of my going to Hertford to meet thee but would very much prefer thy coming here on 2nd day & spending third with us & returning home on fourth -
Thou wilt perhaps not have many commissions to Town but be able to spend the afternoon at least here -
I must say I think you are a dilatory set in winding up your accounts but I hope when thou comes thou wilt be able to give us an account of the finishing stroke.-
I hope it will be finer weather for our journey than it is now - I shall much prefer going through Luton to Hitchin on our way - -
I must decline H.May's kind invitation this time & intend writing to her to that effect.-
Edward has taken such a fancy to flowers that he has engaged me to assist him this afternoon in the garden but we have such heavy & frequent showers that I think I cannot.- Caroline & I have this morning begun reading "Taylor's life of Cowper" quite a nice work it is very interesting & gives a much more minute account of the great depression he laboured under - it is a small but thick book of about 500 pages - we are hoping to get through it whilst I am here as we have not it.
Uncle Arch seems to find it very difficult to fix a time for his visit but I hope he will not give it up - he was much at a loss for a reader when his eyes were bad - it is quite delightful to be able to read & work again alternately as C. & I have done this morning - as I have done very little of it lately - I do not consider myself near so fond of reading as many but I think it is much the best way of spending time especially as the march of intellect is proceeding with such rapid strides that we must read a little more than some very domestic persons think they have time for in order not to appear very ignorant.
I had almost forgotten to say that I suppose my luggage may go in the gig it will be a portmanteau & trunk.- I must now conclude with dear love to F. & M. Aunt Arch in which Caroline unites accept a share thyself
from Thy affectionate
Priscilla -
[Seal : Gothic script P.M. ]
Samuel May
Postmarks : U TOTTENHAM 1834
Ampthill JY 21 EV. JY.21
E.H.S. Beds 1834
JY 21 1834
Date free text
21 July 1834
Production date
From: 1834 To: 1834
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No. of pieces: 1
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