HF90/4/2/2/23

Letter from Henrietta Ann Matthews to her brother, Thomas J Hooper. Sent from Caerleon Cottage. Business with customs house; school applications; New House Farm.

8 Oct 1868

From: 1868 To: 1868

“Immediately on the receipt of yours I went to the Custom House for samples for Slade, and asked Mr Lancefield to tell me of some other clerk besides Knight who could draw out Custom House papers for the samples; as he told me none could be taken out of bond without passing the papers, he promised me he would do it himself, and Mr Slade has some of them, but Slade tells me no one has been to look at the samples, nor in the warehouse to see the bulk, although he has written and called on several at Newport and Cardiff. I went to Benjamin [Matthews?] on Monday week and slept there, he kindly filled up the enclosed paper [not enclosed] but I do not think he has made out sufficiently strongly that we were in better circumstances (I mean that I have a brother & brother in law, solicitors and doctor, etc., Benjamin told me to write for another paper and then get the certificates filled up before the explanations were written so I have done so and this morning. Sarah Stone returned it to me with the marriage certificate filled up all right but the year is not mentioned - need I return it for that or may I insert it myself? And Bessie has taken it in to Newport to have the birth and baptism entered. John wished me to take Frank [son?] to London for Dr Frodsham to examine his skin thinking him ineligible I did not wish the expence of sleeping in town so wrote and asked if he would kindly receive me at 12 instead of 11 but he wrote a very polite note saying there was no need of a preliminary examination our own medical man would be sufficient. Fanny says that Henry Foquett wrote about Henry to the Swansea college and it is all right; so that I do not now intend going up. I am very disappointed at the answer from Balmoral. We have a house at Caerleon £10 a year but no garden and I have made arrangements for selling all furniture etc (we do not require) next Wednesday as the builder wanted to go into the rooms at Cordey’s. We have paperers and painters here at work; it is a new house and has never been finished. They are very slow and I fear will be another fortnight before the[y] are out of the house. I wrote to thank Colonel Foquet for his kindness to John [?son, John Robins Matthews] who is now in the Strand. The last time I saw Mr Winter he was very anxious about the Farm, not having heard from you that Mr Bateman had paid the money, he said he must keep the key of the house but he expected Mr B would take possession of the land. In a printed paper in the St Anne’s list is said “make out as strongly as you can that you have more in the superior station” Please write and tell me what I had better say.”

item

Matthews, Henrietta Ann,
Hooper, Thomas J.,
Slade,
Lancefield, Thomas,
Knight,
Matthews, Benjamin,
Matthews, Bessie,
Stone, Sarah,
Frodsham,
Matthews, Frank Octavius,
Foquett, Henry,
Hooper, Fanny,
Matthews, Joseph Henry,
Matthews, John Robins,
Winter,
Bateman

family correspondence, business, Customs & Excise, schools, furniture