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Emily Hooper to Priscilla Strange 29 May 1835 Kennington 5/29 My dear Priscilla Thou knowst so well the bustle & unsettlement of Y.M. wilt not I trust attribute my silence to forgetfulness or unconcern, believe me my thoughts are very frequently with you & I feel an increased interest in the particulars I hear of you from my Aunt, now that I can fancy the occupations you may be concerned in. Thou, sometimes alone in thy delightful quiet dwelling sometimes endeavouring to keep up Aunt Debby's spirits in her deserted situation. I was glad to hear my Cousin Edward had parted with his troublesome companion - he must find a great relief -I wish my dear P, I could make thee a sharer in my interest in these delightful meetings but time & ability utterly fail me. As far as I can tell they have been conducted in usual harmony & love, many have spoken very fully on the subject which has lately occasioned so much discussion. Rebecca Ridgeway in particular expressed it as her belief that should we as a people despise the testimonies our ancestors were called upon to bear, there would still be those raised up who would support them. E.Dudley & many others have enlarged on the same subject. In haste, adieu for the present. 30th. Now my dear Priscilla - that the meetings are concluded I shall be able I hope, to enter the little season of quietness I have so long wished for - silently to chat with thee; it seems hardly necessary for me to enlarge in what passed in them, as my Aunt will give thee all the particulars - It appears to be the general opinion that the number of the {Beaconites} is very small & the difference of sentiment subsisting between them & the orthodox members not so great as was imagined, but we are quite out of the way of hearing many opinions on the subject - We were yesterday very fully warned of a Hicksite who is expected in this country, who makes the appearance of a Friend & it is supposed will endeavour to hold meetings & get introduced into Friends' families of the name of Elias Dawson of a very specious & insinuating address, several Friends expressed that it was comforting to their minds to believe there was little openness in this country to receiving him - In the afternoon an astonishing meeting was held for receiving information on the working of the system of apprenticeship in the British Colonies from which it appears that even greater cruelties are exercised upon the poor negroes than were during the old system & the friends of emancipation were entreated to use every exertion for procuring the entire freedom of the slaves without which it is feared a rebellion will be the consequence. It was stated that in the islands in which the slaves were entirely emancipated their condition has been most satisfactory - I was most agreeably surprised one morning, feeling someone grasp my hand in the crowd around the door, I turned round, & found it to be Charlotte Collier, she is come up with an invalid friend & during the Y.M. had lodgings at a fishmonger's opposite the {meeting} house, being determined to attend every {meeting} & large committee, I have not yet had much of her company, but if she stays into next week she proposes coming to see us - We have been quite disappointed in not having had a visit from Cousin Philip & Anna, they deferred coming until the end hoping to have more time - & their bad colds prevented them - Mamma called with Papa to see dear little Philip who was looking very pale from cutting his teeth Papa lanced his gums & one came through the next morning - Mamma says he is much altered and has very curly hair - My Aunt T. has very nice accounts of Mariana, that she is in excellent spirits, her sister Elizabeth is to be with her over the eventful period, her Mother & Sister Charlotte are going into Wales next month & pay a visit to her on the way. The latter part of this information I received from Sarah Alfred whom I met at Dr Hodgkin's, who said she feared the event would just take place during their purposed short stay & form an excuse for detaining her a long time from home - Sarah Alfred Fox is a sweet looking woman - Philip says she was considered beautiful, she is rather tall with light hair & eyes, without much conversation I should think from the little I saw of her - There were a pretty many at Dr H's third day, L. & I dined there, & a great majority of gentlemen, we were greatly relieved while taking off our bonnets by the entrance of Emma & Mary Curtis - Elizabeth Hodgkin was also there & as I found on entering the drawing room that few of the gentlemen were wholly strangers it was not quite so formidable an assembly as I had feared - We drank tea with the Curtis's at their lodgings twice. I have not heard whether they have returned home but they were to do so as soon as their meetings were concluded except Edward & Jane - Perhaps thou hast heard that a bad corn has prevented Mamma from attending more than two of the meetings - it had been obliged to be almost instantly poulticed & is still cause of much suffering to her, it was very cheering to her to have dear Aunt May here last night & she looks forward with much pleasure to having her again next week - Our domestic troubles if I may call them so have concluded better than I expected, we could not meet with a cook till last seventh day, however two servants came fifth day evening and as far as we can see at present appear likely to suit. 6/1st. Aunt Tuckett, H. & F. Uncle & Aunt Arch are with us &, I must conclude this scrawl for the latter to take with her - But I must first exercise thy patience a little longer with telling thee of a nice long chat I had with Ann [?Grilson] at Uncle Arch's upon bygone days, & amongst the particulars she was telling me of our old companions, she mentioned having heard that Priscilla May was likely to be married, she was much surprised to hear that the knot was already tied - Eliza & Lucy Backhouse were also in Town as much pictures of health as ever. Emma & Eliza Richards who actually came from Guernsey by themselves. Their Father had taken his place to accompany them, but was prevented by illness, they must have had pretty good courage I think, they had a stormy passage - I have been glad to hear nice accounts of Aunt Debby & Cousin Nancy, please to give my love to them, my Cousin Edward & the children. Do write to me very soon and give me every particular thou canst think of - Believe me I shall long retain a pleasing & grateful remembrance of my sojourn amongst you - Very affectionately thine Emily Love from Mariana L. & C.- Priscilla Strange Ampthill.

29 May 1835

From: 1835 To: 1835

No. of pieces: 1

paper

item

Hooper, Emily,
Strange, Priscilla,
Ridgeway, Rebecca,
May, Edward Curtis,
Dudley, E,
Dawson, Elias,
Collier, Charlotte,
Tuckett, Philip,
Tuckett, Anna,
Tuckett, Mariana,
Hooper, Elizabeth,
Tuckett, Elizabeth,
Alfred, Sarah,
Hodgkin, Dr.,
Hodgkin, Elizabeth,
Curtis, Mary,
Curtis, Emma,
Fox, Sarah Alfred,
Curtis, Jane,
Curtis, Edward,
Grilson, Ann,
Arch,
Backhouse, Lucy,
Backhouse, Eliza,
Richards, Eliza,
May, Debby,
May, Nancy

fishmonger, slavery, household personnel, cook, servants, clothing, social activities, Wales, Guernsey