Wordsworth, Mary (1770-1859). - Letter, from Rydal Mount, to Henry Wordsworth Esq, at Great Howard Street, Melbourne, Australia, dated 28 December 1854. WLL / Wordsworth, Mary / 3 / 249

Rydal Mount 28 Decr 1854

My dearest Henry

This is a bright frosty morning & I must avail myself of it, to begin at least, a letter – doubting at the same time if my eyes will allow me to write what you may be able to read – but I must try to make amends for sending you off an unfinished letter from Carlisle, on the 9th of the present month since which time I have had the honor & very great happiness to receive a precious letter from your excellent friend Mrs Troutbeck – dear Henry, you must, in my name express my love & gratitude for the blessing I may call it, which that letter has bestowed on me – It is painful to me, to feel obliged to depute even you, her future Son I trust to thank her – but I feel she would excuse my striving to write legibly would she see with what difficulty I am striving to trace the lines – or where to put down the pen again when I take it up – But I must not apologize I need only say that her letter has filled my heart with thankfulness – [[-?-?-?-]] and you must bless her for it & be her comforter. My prayers are ever with you all.

You will not be surprized dear Henry that I should deeply lament both for you own sake, & that of your friends, you

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should have acted so unadvisedly & incon considerately as to connect yourself in business with one, whom you well know I never had any confidence in. But I will not [dilate] upon a matter which troubles me so much – You can understand, upon what grounds my fears & opinions are formed, which prompts me to say get rid of the connexion as soon & as easily as you can - & and do not risk your respectability – I wish my judgment may prove eroneous – The rest of your letter was most comforting to me – but it annoyed me to find you had to pine after letters from home. Dr. Wm tells me he had forwarded 4 letters since he had recd your’s & Johnny says he also had written – I trust some of these have reached you, & set your heart at rest ere this.

I returned last Sat: from Carlisle, where I had been nearly a month having prolonged my visit for the sake of seeing your Brothers on their way from school - & we passed one happy day together chiefly spent in talking of you & poor dear Charlie – about whom I in former days could have said much – but with my present state of incapacity I must leave all details to younger eyes. All I can now say dearest Henry that, whether I continue to be able to write thus imperfectly or not – never suffer your mind to feel that my love, thoughts, wishes, & best blessings are with you, & those you love in my prayers, more at this time I cannot say – but that you must

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that I cannot read what I write - & excuse all blunders & incongruities – of which you no doubt will find many –

Jan 1855

Since putting aside this sheet I have been watching for a bright day to proceed & at last am obliged to blunder on, in the dark, if I am to be in time for the next Mail – In all respects it has been a dull holiday to me wanting my own Belongings – Yr Aunt & Cousins being in Herefordshire & - but I have had a good report of your brothers from yr. Father [[?]] this morng - & he tells me he has been posting a letter to you, so that you will hear all about them. The Q’s as I may before have told you, were my Xtmas day Guests & yesterday the Cooksons commenced the new-year with me [ably] the by Dr. C. their Br. The Master of St Peters Col: Ca Cam: is abt to be married to a daughter of the master of another Col: this would have taken place ere th[] but for [] melancholy event of the loss of the Lady’s Coz. – who was, perhaps a Sedburg Schoolfell of yours a son of Mr Ainstree of Graythwaite. Poor fellow, he went down in the Prince on that fatal 14 of Sept. when that sad storm [caused] such destruction of Life & Property upon the Black sea – from which the Columbo & dear Charlie were happily preserved. Of him dear Boy, & all the terrible details connected with this horrible War – is not for me to touch upon.

I wish to ask you dearest Henry – (as you once talked of a Government Appointment) if such could be procured could you now undertake one, in addn. to hold, & retain yr. business (certainly not under the care of your present Partner) I think I might have some influence at the Colonial Office if there should be any situation that you could [conscientiously]fitted to accept feel yourself competent, & fitted to accept & could name such a vacancy – I would venture to mention you to my friend.

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I trust dearest Henry what I may have said in the [beginning] of this miserable sheet – may have sufficiently expressed my grateful love to dear Mrs Troutbeck for her previous letter, & that she will not deem that I have slighted her by not answering directly to herself. Deeply do I feel the sacrifice she is making by remaining with you - & I can only pray that she may be comforted, & have her reward.

Rydal Mount is much in its usual state – the household & poor Auntie, just the same. The old Pollard at the end of the high Terrace blown down. Your’s alas gone! – but another is to be planted for you. My sheep thrive & supply me with wool for knitting But my friends will not profit by my industry this winter as I am about to send the fruits of it, to the poor Army in the Crimea.

I hope you get the Pacquet, I forward it regularly, as I do the Westd. Gazette to Charlie who pleads for home news. That every blessing may attend you all throughout the coming year & with tender love to the young ladies, ever dearest Henry believe me to remain your loving grandmother MW. Mrs Cookson &c send their love as does Mr Carter, who is eyes to the Blind, never forget to mention him when you write. I have been obliged to call him to read my [] words in the course of writing this letter before I could go on

H.C. Wordsworth Esqre

Great Howard Street

Melbourne

Australia

Paid

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Object summary: WLL / Wordsworth, Mary / 3 / 249