Scope and Content
“My Dear Son,
I received your letter last night we were drinking tea at Mr Spilsbury’s. I went principally to see Mrs Holinsworth but she went to London the day before but I found Mr & Mrs Spilsbury very glad to see us and the Captain came in and chatted a little and we got home very safe but it was rather dark but we had the candles lighted and I think them a very good substitute for a moon we found it of the greatest use in going too & coming from Doncaster. You will find by your sister’s letter that I made a grand effort to give your sister all that she could see except one day to the course that I was obliged to give up or I should not have been able to have gone to the Grand Ball, which I should have been sorry not to have seen as it was a very grand sight and I think I never saw so many fine young women in one room in my life and extremely well dressed and the best dancers, indeed the three nights were well supported with good dancers. I need not tell you that your sister enjoyed it very much indeed and looked very well and had very proper, as well as good partners. I am very pleased that all is over and ended so well and so from the time you left us the last Monday I could get nothing done of any sort - all was engaged with, or, at the Races, even John Hill the Bricklayer, him I got to come on Monday and he put up the grates in all the rooms except the room Downing occupied, but for that I have not got a grate. Nicholson promised to come last Monday to finish the Papering and put up the beds, but sent his excuse and fixt tomorrow, but came while we were at Church today to put it off till Thursday next it is really vexatious. However, I hope by the time you come down to get most done within doors and some without - on Friday morning the poor ill-fated collonades came down and the space built up and the window put in but not glazed to the no small discomfort of every person in the house for the wind sits directly against it and the house has all day been like a windmill and the noise intolerable. However, I hope it will subside before bed time. Tim said that he is sure the leg of mutton would have been blown out of the dish had the passage been quite open he could hardly keep it as it was. I think you will not be displeased with the look of it. A bow window would have made it prettier, but that is now to late. I have been thinking that were very lucky last November not to have so disagreeable a day as this the whole time we were down. The scullery will be done next. I think they will begin it on Tuesday morning that will make a very good addition to the comfort of the place. I am sure I pitied poor Mary yesterday and today I really thought she would have had the shakings for I never saw any one look as she did, there will be no occasion for another covering to the wash House as it will only be wanted in brewing & washing time, & I have contrived a nice place the cleaning of the knives in the passage to shut up and will be no annoyance, and there will be Room for the Bottle rack if you like to have it there it may be made to hold 30 dozen if not more. The packing cases I have made use of for cupboards & you know I do not like to any thing wasted. I went to Doncaster on Friday to see how Mr Mosly came on, but found nothing finished but all agait (?) I gave Mowbry all your orders and I suppose he has written you a full account of them. John Kitching and Biggs, I think his name is, have been pecking (?) in the butts and cutting up the boughs leading from Billy Woods to Dane Common and they worked I think but very slowly, but Mowbry thought they did deadly well – send me word if the new Road in the wood is to be made. I find the people are all very busy now particularly the farmers, so we cannot go on with the garden on the other side the wall as Mowbry says it will take up more than twenty pound for leading earth in & gravel out, which directly [sloped] me in giving any orders about it and we shall go on with the wall from the end of the house which will make a pretty little garden and will do with a patch of potatoes in some other place at least for the present the wall will only be seven foot high so that it cannot darken your room and it will not be within 4 yards of the window the present wall at top is at least 14 foot so is the side next the house the bottom wall and outside only seven so it must be brought slanting down in a gentle fall from the 14 to the 7 which will look very well. I wish I could draw, I would send you a plan. The walls will be covered with fruit trees inside and out, the little angle next the wood to be planted also all the ground between the bottom wall and the grass plat with flowering shrubs which will have a pretty effect also the little triangular piece at the bottom coming out of the wood at the Park Gate must have a considerable plantation added to the wood which with about six clumps and a few single trees will compleat the place. All this I have in my head but I am afraid that most of it will go no further this year. I shall be glad if you can make out my imperfect description. - Mowbry has given you an account of what he has kil’d I suppose we have had two hares and a brace of hen pheasants and a quail which is all and I find Mowbry’s going to market for me is not worth while and takes up a great deal of his time and I believe he does not like it tho’ he always seems very willing yet I can plainly see he likes it not. We have had a very disagreeable time with him (as far as looks went) about removing in to the Rooms over the offices. I have had both the chimneys nicely done up with grates and cupboards put up on the sides and very pretty neat comfortable Rooms they are indeed, and they have put their Bed in one Room and live in the others and have got all their own things to themselves, and if they would be happy and content I should like it very much indeed but he looks quite savage. I went up to ask them how they did and how they liked their apartment. He said not at all and was not at all comfortable. I said that I was sorry for it and thought it was his own fault if he was not. I gave him the offer of eating with the family which he declined. We go on very quiet and I cam come to a resolution to be very civil and very indifferent to his likes or dislikes. Mrs. Mowbry seems very obliging in short I like Mowbry and his wife very well, but I plainly see I am in their way. He took the Horse out of the Park on Friday last and keeps his own in the stable night and day. We seem to have had a good many oats. Our horses have eat three pecks a day, but now your horse is gone it will be half a peck less, how many dogs do you keep 2 bushels of barley meal is soon gone and it is very dear. I do not see the least care or regularity in any thing, but I have not a doubt but he does as well if not better than any one you could get so that is settled. – There seems more sheep about than there was. Have you ordered more? I am sorry that I have nothing to send you. Mowbry went out yesterday, but got nothing. The day was very bad, but I was in hopes he would have got a quail or two. I hope you will get another gardener very soon as the main garden will soon get out of order and spoilt. Make the man roll it well three times a week and see it done, and you will want 2 peaches, 2 nectarines and 2, if not more, apricots. If you take Mr. Markham around the garden with you, he will tell you what to do. I wish to know if you think of altering your Tenants Day before I plant the walls as I would endeavour to put trees in the ground that will be in perfection about the time of your being down. Do send me word what I am to do about Tim’s clothes as he looks very untidy and dirty, which I cannot bear. He doesn’t look as if he would belong in our family, but I have had no conversation with him. As to the man Mowbry sent you word of, his Father, I find is a Horse Jockey and sells horses for gentleman, so that the boy has been used to horses. If you had written directly perhaps he would have brought your horse up and then you might have seen him and the expense would have been but little more. He lived with Sir Edward Smyth Bt, Newland Park near Wakfield who he said would give him a character. His person is very like Elwies. Should you like to try him you better write to Sir Edward. I think 12 Guineas per year a great deal Mowbry and Tim thinks not they are all alike for that. His name is John Chambers his father lives at Greenly. The passage is finished all but plastering and glazing and the Door and I think it is worse to day than ever and such a horrid night for wind & cold I never felt. – Mowbry intended to have went out this morning to have tried for a Quail to send Susan but the wind is so high it was impossible to stand so he is going to Thorn on what account I know not. The Bell Hanger is putting up a Bell in your little Room where we live and we find it very snug & comfortable and much better for us two than the others till the curtains are up particularly. Brunt is going, so must conclude with assuring you and my daughter that I wish nothing more than that you may long live together in love unity of mind, which will ensure happiness and if there is any thing I can do for you of any sort or kind that is in my power you have only to inform me of it and you will always find me ready and willing to do it. – I went to see James & his dear wife last Tuesday and took William with me. Found them much better than I expected. Very glad to see me, but particularly her. She looked so thankful and piteous (?) that it affects me to think of it, but not a word pas’t of his affairs, my brother never took the leash notices since of his meeting him at Shadness or any other place or has he written to me, James or William. My dear Susan, I must say one word to how do you do and how do you go on tell me all you feel. I hope you take care of yourself and not hurry about too much (?). I want to know if you have been blooded as I think you seemed to want it – I hope your brother is better and able to go his journey. You see what a long letter I have written to your husband I think he will never make it out I am in such a hurry to send Bob off. I hardly know what I write. Remember me kindly to the poor old cook the first time you go into the pantry. Tell her that I shall enjoy some of her nice things when I come to Ickwell Bury. Love & compliments to all that ask after me and believe to be my dear son & daughter ever your affectionate Mother, S. Harvey
I shall think it long till I see you here my dear Sarah is lost without you and her Brother, tho’ I must say that she behaves wonderfully well. Tel Mr M if he comes down we shall have a comfortable room- I have not written to Mr Lax and I am afraid he has pas’t us.
Love to Lady Ongley. I want much to know how my Lord does."