Reference
Z699/146
Title
Francis May to Priscilla Strange 12 Dec 1836 London 12 mo 12 1836
My dear Sister
Received thy acceptable note by Father as well as the fowls which were quite a treat, they were excellent, and we are obliged for them.
I notice thy kind invitation for one of our dear girls and as thou dost not object to Ann I think she will be the most likely as we are very anxious that the two eldest should not miss their schooling I quite think Ann will be as little trouble as Louisa as she amuses herself very nicely and requires but little care being generally strong & hearty there was a previous invitation for Ann from her aunt Rachel but as she has visited Springfield before I should prefer her seeing Grandmamma May & Aunt P. -
Another thing I think will be needful and very agreeable that thou must pay us a visit to get acquainted, or I fear she will not settle well among all strangers or comparatively so -
I thought our dear Father seemed but poorly the day he came up but I think London air has improved him I am very sorry to find his medical attendants think his complaints of so uncertain a character.-
My dear J. would have written but her numerous engagements just now seem to occupy all her time & yesterday Frederick & William May spent the evening with us I think Frederick improves but in my opinion William is his superior in every way they both appear comfortably situated -
My friend R.Jeffrey had a letter from J.P.Wise this morning from Manchester giving but a poor account of himself, he thinks he was put into a damp bed at Liverpool, he is a most unfortunate man in this way, at all events he has a very bad cold -
I have a letter from Brother Charles this morning he gives a good account, I intend paying them a visit next week.
We have been paying a few visits lately - Wandsworth two days, Tottenham two days & Kennington part of 2 days, my dear & self enjoyed them all, it is very agreeable to keep up a social intercourse with our near Relatives & friends, & just now the bond of union had need be strengthened -
We are much favoured in our Monthly Meeting in having no members who appear drawn away by the new doctrines & nations, excepting one case of resignation which is not yet made public, it was a seal'd letter at our last Mo Meeting and I heard afterwards who it was from it is no-one of our acquaintance. I do not know whether I mention'd the very awful circumstance of the uncertainty of life - this day two weeks my tenant's Servant at Peckham came in for E.Latchmore saying her master was taken poorly he went in when to his amazement the poor man had just dropped the newspaper and falling back in his chair he show'd no signs of life afterwards his name was Puxty - his widow is a very nervous weakly old lady and we were apprehensive she would not survive it, but she is better, I believe the old gentleman was a sincere hearted man and a Christian, but few are prepared to deliver up the account of their wardship so suddenly; it was a great shock to us, I hope it may not be allowed to pass unheeded -
We ought to return good for evil; thy note was so provokingly short I had almost determined to serve thee the same but a few minutes leisure has allowed my pen to run rather longer than I expected or intended, but now I fear thou wilt think I have said but little -
Give our very dear love to Mother and accept the same from
Thy affectionate Brother Francis May
Our dear love to Edward -
Priscilla Strange obliged by
Ampthill S.May
Date free text
12 Dec 1836
Production date
From: 1836 To: 1836
Exent
No. of pieces: 1
Format
paper
Level of description
item