Jewsbury, Maria Jane (1800-1833). - Letter, from Manchester, to Dora Wordsworth (1804-1847), at The Revd. Dr. Wordsworth's, Buxted, near Uckfield, Sussex, dated 3 February 1831. WLMS A / Jewsbury, Maria Jane / 31.

Manchester

Feb. 3. 1831

My dearest Dora,

I received your most friendly letter last week whilst staying with Mrs Hemans - or should have replied sooner. I believe I have nothing to add to the subject of my last - G. as I mentioned [[?]] off a school - & besides has now Miss D. tells me capacity of gaining a salary, & is fitted for one or two little girls - This is my ambition for her - in a genteel, kind, good family - she draws now in a masterly style - is dances - is a tolerable Italian & an excellent French scholar - in fact, in the country

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where Masters are expensive & far off I conceive she would be valuable to any one wishing little girls to have the benefit of what Masters teach - of & what she has had been finished in, by the best London Masters - I feel deeply indebted to you - obliged to Mrs Gee for thinking of us - I must further beg of your friendship to let me know if in your travels you hear of any family of the kind I mean wanting a young Governess of the kind I describe - for many places she is too pretty - & young - I must have her in a sober minded family - & if they would be very kind to her - & if under their roof & influence & example she would be silently maturing, & deriving moral benefit, salary should not be the great object - but my beloved Dora - I am not free to tell you all the

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anxieties that oppress me now - My own plans are all in confusion - I will write you from Staffordshire where I go with Frank on Saturday (nice mild travelling weather) - Be assured, in, through all - I love you - love & honour, & am grateful to your family.

Poor dear Mrs Hemans - ah she has more in her than you allow - & is much chastened in mind since I saw her last - she spoke most gratefully of your family, & has really not written through modesty - She thought you had a plague of letters - & I think (my own suspicion) fancied you lady folk did not like her - a fact I kept a profound secret. She will write you directly. I think wretchedly of her health, though externally better, the complaint at her heart seems to be silently gaining ground. I do love, & feel for her -

Mrs Charles Lawrence talked to me worshipfully about yr. father - she is going to Town & means to write to him to hope she may see him on his

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way back. What a sweet woman she is. I saw old Mr Roscoe - he is in tolerable health, & in bright spirits. Thelwall - you know who I mean, Lord Erskine's Thelwall's is here in Manchester he brought a letter of introduction to me & I called on his intelligent & interesting wife (she must be his second) - she spoke much of Mr W - & of Thelwall's wish to meet him again. We sent in tickets to his lecture, I went of course to one - in full dress, ringed, watched watch chained, gold chained, & breast pinned & hair curled, he looked for his years a very fine old man - & in his face there was something to me for for Catalinish. God bless you love to all - Ever Most warmly yrs M.J. Jewsbury.

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Mrs Lloyd has got a Governess.

I hope in my next to be able to say I am in better health. Thank God you are so well.

Miss Wordsworth

The Revd. Dr. Wordsworth's

Buxted

nr Uckfield

Sussex.

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Object summary: WLMS A / Jewsbury, Maria Jane / 31