Clarkson, Catherine (1772-1856). - Letter, from Bury (postmark), to Mary Wordsworth (1770-1859), at Rydal Mount, Kendal, Westmorland, dated 29 July 1815. WLL / Clarkson, Thomas / 19.

Saturday July 29. 1815.

My dear friend!

I sincerely hope that you are mistaken with respect to dear little Willys head though perhaps it will be better to put him to a little pain rather than run the risk of such a loathsome disease gaining ground. Mrs. Kitcheners first application is lunar Caustic called in the chemists shops pencil Caustic - You must enclose it in a quill & just touch the infected part with it first dipping the Caustic in water. If this should excite any inflammation you should apply some mild ointment. If I can get it I will send you the recipe for the sort Mrs. K. uses. Had your letter arrived two days sooner I would have sent you the salve itself by Tillbrooke - You must apply alternate Caustic & salve according to circumstances till the hair grows - I could find in my heart to be angry with Tillbrooke for not letting me send him off to you with a complete ass Curicle wh. I am sure would take him down better than his old pony - but he has a prejudice against asses & I believe thinks that we who are in favour of them are asses ourselves

At last we begin to hear something sensible from Paris - I began to fear that the great Contest would end like a vulgar Election with the defeated party making a bow to the successful Candidate & waiting for another turn - when the Allies should leave France - when they would try their strength again - Miss Maling has had a letter from her friend in Brittany. It is part french part english & we can gather nothing from it but that none of the family were in actual danger - the letter was dated the 19th of June & was written whilst the bells were ringing for a Victory over the Duke of Well: & Blucher - & over the austrians in the South. - "They feared a tragedy" in short the object of the letter was principally to give information of their safety but seemed to be written under feelings of great depression & perplexity It is confidently stated that B- is to go to St. Helena - I would rather have him in the Tower of England - as he is to live it seems I hope he will have a long life & that he will sink into utter Contempt wh. perhaps will furnish as good a lesson as a public execution. I don't think a little moderate agitation about public affairs does me any harm. To be sure I am rather too

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much enraged sometimes. Miss Maling is finely recovered & we can talk very comfortably now for she bears B-'s downfall like a Heroine & she takes more kindly to Louis now he promises not to attempt to restore ecclesiastic dominion in France. She has made me read lately all the horrible stories of catholic persecutions of protestants. To be sure it is horrible to think of some the cruel executions wh. have taken place almost within ones own memory. There is no fear however of these scenes ever being repeated in France. There will be no worldly inducement whatever for men to enter into the Priesthood & consciencious catholic Priests cannot do harm under the present system.

Henry Robinson was in great glee at the assizes - He was very successful on the Circuit & means to set off for Brussels very soon & perhaps he will go to Paris - I desired him to let me know if he did because I thought if Caroline was to come to England it would be a nice opportunity of getting her over & I told him that I thought if Dorothy did not go to Paris that perhaps her friend might come to England but I did not tell him whether the Lady was young or old. I cannot think myself that it would be a pleasant thing for Females to go to Paris just at present. I pity the poor King more than I can express. What a degradation to be obliged to employ Fouche! The Duc de Castries told Mr. Green that a place in the Ministry had been offered to Carnot yet his name appears amongst those who are ordered out of Paris - Carnot has been accused of making excuses for some of the bloody scenes of the Revolution but he was not an actor in them like Fouche

I have been to talk to Mrs. Kitchener who says from your description of the spot in Willy's head she thinks it cannot be Ring-worm but she recommends you to examine the Head minutely for she says there may be other spots of wh. you are not aware & if the case were her's she would clip the Hair close or shave the head leaving a little hair round the face - it will grow again she says in three weeks - she would certainly touch the bare place with

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Caustic by way of precaution - if you find other spots [] sure that it is Ring-worm - If the Caustic should excit[] tion so as to last more than 2 or 3 days you must ba[] Goulard. As the case seems so slight she thinks a[] ment will answer but if it should appear that [] many spots upon the head - you must write aga[] get the recipe for the salve wh of course we [] but she does not think the Man would give it []

The Weather is now delightful & the Harvest is beg[] places & will be universally in ten days. My [] rather poorly & we have been giving him Bark [] him & my sister off to the Sea - my Sister has [] cough like the hooping cough but more frightf[][] breath at time for several minutes [][[?]]. Selina Hardcastle is a little be[][] has hopes of her. James Tillbrooke has b[] worse & I fear the case is hopeless - His Brother [] over to see him & is now on his way to the [] us a charming account of you & William at Cambridge I am quite easy about Tom now. He works away cheerfully at Mathematics & his Tutor tells his Father that he is the best out of five pupils & will certainly be a high Wrangler if he continues to work. He has seen the Odes & is satisfied that no injustice was done him but he thinks that his latin Ode was better conceived than Staniforths. I am in very good heart about Playford Hall - Sara has sent me a very good account of dear Mary & the Bairn at Hindwell - I cannot tell you how glad & how sorry I was - yet I never should have forgiven myself if I had been the occasion of Sara's absence but she would have been such a comfort & such a support to me had she staid - However I will not give way to any repinings

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[][wicked] to do so. Poor John Clarkson is in a sad [] Purfleet. I hope he will be continued in the Situation [][[?]]. He will certainly not leave it for the [] be sold & if it should be let he will easily find [] it with him - but this would take a great deal [][[?]] & it would certainly be a loss to Mr. Whitbreads [] a sad thing to think of a lad of 21 coming into possession of 20,000£ per ann: Mr. W-'s death cannot be considered in any other light than as sudden death - but it is grievous to think that perhaps by prudent management his life might have been spared. I will take care to have the drawing of the Carriage properly executed - Tell Dorothy I received her letter announcing your arrival & that I hope she will write before long - all here send kindest love. We talk of you every day of our lives - God bless you all. I wish I could have come down with Tillbrooke but he would not bring me. What do you think of that Ever your most affectionate friend C. Clarkson

Mr. [Lofft] is quite [][M]. is the greatest of living beings [[?]][][2d] be paid to him

To

Mrs. Wordsworth

Rydale Mount

Kendal

Westmorland

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Object summary: WLL / Clarkson, Thomas / 19