Reference
Z699/176
Title
Ann May to Priscilla Strange 3 June 1838
Kennington 6th Mo 3rd
My dearest P.
I am much comforted at the reception of thine now put into my hand by my sister Arch who with my sister T. is come to spend the day here, the Tucketts, Crowleys &c. to follow & spend the evening therefore how unwelcome the news I have now to impart is thou canst not easily imagine but Tertius will have told you that he met us in Bishopsgate St. & that thy poor F. was taken ill we managed to walk to an {omnibus} and he soon on arriving took to his bed his symptoms being those of a feverish cold exciting all old maladies of the heart & liver & he doses [sic] mostly in a disturbed way has nausea & headache chilliness & pain in the limbs is very low spirited - he has of course the best of medical attendance yet longs to see Edward who is sent to at my brother's request & I hope he will come this evening - aperients & sudorifics have done but little for us as yet we must soon I fear leech the temples the head is painful & confused but I must not employ these precious moments with my sisters & all around they beg me to write my name & finish but I must tell thee that D.Wheeler has received his daughter safe & sound, Charles W. somewhat better, Charlotte Burgess is come back rather poorly - they came on 6th night near twelve at the very same hour came Ben, Hooper's prodigal son he called his father up & it is said was in dismal plight - I find our dear Francis who called here this morning opened our letter in order to do the needful of which I have told thy poor F. but at present he is too drowsy to attend to anything - so Edward must form his own opinion as to F.'s capabilities.-
A letter from Nancy on 7th day says Charles has business in town next 6th day week so the preceding day 5th Charles purposes bringing his four children, the girls to visit Dr Sims, Peckham, & Tottenham, the boys to be lodged somewhere until 7th then first under Geo. Ward's care for Ampthill C. to return, then take his wife to Sutton &c. to attend next M.M. held at Ampthill & spend a few days -
I have just finished writing to Nancy there is only time to add our united dearest love to thy wholeself don't say anything about thy F.'s illness out of the family to raise enquiries - of course Tho. May must not bring the chaise without further orders - my love to the young men I intend writing again to-morrow
- I am truly - Thy affectionate Mother
[postscript ] We conclude that the letter has not reached Edward, in which T. May was requested to bring the chaise to Hertford to-morrow evening. Tertius was to have gone to Ampthill today but a note from his father requests his remaining in town until to-morrow - he wishes to go by rail road -
Thy aunt was head nurse yesterday so I went to G.C.Meeting a highly favoured one I dined at Brother James's drank tea with aunt Maddock -
Philip Tuckett was here - we all think thou shouldst wear a nipple shield with the teat sewed on or use the Indian rubber shield -
I should add that it has been a highly satisfactory Y.M. our last sitting was on 6th day evening. the men's 7th day morning meeting of the Select 7th day evening - very solemn & comforting -
May & Strange Postmark : M
Ampthill JU- -4
P.S. Beds. 1838
Date free text
3 June 1838
Production date
From: 1838 To: 1838
Exent
No. of pieces: 1
Format
paper
Level of description
item