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Louisa Hooper to Edward Harris Strange 10 Aug 1849 Harpenden 8 mo 10th 1849 My dear Cousin My last letter implied some uncertainty as to whether I should reach Ampthill this time, so that it seems due to thee to say that I have felt obliged to decide on returning home from here by tomorrows coach, as just now that seems the right place for me.- I still receive accounts of many little perplexities attending some of our affairs, which keep my mind too much at Kennington to warrant my longer tarriance away from it - but as regards the house at Alton things wear the appearance of greater settlement, through Abraham Crowley's very kind efficient and voluntary interference, so that we feel little doubt of going there at last, altho' we are likely to have the event delayed beyond the 1st of 9th mo.- We begin however to prize the interval as a kind of leave taking of the old house - especially the little time we may pass there altogether, which bids to be but short, as I can pretty much foresee that my 2 sisters will go over to attend this Peace Congress at Paris, but it is not yet decided.- Yesterday I received from home another nice long letter from our dear Edward, he had most thoroughly enjoyed himself so far - he had spent some days at the Falls of Niagara which he had seen from all possible points.- The best part is that he finds out, the more you see of other lands, that there is no place to live in like old England - he is likely to return or rather to sail for home early in next month.- I heard of you yesterday from M.Morris whom I saw at Luton meeting whither I suppose he had conducted the 2 friends Howland.- We spent the remainder of the day at Daniel Brown's - I hope dear Mary Ellen is not feeling unhappy at the thought of going back so soon to school - I did not tell thee in my last what pleasure it gave me to see this dear child looking so sweet & well - we quite enjoyed having her at Kennington. Dear Sam too! I suppose he is quite settled in at school again - both he & M.E. would sympathise with us in a great calamity that has befallen us at home - we have lost Punch!- the naughty fellow escaped from the house and our servant traced him along the Camberwell new road, when she suddenly lost sight of him - Carry & others searched for him in vain - he is advertised &c - but up to yesterday had not been found. He went off on 2nd day, so that I really think we must begin to lose hope of recovering him - it quite distresses me to think of it - The weather here has been so stormy the few last days that it has prevented Charlotte Morris & Susanna from spending a day with us as they had intended doing - J.M.Morris told Lydia Brown that my Uncle May intended to stay at Ampthill until M.E. left for school, when I suppose he will seek the bracing air of Ipswich again, this is only my own conjecture - I trust he is none the worse for his late exertions, and the excitement of having his little Grandchildren around him so long - wilt thou give my dear love to him & to L.May whom I fancy intending to remain a while with thee, when Uncle has departed.- I shall be glad to avail myself of the earliest future day that presents for revisiting Ampthill, few places are so connected in my mind with past interests & pleasures, and they seem all deepened by present circumstances of thyself & thy dear children.- What a comfort for thee to see them all around thee in such excellent health as they seem now to be favoured with - Wilt thou tell Gertrude & Teddy that I send my dear love to them - the two younger ones will hardly remember me - how I should love to nurse the dear baby - tho' perhaps she would consider it an indignity now that she runs about so nicely - I must not write more now - but that I am very sincerely Thy affectionate Cousin Louisa Hooper I see I have not desired my dear dear love to M.E. tell her I send it with a great hug, which accompaniment she must imagine - and also that if she ever wishes to write to me from school, I hope she will do so, just as freely as if I were one of her schoolfellows - as I shall be quite pleased to hear from her - My love also to E.Yeates Edward H. Strange ST ALBANS AMPTHILL Ampthill 10.8.1849 11.8.1849

10 Aug 1849

From: 1849 To: 1849

No. of pieces: 1

paper

item

Hooper, Louisa,
Strange, Edward Harris,
Crowley, Abraham,
Hooper, Edward,
Morris, M,
Brown, Daniel,
Strange, Mary Ellen,
Strange, Samuel May,
Hooper, Caroline,
Morris, Charlotte,
Morris, Susanna,
Morris, J.M.,
Brown, Lydia,
May, Louisa,
Strange, Gertrude,
Strange, Edward,
Yeates, Eliza

Pontefract Ackworth School, horse drawn coaches, travel, servants, POLITICS, Harpenden, Kennington, Alton, Paris, Niagara Falls, LUTON, Camberwell, Ipswich, St Albans