Hutchinson, Sara (1775-1835). - Letter, from 30 York Crescent, Clifton, to Edward Quillinan Esq (1791-1851), at Lee Proiry, Nr Wingham, Kent, dated 11 February 1825 (year from postmark). WLL / Hutchinson, Sara / 2 / 106a. <1825>

30 York Crescent Clifton

Feby. 11th

My dear Friend

I know that I ought to have written to you long ago, & therefore I have no right to expect to hear from you (as [[?]] volunteer Letters are not in your way of carrying on correspondence) tho' I have much wished to know how you and your Darlings were going on - especially as your last was not written in a very lively mood - I wish most heartily that I had any thing to communicate that would give you pleasure - but sorry am I to say that tho' our poor Friend has effected a removal thus far towards the Stow without fatigue or inconvenience yet there is no change for the better in his symptoms - & (tho' the disease seems to have made little progress even during the unfavourable weather we have had) till this is the case we cannot look for amendment. Our removal from Torquay was rather a bold measure - but we are most thankful that it has been accomplished - for he disliked the place very much, & daily regretted his having left the Stow - Mr. Monkhouse came to see us about a month ago & finding his brother so unhappy prevailed upon him to try a removal to Exeter - and, finding that he was even better when travelling than stationary, after a weeks stay at Exeter we came hither where we arrived on Wednesday last - The weather [[?]] was most favourable during the whole time of our Journey & is

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now delightful - and we are comfortably settled - perhaps for a month - afterwards I trust nothing will prevent our return to the Stow - for nothing else will satisfy him - and truly it is most desirable that he should be with his mother, whose society is an unspeakable support & comfort to him - You can have no idea of the depression of spirits under which he labours - yet he believes that he is ever cheerful - He may be so in his inner self, but his outward bearing is so much the reverse that to us his mental sufferings seem much greater than his bodily - which thank God! are not great - inasmuch as he suffers no pain - nor so much lassitude as you would imagine after so long a confinement -

Mrs. M. is tolerably - she never has recourse to the sofa now - tho' she sometimes complains of the Spine - but her mind being employed her body takes less harm - In all other respects she is exactly as described by you in an unforgettable sentence - tho' the Letter which contained it is burnt -

God bless you and the Darlings! You must excuse this short scrawl - I have no heart to write about any thing beyond our own fire side - for is impossible to turn my thoughts from it for a moment - I shall go in a short time

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to visit the Gees for a few days - I heard that Mr. Gee & Netta had been at Lee and were delighted with the Darlings - I have just recd. a Letter from Do - who says they have heard nothing of you for an age - I hope we shall see you in Herefordshire before I take my departure which I hope will be in June John Wordsworth intends to be my escort on his way from Oxford - Our kindest remembrances to Capt. B-

God bless you again my dear Friend & believe me most truly yours S Hutchinson

I think Clifton the most charming Place of the kind I was ever at - and the country around is really of the right kind

Edward Quillinan Esqre

Lee Priory

nr. Wingham

Kent

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Object summary: WLL / Hutchinson, Sara / 2 / 106a