Hutchinson, Sara (1775-1835). - Letter, from Rydal Mount, to Joanna Hutchinson (1780-1843), at Hindwell, Radnor, dated 7 August [1820]. WLL / Wordsworth, Mary / 1 / 30. 7th. Augt

Rydal Mount

My dearest Joanna

I have used you shamefully- but I could not help it- for really I have not had one moment to call my own since the first fortnight after the departure of our Friends- while Doro was at home I had her lessons and her clothes to attend to- then came home John- and I had all his to mend up and [contrive]- Tho' I had a sewing woman in the house- then came on the [scullery], & all the time I have had but one maid & subject as you know to constant interruptions- as all my friends suppose I must be very dull so they come to see me, & [tieze] me with invitations - However I have nearly got all my needlework over- & I intend as soon as the new stamp distribution is settled to go off & leave the house to take care of itself by way of a little rest for myself- as I have no pleasure in it since the loss of poor Mary Bell- But perhaps I have not written to you since this grievance occurred which has tried me [more], mind & body, than anything else- The fact is that the cook has supplanted her in John Carters affections & she could not bear to live in the house with a rival- poor thing they used her like a Turk, & she was [[-?-] ]soon to skin & bone before I noticed it- indeed I never suspected the cause altho' it was notorious all over the county neighbourhood- He has done it merely to break with M-B. & will think himself above the Cook, as I suppose he did in Mary's case- but as she said it was a mean way to get rid of her- if he had spoken [[-?-]] in a manly way & respected her she would have [[?]] to keep him to his promise- However I hope she will return at Martinmas, as I have given to Cook her dismissal for we could never look upon her with satisfaction more-

I have slipped into this long story by way of accounting for my busy-ness, instead of writing upon the most important concerns of my Letter which [[-?-]]is to expressing my regret at dear Mary's indisposition- and greatly do I lament that she could not go to the Continent for it is evident that some change & relaxation would be beneficial to her- Truly do I join in the wish that you had a Stamp office or anything that would tend to relieve your minds about pecuniary concerns- for such anxieties are sufficient to account for all

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poor Mary's complaints- as to my Aunt she does deserve whipping although I must plead guilty myself to something of the same sort & Doro used to abuse me every day for it as I have no doubt you did my Aunt.- I have been interrupted by "one who is so deep an admirer of the writings of Mr. W. as to have given the name of the Poet to his first born son so that the recollections of his [[?genius]] might be blended with the holiest feelings of the Father) requests permission to see the Library or Study of the Poet" - that was the introduction- sent in written upon the leaf of a memorandum book with a pencil- So I have been doing the [honors] of the Study & garden &c-

I have had a letter from the Travellers- they were at Brussels on this day 3 weeks- all well & disposed to enjoy themselves-altho' William had been worrying and working. They were delighted with Bruges & loth to leave it- also with Ghent and at Brussels they came in for a fine fete on arrival- he [[??]] & had [[?]] for 40 years- They had a 3 hours passage over the Channel- D was the first that fell sick- then followed [T.M] & last of all our Mary- & the first [[??]] & lively & [[?]]; altho' Mrs. [M.] paid for it after wards, for she was very poorly at Calais-[T.M.] desired that they would bid me write to you- as he did not intend to write yet a while- and I have only had this one Letter- Dorothy has fifty People I have no doubt to write to; besides she is busy [journalling]. Mr. W. [[??]] to party of her Letter on board the packet [when] Bruges & Ghent & Henry is here, & he had been looking over the Letter & can make nothing out- He is very well- but has not heard one word of the dear Company or my Letter. I never was so little in a writing humour in my life- and I am as stupid as a Toad- My head aching, & my Teeth are never [done]- I fear I shall not be able to go to Town this next winter as I had intended to leave my new set- funds [[?]] be wanting what I had scraped up for that purpose

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will go another way- [[?]] and I am glad that I have it to assist in [[?]] the burthen of Georges & to Tom- & what more is [[?]] must be heard to the same way for Sister never [[?]] it to my principal- as I fear then will be unmarried friends in his family & [[?]] after our day who will be glad of a little [parkin]- and so I hear resolved to leave my [property] unimpaired. I have no more by me, as you may guess, worth sending but then will be 2 years [interval [?]] me from Town at xmas & that must be appropriate to his purpose.

Another interruption! And that it is all day thro. Mr. W [[?]] who is my very best, among all my good neighbours came & stayed Tea- but I must finish tonight for I have some thoughts of going to [[?]] tomorrow- he [[?]] to take Miss Charlotte [[?]] a week [[-?-]] & must go & make the way [[?]] for her- we [[?]] what [[-?-]] for the [[?]] - [[?]] Mr. J. is still very poorly- some days almost well except for weakness & the next as bad as ever- He is shrunk to a near skeleton- and prays for his relief, quite wearied and by pain. Mr brother John writes that [Geo.] & [C] intend paying me a visit soon & as they are on horseback he hopes I will return with him. I certainly should have done if I had been quite at liberty; but [J.G.] will be obliged to leave home, as soon as his warrant for taking more stock of that [?] part of the Cumbd. Distribution which is annexed to ours (by Cockermouth Maryport & Workington) & unless it comes before their visit & finished & cannot leave home- else I should have been very glad of the opportunity- as I have nothing to tie me here- when he John is gone to school again which he will do next Monday- his master's married & took his Bride to Allonby in the hot weather & that warm sky [[?]] what do you think to the comforts of a honeymoon in that [[?]]!! Doro has been at school above a week- the School opened with 19 boarders & 10 day, scholar &[ boarders]- So I expect Miss D[owling]. to make a fairly good "mortgage" in time- She says she cannot like it if she goes on- & she

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hears of fresh pupils about 5 come constantly & there is no fear of any want- All the Parents are again delighted with their Childrens improvement & with her such pretty Letters! The house is enlarging & it is so [real] & beautiful & so many comforts added to it since you or Mary were here that you would scarcely know it again- Dorothy returned with great glee & poor little Julia Rachel, having got the [w]hooping cough & could not be admitted at present, was only pacified by her papa's promising her that she should stay the xmas vacation

I wish your Darlings had all these nasty complaints over- The Southeys were very fortunate in getting through the illness so favourably they have been in almost every house in this neighbourhood but they are now over and were not mortal- Willy is to spend his vacation at Maryport- Dr. W. us much recovered but not yet quite strong & besides he is about to leave Lambeth & [[?]] so cannot have the Boys at home- therefore Willy grows playful- Mrs. Clarkson is quite well & delighted to have seen her old [[?]] Friends whom she has suspected were greatly changed- so that they would have sympathy with

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Some People tell me that our Folk might stay away from home all the winter- But if they got Rome most certainly, but I have had nothing of this from themselves & I think Mary will not consent to this T.M. of course will not stay. The Beaumonts are to spend this winter at Rome & this may be an enducement to our party if they are late I hope they sent you a Brides Cake!

[I.M.] has not answered my last Letter-

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[[?]] (For yesterday was our blank post day) I hope you have had some rains we have had broken weather for nearly a month & yesterday was such a rain as I never beheld as heavy as a heavy thunder shower one whole day without abatement in [interruption [?]] all night has we all went to see the waterfalls which were grand indeed the whole brook was tremendous to look upon & made me quite giddy. Our [[?]] & [[?]] walks which were so neat & beautiful are plowed up & there is work for

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[ [?]] for the Gardener.

Mr Jackson who has Miss Cookson at [[?]] the other day tells me at the greatly improved by her Trave[lling] I have not heard from her, [[?]] since her return so know not what is her opinion of the matter. I forgot to tell you that John and I rode over to [[?]] at Hallsteads upon Mr. & Mrs. Rawson- & find that the great part of the cold [collation] had been removed by these two last winters in London- Mr. & Mrs. were at Old Church so we all went there to dine for they insisted upon our staying for dinner & would [[?]] perfect in to think of why [[?]] night- Mr Rawson is so much improved on by looks still I did not believe my own eyes when I met him on the road Mrs. R. is the most beautiful old woman I ever saw I had for more pleasure [?] looking upon her

than upon the most beautiful young woman I ever saw- such a heavenly & yet

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such a lovely [[?]]- Her dress also would have been perfect but for a[ flaxen tippin] almost white but which would have been [better] silver white- she wore a sort of [corsets] of [Pimbro's Tippet] of fine muslin over her Gown- what was a

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silver net china crape- her face is as fair as a flower.

Mr. Clarksons [[?]]- but now that they have met he finds that he

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they differ in politics they can still be good friends- I have had no time to read the papers & know nothing about the Queen- only I think if she were innocent she would not be so impatient

Farewell & may God bless you all! I should have been glad to see you if you had dropped in the day after Miss Cookson's arrival at home.

Miss J. Hutchinson

Hindwell

Radnor

single

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Object summary: WLL / Wordsworth, Mary / 1 / 30