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Via Etna 11 Welfield Place – 11 Janry[crossed out] ‘62

          (Tuesday night)         February 

Dear Ann

                  Yesterday I recd. your Highwood 

letter of 22/24 ulto. via Saxonia, & this morning that via Arabia, commenced 26th at Highwood, & concluded on 28th. at your own home. – The latter epistle is accompanied by one of 28th, from Mytton - & all 3 are very acceptable. – You speak of Walker[underlined] as “now” (28th) “writing to you” (me) “at the same table;” but perhaps you met Mytton[underlined]: - anyhow, there is nothing from him enclosed either in your letter via Arabia, or in Matthew’s. –

Despite of the foul weather, you seem to have en =joyed your “11 days” sojourn at Highwood; so I am glad you went, both for your own sake, & that of Mrs. King. –

I rejoice with you on the diamond ring having been found. – Your journey to 4th. St on the 21st. was no double consolatory to our faithful domes= =tics in their affliction for their Aunt’s death.

I am glad you had that letter of 10th January from Nan, & that she sent word about Rutson [to?] his wife & sent her $5 at the same time.

It is a relief to me, as no doubt to you & all around your fireside, to find that the anticipated attack on Norfolk is indefinitely postponed, or was not the contemplated object of “Burnside’s Expedition”. –

I thank you for the copy of Harriet’s letter of 20th Janry, & I hope that you may soon have had another one giving a more agreeable report as to the health of the household. –

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I read with interest & sympathy Fontaine’s letter to you of 26th January. – It is somewhat incoherent.

I heartily wish these two lads were released.

By this vessel I send you 3 more copies of the “Times.” In that of the 11th you will find an interesting dis= =cussion in the House of Lords, as to British subjects confined in their Forts. – I fancy it may do some

                                    of 

good, & perhaps hasten the liberation ^ our two ne=

lations & more comfort generally. – But for the indig

=nity, the common[underlined] prisons such as “the Tombs,” Sing Sing, Auburn, etc., would be far better receptacles for these State prisoners.

I enclose the sequel as to Mr. Holden’s case of Bank =ruptcy, in case you think it might interest Rutson.

Today David Spence told me that not very long ago

   wrote                                       it 

he sent[crossed out] a letter to James, and sent ^ by W.J. steamer to a son of Mr. H.W. Schwartz, at Havanah, whence it went via Schr, to [...tamoras?]. He said he had had some idea of enclosing in it a Bank of England £5 note, to help him along; but on second thoughts he did not, for want of assurance that the letter would get safely to hand. – David often asks me for any news of our 4 older nephews, & of the family at large. –

Mary Bold desires me to give her love to you, & thank you for the note you sent her in the letter of 22/24th. January to me. – She hopes to find time to write to you by next Saturday’s Cunard streamer. – She doubts whether Mary Wakefield can have recovered & be in her normal state; also she thinks she would have heard from her in answer to a letter asking for her like= =ness to be placed in her photographic Album.

I have not made any enquiry yet, as to Tregelles’ [..................?.................]

[3]

             now 

its Nos. are yet[crossed out] completed. I have no prospect of any opportunity of sending the book. – One of these days I propose putting the enquiry to the [successer?] of [Grossel?] the bookseller in Church St. –

Mrs. Hagarty has at least engaged a few for herself & daughters in Dr. McNeill’s church. She went out in the mild weather a week ago, & visited the church for this object on a week day, & at the same time she ascended the stairs into Dr. Mc. Neill’s pulpit, & got the sexton to shew & explain to her the apparatus for

                        Mr. 

conveying the sound into Dr[crossed out]. Hodgson’s pew.. – I have not seen him since. It was Elizabeth Bold who had these particulars from her. – Her daughter Mary is staying at Prizat (I don’t know whether I spelt it right) – W. Wakefield’s place; where she has made the acquaintance of Mrs. [Weston?], & is delighted with her, as she says all the Wakefield’s are too.

I have nothing about William Rutson since one of his sons was at New Brighton.

Tom bold was to return from London tonight, & I expect to meet him tomorrow at Mr. Torr’s. This morng, in speaking of this impending dinner party before I went to town, I remarked how far rather I would stay & dine off “lobscouse” in Welfield Place.

Recently there was a present to this household of two hares from Sir Robt Gerard. – I said I ho- =ped it would be repeated annually. –

Yesterday, as I walked home to dinner, I called at Willacy’s in Berry St., & purchased for 4 pence, 4 of the Scotch tea-cakes called “Scones” or "Scons,” served to the satisfaction of those who partook of them cold for T last night, & toasted for breakfast this morning. –

                          for several days

We have had a decided cold spell ^ but it ended yesterday. – After church & early dinner on Sunday which was a very bright day indeed – I volun= [=teered................?] over to Wallasea, Master Willie’s

[Marginalia] 12th – I enclose 5 papers [?] Wilks Long eyed Needles.

[4]

skates, as I found on enquiring from Laura, he had left them behind him. – When I reach Mr. Green’s at 3 3/4 or later, I found that all the boys had gone to church; so I left the parcel for him containing the skates & my card, stuck inside of it; & I then walked across the fields towards New Brighton, & remained with Mr. & Mrs. Addison until 6 1/2 p.m., when I walked back to the Seacombe Ferry, & reached Welfield Place when they had just sat down to T. – In going, I purposely crossed by the Seacombe Ferry, so that I might pur =sue the old road thence to Wallasea Church. It was just15 years [’15 years’ underlined] since I had last gone over that road, & I was much struck with the very few changes. [‘very few changes’ underlined]

First there was “Grosvenor Square” [“Grosvenor Square” underlined] in all its pristine elegance, with “Grosvenor Brewery” [“Grosvenor Brewery” underlined] in the center of it!

Next there was “Saddler’s Wells” [“Saddler’s Wells” underlined] with “[O...?]”, [?] a large brass plate on the gate; - then Martin’s [Martin’s underlined] Lane where the old pilot lived. John Tobin’s church & house looked just as of yore. – “At the Last, they still profess to sell “good ale & beer”; but the brewery moto no longer attracts the wearied wayfarer; & the sign is now simply a [tap-boat?]! – I saw the new church at Wallasea for the first time, with the

                         near by 

steeple of the old building ^ but I did not enter the church yard. – Altogether I enjoyed my walk; & thought when those with whom we used to go to & from that church “long time ago”!

John Tobin has just resigned his charge of the church at Egremont. He feels rather out of health, & out of pocket too. He has never had any pay from that church; & it has cost him much money in repairs. The Trustees have not properly performed their duties. The building is now in much want of repairs; the congregation is much diminished. I fancy the whole concern will be reorganised, & perhaps in another year or so “your Sir John” may resume the charge. This last is only my own surmise. – Love to all

[Marginalia] Yours affectionately Rutson Maury