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Priscilla Strange to Ann May 2 June 1836 Ampthill 6th mo 2nd 1836 Cornhill My dear Mother I thought I might as well write a few lines to thee this evening as I know thou wouldst like to hear what is done & doing & as some arrangement seems to have been brought to a conclusion with respect to the children's movements.- I have not had an opportunity of speaking to Father since the morning but the following is the plan proposed- Father to take Charles & Lewis with the two boys on the 13th to London - - on the 14th A.C.M. to come to Town from Stockport - on the 16th the Girls to go to Town from Berkhamstead - & from thence to Ipswich. Charles seems to think Sarah may go next week in that case I must have Mary back again but fear with no prospect of her continuing - she does not think herself better but O.Foster prescribed for her yesterday & says he sees no reason why she should not get pretty well again.- - Mary Foster & E.Appleton came over with Richard Foster, his brother driving them - we all dined together at your house & Father accompanied R.F. about 1/2 past 3 in your chaise to drink tea at M.Wiffen's as he was going to have a meeting at Woburn Sand that evening intending to proceed to Leighton afterwards, but Mary Wiffen was very desirous of his staying the night at her house & so Father brought them both there after meeting & reached home after nine o'clock. Our meeting here was small but it was attended by most of the members - - Mary White is much better & able to sit up every day. On our arrival on 2nd day we found we were not at all expected, but received a welcome from all - & were glad enough to find ourselves at home - - The brick & Morter jubilee not being over I think if thou canst conveniently stay a little while longer it would be as well - Rhoda says she hopes thou wilt not come before they can get to rights, I think they bear it very well.- Your room is papered & looks very nice - the attics are much improved but I have not seen them today since they were scoured - Our beds had been kept aired by Charles & Ben Tathan for a few nights whilst Father could not sleep in his own room - The front Kitchen has a small range in it, the door into the other is put where the warm closet was & on the other side is a cupboard (not finished) with shelves in to put the crockery out of sight - as to the back kitchen that is not near done, the window over the sink is stopped up & another placed on the opposite side, the coal hole will have to be out of doors - thus far is done & a great mess they are in but not so bad as they were.- Our own house I found in nice order Sarah had cleaned it up nicely but the garden was in most woeful plight, with the dry weather & 28 chickens scratching about, thou mayst be sure I could not rest without setting it to rights, which I began doing by sending all the live-stock into the yard, where, what with the 10 ducks & the others, I find it takes something considerable to feed them - the ducks are grown amazingly, I have made myself stiff with routing the weeds before this nice rain came.- All this time I have not said a word about the boys- they are quite well excepting Robert's rash which is much worse - they have some new playfellows in the little Cato's - trap & ball seems to be their chief game in the back yard - they are highly delighted with their Tower.- Father sends me word that if Aunt S. offers to take thee & Aunt A. to G.Wood thou hadst better go, if not the other plan can be adopted when he gets to Town.- - Frederick went yesterday & they have in consequence to [keep] close to business as Ben had to go to the Park.- - We could not hear of any assistant in Town - at the wholesale houses they told Edward we should not be likely to, as no young man that was worth having would leave London just now.- - I have told Sarah about the 1. She agreed to thy proposition & expressed herself very grateful - she has heard from her sister giving a very satisfactory account of her boy she is anxious to see him before she goes for fear he should forget her.- - Having written a very full account I think I must conclude with dear love in which Edward & the boys unite I remain Thine affectionately P.Strange Dear love to Uncle & Aunt Arch & Aunt Tuckett. Shall be glad to hear a better account of Philip & little Franky - Ann May [Seal : Priscilla] Cornhill.

2 June 1836

From: 1836 To: 1836

No. of pieces: 1

paper

item

Strange, Priscilla,
May, Ann,
May, Charles,
Maynard, Agnes,
May, Nancy,
Foster, Oswald,
Foster, Mary,
Appleton, E.,
Foster, Richard,
Wiffen, Mary,
White, Mary,
Tatham, Benjamin,
Tatham, Charles,
Tuckett, Elizabeth,
Tuckett, Francis,
Tuckett, Philip

travel, weather, poultry, HOUSEHOLD, household decoration, household furnishings, rain, City of London Cornhill, Stockport, Berkhamsted, London, Ipswich