Reference
Z699/186
Title
Emily Hooper to Priscilla Strange c.June 1839
Kennington sixth day
My dear Priscilla,
I can truly say that I have long been wishing to write to thee, but have lately been much occupied, and during the little intervals of leisure have felt too stupid & tired for letter writing -
I know that I do not now fix in a favourable time for sending thee a letter, as thou wilt have had my Uncle & Cousin Nancy & now my Aunt to tell thee how we are all situated & all that has lately interested us, and it will be far more gratifying to thee to enjoy their company than to take up thy time with reading this scrawl, but I fear a longer delay will make thee have give thee reason to think me forgetful, and nothing would grieve me more than that my friend should think that any new scene of interest, or agreeable intercourse with others could render me indifferent or forgetful of them -.
Without further apology, I will tell thee how much pleasure it has given us to have my dear Aunt's company & to see her so well & able to be so cheerful,- this has been really surprising to us, knowing how very keen a trial she has experienced, I can only regard it as exemplifying the great peace that all they have that love the Lord in sincerity & submit with resignation to the severe trials with which he sees right to visit them believing that he does not willingly afflict the children of men - I am sure it must be comforting to you all to see her, and my dear Uncle too, so nicely - and I now trust you can now feel that the gloom which has overshadowed you is fast dispersing & that very many enjoyments remain -
There seems to be many little plans already formed for the Summer both with you & us - our first visit will most likely be to Hertford where L. & I have long been invited for a week or ten days, and afterwards Louisa is anticipating spending a time with thee with much pleasure.
I hope Mamma will accept my dear Aunt's invitation some time during the summer for nothing seems so pleasant to her as being with Aunt May and she will feel very dull when Carry goes to school I am afraid.
(Seventh day) I have just received a letter from Lucy Manser proposing third day week for our going there. She says that next day is their Quarterly Meeting & it just occurs to me that we may meet thee there - that would be pleasant, tho' I fear our time together would be but short & sweet, but even such meetings are desirable for they live in the remembrance much longer, & often recur to the mind with pleasure -
I really hardly know what to tell thee - little incidents I should in general mention seem to have occurred so thickly that I must refer thee to my dear Aunt for information, and as to much reading it has seemed out of the Question lately -
Thou wilt be sorry to hear that poor Elizabeth Tylor has been under much anxiety on Edmund Pace's account. Papa has attended him with a bad cough & much debility. He spent a week at Highbury which was of benefit to him but he is far from being strong. Papa says his is such a little house in Thavies Inn Holbourn, still as Mary Tylor says "there will be room for love" -
Is it a brother of thy friend C.Smith's who is married to, or going to marry Mary Christy? she was a schoolfellow of mine & one who I was much surprised to hear was likely to marry for I used to think her young for her age tho' a nice girl, and I can scarcely realize that 8 years have passed since I left school.-
Is it not affecting to think of poor E.Gibbon's death, more especially on her surviving sister's account, for we cannot doubt that the change to her is great gain, but how closely they were united, few more so I should think-
We thought of you last evening with your interesting tea party, I shall like to hear who you had and whether the meeting was a satisfactory one, we attended the annual one at Exeter Hall which was very crowded & oppressive & not very bright & not feeling very equal to the fatigue, we forbore attending the other meetings that we might be in good case for our own. These have indeed been attended with great interest & I hope instruction - I do not know that I ever enjoyed a Yearly Meeting more, tho' I have suffered a good deal from weariness -
We have become a little acquainted with our Cousin Ann Hicks she appears a very good natured agreeable young woman tho' her personal attractions do not nearly equal the ideas I had formed of them from all I had heard -
The Frys from Bristol were in Town - dost thou know Caroline is likely to be named very soon I think Aunt Tuckett said third day week - Richard made particular enquiries after thee as we dined together one day at Dr Hodgkin's.
I cannot help hoping we shall meet at Hertford if not write to me as soon as thou hast leisure, I know at present thou must wish to have all thou canst of Cousin Nancy's company -
Do give my dear love to her & her dear girls when they join you - also to my dear Uncle & Cousin Edward. Louisa unites in all these messages
Believe me my dear Priscilla
Thy ever affectionate Emily
Date free text
c.June 1839
Production date
From: 1839 To: 1839
Exent
No. of pieces: 1
Format
paper
Level of description
item