David Balfour writes to his wife Fanny sketching his initial plans for what became Balfour Castle on the island of Shapinsay 1846 or 1847

David Balfour inherited his father’s properties on the Orkney Island of Shapinsay in 1846; he was the second son of Captain William Balfour R.N. but his elder brother died in 1838.  He promptly set about re-modelling the family house at Cliffdale on Shapinsay and eventually built what is still known as Balfour Castle. This letter to his wife Fanny Edmeston who he had married a couple of years previously sets out his initial thinking on what to do and how to go about it. That he is writing from Monaghan in Ireland may be explained by family connections.

The internet will not give me any 19th century prints or photographs of the castle, only more recent ones.

Transcription

Addressed to: Mrs Balfour  Cliffdale [their present home on Shapinsay] care of James Traill Esqr  Thurso Caithness

Datelined: Monaghan [Ireland] 12^th March [1846 or 1847?]

Postmarked faded “MONAGHAN”. Routed “By Donaghadee”, a small port on the north east coast of Ireland with a boat service across to Scotland; Scottish transit mark of Glasgow or Edinburgh “MR [March] 20” charged on delivery

 

My dear Fanny

This day I am still a little better and barring unforeseen changes, which we leave I hope with confidence & resignation in the hands of God, I trust in a fair way of gaining strength daily. Indeed I have more to gain than strength for there is literally nothing left on my bones. They blistered my head again and again and left me without hair and they so blistered me all over that I have a new skin geting [?] and to get to my bare bones. But all this will be soon refitted if I continue to get strength. I send this to Mr Traill’s care supposing from what you write that you may be there by the time this can reach you. It shall therefore relate solely to Caithness matters of which you’ll perhaps think that I have written enough already. But as to the intended house, don’t you think that as you consider my cottage plans as too small, it would answer well to build a wing of a large house which wing would afford us temporary accommodation till our funds were ready for completing the plan. I have formed an idea of the whole & can lay out the wing (which is afterwards to be kitchen & women servants appartments) so that we have two decent rooms without beds, 5 decent bed chambers, kitchen cellar pantry, one bed chr [chamber] for men & one for women servants, a study a storeroom & a lumber room. The public rooms will be each 18 or 19 feet long by 16. The expense of this will fall short of £400. I  think the rooms being furnished plainly but better than would be necessary when converted to the purposes for which it is latterly intended. But I intreat you to please yourself and I assure you that in so doing you most effectually gratify me – I only propose for your election – if I am able I shall draw a plan of the whole intended house, body & wings & send you. If more out houses are requisite by building the shell of the other wing which may cost about 100 £ abundance of room will be at command. I am supposing the roof to be of Easdale slates but there will be a considerable saving as well as a considerable addition to efficiency if slates are easily got in the neighbourhood & of a good quality, which I am assured they may be – there is to be sure an inferiority of appearance. It is to be attended to so that a large house of considerable height must stand in a sheltered situation, rather low than high. Perhaps a sport may be found dry enough or that may be easily made so, where you have the command of water to bring in even at the top of the house by a pipe, where you have  the view of running water where you see the few old trees & sheltered sufficiently to give assurance of being able to raise young ones, where a reasonable size of lawn can be made in front, & where rising grounds around break the force of the blast. The front should be towards the south unless there [are] strong reasons to the contrary. Not to the westward unless well sheltered from that point.

14^th The above is the greater part of two days work. .But I expect soon to be able to give you folio sheets in a day. When you get to Caithness there is another place beside Calder (in the [?] neighbourhood) which you [and] I lately purchased. I know the greater part of it is a ragged poor looking place as can be, but like the other parts of it I never saw. Mr Traill can point out if there is occasion for any thing being done altered respecting it and I rely[?] for information from you or Mr Bremner on every point. Remember me with affection to Mr Traill to whom my obligations are infinite; and offer my best respects to Lady Janet & Lady Isabella to Mrs Traill & Miss Traill I owe both gratitude & affection – they were always partial to me.

You speak my dear wife of the increase of our property as requiring a larger house than any of those of which I sent plans. Do you consider that tho we have more land we have less money & more debt? I would wish to live with the first in my neighbourhood nearly on an equal footing. But I would not now wish to be the mark of envy. We have suffered by that.

I heard from Willm. today – he is well & writes well. I wish I could say as much for his elder brother. I am sorry to learn from him that our Brother John has some complaint which he thinks dangerous. I know not what it is. I trust nothing very serious.  God bless thee so my affectionate friend F.B. [It seems he signs off with his wife’s initials not his own]

15^th March

 

Are my transcriptions reliable?

 

No one taught me to transcribe and how I do it is something I have made up as I go along. I now scan most letters and transcribe them using a split screen on my desk computer.

To begin with I tried to find ways to faithfully reproduce what was on the pen & ink page, limited by what Microsoft Word can do, which is quite a lot. It does, for example, offer the possibility of typing either 22^nd October or 22nd October, both of which styles can be found in handwritten letters but, of course, presenting more like a continuum of choices than a binary one. But imitating what’s on the handwritten page in this way is both time-consuming and not terribly productive and I now sometimes lapse. I do try to preserve capital and lower case but what is on the handwritten page does not always present as obviously one or the other:  A or a can often be decided but not always, most obviously when someone uses a large a.

Full stops do not reliably provide a guide to capitalisation; they are frequently not used at all since a quill pen not very skilfully handled will produce a blot rather than a full stop. Instead, writers use dashes and commas. At first, I conscientiously preserved both but now I am inclined to type a full stop when the dash or comma obviously represents one. I always preserve the labour-saving device known as the ampersand, &, which is very widely and sometimes exclusively used instead of and. This partly reflects my own view that the ampersand is a useful stylistic device. In my own writing I would not write this:

He asked for a pot of tea and toast and marmalade

Instead I would write:

He asked for a pot of tea and toast & marmalade

The ampersand could be regarded as an incipient piece of shorthand of which there are a few others regularly used: there are common abbreviations of words (yours of the 4^th inst. duly rec’d) and one word which has an obvious shorthand form: the word very is quite often realised as a horizontal line ending with a downward stroke angled left.

I try to preserve spellings (though they are not always crystal clear) and especially phonetic spellings in letters written by “ordinary people”. But I don’t place [sic] after a spelling we would now regard as mistaken or non-standard and that does leave open the possibility that the reader will think I have simply mis-typed and no doubt sometimes I do. But it’s not much fun reading a page littered with [sic]. Sometimes I indicate that the transcription of a word is tentative or  best guess.

I do take care over apostrophes. These are rarely used and even more rarely used correctly (some things never change); when someone does engage with them, I transcribe their efforts.

I don’t try to reproduce page layout even though many writers have an idea of what the page should look like and how addresses, salutations, and subscriptions (is that the right word now?) should be presented. What is most striking is that even though the vast majority of the letters I transcribe were sent through the post as folded sheets closed with a wax seal, the majority of writers do not leave blank spaces on the written page to manage the fact that paper will be torn when the seal is broken. That is one main reason why there are so many  ….  ellipses in my transcriptions to indicate wholly or partly missing words.

In principle, I could scan the entire letter into each post on this site but I doubt its usefulness and  it would usually require four scans. Who actually wants to read four scans of an original cross-written letter in faded, spidery handwriting? It can take hours. I can and do provide scans to researchers who are particularly interested in one letter and email a request. But I do not supply scans in bulk; life is too short.

Frederick Welch a go-between in London for the Provisional Government of Portugal 1832

 

The Portuguese Civil War of 1828-32 pitted Dom Pedro, the more liberal-minded first Emperor of Brazil- who had declared independence from Portugal - against his conservative brother Dom Miguel who disputed Dom Pedro's claim to the Portuguese throne. Dom Pedro won but it helped his cause that he prudently abandoned his own claim in favour of his very young daughter Dona Maria, who appears in this letter as “Donna Maria”. When victory was achieved she became Maria the Second of Portugal – neither Portugal or Spain were governed by Salic Law which in some European countries excluded females from the line of succession.

The large army which Dom Pedro assembled in favour of his cause included both mercenaries and idealistic volunteers form several countries. This letter offers a commission, subject to a down payment, to a William Scott Cooper who I cannot trace on the internet. Nor can I get a satisfactory result for the Frederick Welch who is acting as go-between. It may be that his address in St James’s Street is a temporary or post-box one. He liaises with the Ambassador of the Provisional Government in London, Count Funchal, now an old man but who previously had been ambassador in London during much of the Napoleonic War period and spent the summer of 1814 in Worthing – a letter from there which will appear later on this site introduces him among a cast of other characters.

Dona Maria II in 1830

Transcription

Addressed to: Wm. Scott Cooper Esqr   Northwick Place   Evesham   Worcestershire  

Datelined: London 35 Saint James’s Street  9^th October 1832

Postmarked: Single lined cross in red containing CH     9 OC 1832 and cross

No docketing note

My Dear Sir

I have recd. your reply to my Communication, and as you have accounted for the delay in answering me I am so far satisfied. I cannot help, although I may regret your views as to the unsatisfactory state of the Affair commited to my care (and that of my Friend = I have only to add once more that I view matters in a different point of view: and that I will unhesitatingly add “that your interests as far as your speedy appointment to the King’s service goes – could not be deputed to those who would, and have acted with Honor and Integrity in all points. Since I have had your letter, I essayed to obtain for you all the Information you require respecting the service of The Queen of Portugal – I can obtain one. Where there is not any to communicate – beyond what the Public Prints afford.

There are no Agents for Don [would expect Dom which is the Portuguese version] in London such as you suppose; at least there are not any recognised by The Provisional Government.

The appointments in Donna [would expect Dona] Maria’s Army are given gratuitously, and but to young gentlemen well recommended

A Person (the party to whom I mentioned your name before) has the sufficient Influence with the Ambassador of The Provisional Government [Count Funchal] (who alone is authorized to grant Commissions and which are permanent) to obtain you one Instanter [immediately] in the Infantry. In fact I have given him your name. I am authorised to say it will be forthcoming when you state you are in a condition to receive it by being enabled to pay the sum stated. A free passage and Provisions [? tentative transcription] are found. Pay commences from Embarkation, and (if the Cause is successful) Half pay those who would wish to retire from the Service is guaranteed for Life. Of course those that are first there will possess the most advantages. There are now embarkations taking place from the Port of London daily and their appears a degree of enthusiasm about the young aspirants in this Service highly creditable to the National Character, This letter requires an instant reply, as should you decide in seeing some Honourable Service in this patriotic Cause ? No time should be lost in Embracing this offer. [The siege of Porto had already begun where the army of the Provisional Government side headed by Dom Pedro was now trapped].

I have written this letter in the twilight [of an October early evening] in order to save [catch] the Post of today and request your immediate reply to this postage free your last was unpaid [in other words, he should pre-pay the cost of postage which at this date was still often collected from the recipient]

I remain Dear Sir   Yours very truly    Fred. Welch

 

Wikipedia: Maria II of Portugal

Wikipedia: Siege of Porto [July 1832 – August 1833]

Wikipedia: Domingos António de Sousa Coutinho, 1st Marquis of Funchal

Wikipedia: Liberal Wars [ 1828-1834 Civil War in Portugal]

 

The British in Tuscany a letter to Contessa Gertrude Baldelli 1850

 

I held back this letter, hoping that the missing piece of the puzzle would fall into place but it won’t. The recipient is unambiguous: she was born Henrietta Gertrude Walker and is now Countess Baldelli, having made a second marriage with an Italian Count. Born 1814 died 1903 she became - as they used to say - a pillar of Anglo-Florentine society, easily found on the internet as an opponent of animal cruelty and vivisection, an amateur astronomer, and so on. But I cannot identify the writer. I read the signature as “A.Walker” which could point to a sister (Anna, though she may have died young; the internet gives only an 1813 date of brith) or just possibly a brother (Arthur, who is well-documented but outside Italy). The letter does, however, contain the words “my Mother” where one might expect “our Mother” or simply “Mother”. On the other hand, Gertrude’s mother was still alive and living in Italy where she died in 1859 so this could be Anna or Arthur. Whoever the writer is, they have had their writings published and are in touch with both evangelical characters (Mr Müller in Bristol) and aristocratic ones, the Drumlanrigs who are well-documented – Lady Drumlanrig (1821-1904) became the Dowager Marquess of Queensberrry and has a Wikipedia page as “Caroline Douglas”. Her husband was notorious for gambling and adultery and died from a hunting accident in 1858 though a covered-up suicide is also the possible cause.  Unfortunately, the one published work to which the letter refers has an illegible title which I have guessed at as “The Bergen Law” which gets me nowhere except to card games. The enclosures mentioned in the letter are no longer present.

Click to enlarge

Transcription

Addressed to: La Contessa Gertrude Baldelli   Cortona

 No dateline

Despatch postmark: Pisa 14 Gen [January] 1850

My dear Gertrude

Your letter of the 3 January reached me in due course but I have been too much engaged to answer it before this. I had thought that they would have written to you soon after my arrival. I reached Florence on Christmas eve and remained there until the 2d of January, from which date I have been here [Pisa]. All the time I was at Florence I could do nothing else but occupy myself with putting in order, the very scandalous state in which the house was, on all sides and in all respects, so much so that at one time I was thinking of leaving the place altogether and returning to England, and live by myself which I much prefer to living in an ill ordered house.

Your boxes have reached Leghorn [Livorno] I think, however here is the bill of lading which unless someone comes to Leghorn and clears them from the custom house for you, you had better then give this bill to a spedizione or commissioner as we call him, and he clear the cases for you and then send in his bill, but this of course is the most expensive way. I also inclose a note one of General Watkin’s daughters gave me for you. I should be much obliged to you, as you may have the time, if you will translate [from Italian?] this pamphlet into common English for me. I certainly cannot do so, not having time, if any technical terms occur insert them in pencil and I will fill it up. I only want your rough translation, as I will overlook it & make a clean copy. I would come and see you but my leaving at present is not questionable, because I am very deeply engaged. Somebody printed in English a Ms. paper I wrote called the “Bergen Law” [very uncertain transcription] – you might wish to see it, and my Mother can lend you her copy as I have none to send or indeed in my possession at all. I also thank you for sending me Lady Drumlanrig letter to read, and was sorry to learn that she had been so unwell, but it reminded me of the truth that the Father orders all things for his inheritance, and binds up himself that which he made sore. We have this expressed to us in a passage  in Job 11 it is his care and love that makes him always bind up that which he made sore, any other would prove as bad ointment, that only closes up but soon the wound would reopen.

Any letter from Mr Macallister directed to me, to Pisa would reach me. Mr Müller’s address Paul St. Bristol. [He was an evangelical preacher and founder of numerous orphanages, also involved in the original Plymouth Brethren] Lady Drumlanrig errs [uncertain transcription] in supposing or thinking that she was the first or main cause of my rupture with the Lord Drumlanrig. You will be sorry to hear that it was evident to me at Glen Stuart [Scottish estate of Lady Drumlanrig’s Douglas family] that one or both of us possibly had changed somewhat, and that an undercurrent of diffidence was felt, and that little more than conventional relationship only existed. I may have changed myself, but he certainly has so also to an extensive extent, and with it had acquired a considerable amount of delusion respecting himself, which pained me much. I had hardly thought of them since, but I can show you his and my last letters. I think he more than most men is often ignorant of the nature of the things he says and does. His companions also may have done him much mischief, such as Lord Walpole and Sir Joseph Hawley. We must be very careful in framing a judgment of all things, and ideals with truth and principals [sic] without heeding effects, and consequences. Lord Drumlanrig as much as most men, stood in need of having some truth told him, I in my little wisdom and foresight did so, but I would do now exactly in the same words, and I am not wrong because, the truth has offended him, or Christ or any of the prophets in their speaches [sic]. I am very glad that Lady Drumlanrig continues to pray so much in faith concerning his well fare, because this will be answered in time, if prayer is made without …ing. An answer is certain in her case, respecting him. It still continues snow here and it is very cold. I had a letter from Mr Wilson a day or two ago, they are all well. I have a voluminous correspondence in hand and must close this, without reading it over. Remember me to Baldelli.

My address is 898 via S.Maria Pisa

Yours very afftly A Walker

Sunday night

References

Diana and Tony Webb, The Anglo-Florentines. The British in Tuscany 1814-1860

 

The Methodist Nathaniel Wathen in Stroud to his wife Maria born Beardmore in Islington 1805

 

No one writes like this now.

Nathaniel Wathen (1772-1856), a wealthy clothier from the Stroud district of Gloucestershire, writes to his wife Mary Beardmore (1779-1838) living in Islington. The couple married in 1804. Their families had close connections to leading Wesleyan Methodists:  Nathaniel Wathen’s parents knew John Wesley and are known to have invited him to dinner in 1782; Mary learnt to play the organ with Samuel Wesley, nephew of John Wesley, a noted composer and organist who has a Wikipedia page which records his rather scandalous life. Her father knew John Wesley. Whether she continued to played the organ after her marriage I do not know

The Wathen and Beardmore families have been exhaustively researched by Michael S Clark (Mike Clark) and I provide references to his work at the end. When Nathaniel Wathen writes of walking to the Mill it is most likely the Hope Mill at Brimscombe outside Stroud which, at this period, he managed with his brother. The numerous characters introduced in this letter are probably quite easy to research. 

 

Transcription

Addressed to: Mrs Wathen   No. 5 Canonbury Place   Islington

Datelined: Stroud Wednesday 1 May 1805

No despatch postmark legible; London receiver marks of 2^nd May 1805

Docketing note: Received May 2^nd Answered May 4^th 1805

I sent my dearest Mary half a dozen lines yesterday in a parcel of Mr Partridge’s by Coach containing a letter from Elizth. which I hope you will have received. I was greatly disappointed & made rather anxious by the non receipt of your Letter on Sunday which thro’ the inattention of Jenner or his people, was overlooked when Charles called so that I did not have it till Monday when at breakfast. During that interval I felt firmly persuaded that there must be a letter & I was enabled to cast the burden of my anxiety on him who careth for us. I was made happy & thankful, however, to the giver of all mercies when I learn that you & the dear pledge of our love were going on well & that you bore our separation so tolerably being convinced that each was in the path of duty. Still however it seems that the wings of time appear to move rather more heavily than when I was with you, notwithstanding that you have so much to interest your affections & occupy your thoughts & attention, I feel a hope (may I not add a strong confidence) that our present separation may be rendered beneficial to our best interests by giving us subjects for reflection and thanksgiving – by causing our minds to meditate on the tender mercies & loving kindness  of our God that have been exercised towards us in so abundant a manner thro’ the vista of our past life, on those that we still so largely experience, and above all on those transcendent, sublime & perpetual enjoyments that lie before us and may with confidence be laid hold on by the arm of faith by us if we do truly & sincerely desire & endeavour by divine assistance to seek our happiness in God & thankfully to acknowledge the channel thro’ which all our blessings flow.

My conscience accuses me of indolence & sloth in the discharge of my duty towards God since we have been united, as well as for unmindfulness & want of thankfulness for the many favors that he has heaped upon us. As an instance of the former I cannot but consider the not having set out with family prayer in the morning which I henceforth hope we shall endeavour to exercise ourselves in as constantly as no foible, having begun it since Mr Williams has been with me, At this period of the day we are particularly called on to grateful acknowledgments in family as well as in private prayer when we call to mind the preservation of the night, the business that calls us into action in the ensuing day, & above all when we consider the wily foes that we have to contend with. Under such impressions we ought right humbly & gladly to bow our knees before the Father of the Lord Jesus Christ that we may plead for mercy as a family & obtain the grace we may need day by day, I do not doubt, my love, that you will coincide in these sentiments & feel a disposition to unite with me in the resolution by God’s grace to carry them into effect. The multiplicity of business that demands so large a portion of our time ought not, must not prevent us from spending a quarter of an hour in reding a short portion of scripture & in supplicating the Throne of Grace. I have always experienced the advantage of this morning exercise in my ride or walk to the Mill & during the remaining day. On Monday Mr Williams & I dined at Newhouse & yesterday he went to Mr Charles Wathen’s where he intends to stay ‘till Friday when he is to return here. I am much pleased with him & desire to be truly thankful to the great Head of the Church for having in the order of his Providence brought him hither. On Sunday, I had Mrs Lees & Miss Iles with our brother and sister. I spoke to the two former respecting Mrs Ford’s proposal, which seemed to be relished by Anne Iles, but respecting which she requested to be allowed time to consider. The Friday Lecture during the ensuing season is to be preached in the evening service beginning at ½ past six o’clock. I have invited the same party on Friday that dined here on Sunday in order to give them an opportunity of going to Church. Mr Williams the Preacher is now at Stroud to make a short visit to assist Mr Rhodes during Mr Woolmer’s absence: he supped with me last night & desired his best respects. He told me of the excellent effects that might be expected from the Methodist Sunday Schools which have been established in many place & exhorted me very much to exertion in that way at Stroud, The great peculiarity attached to these schools amongst the Methodists is that all the Teachers give their labours gratis instead of being paid for them: and you know that, in such case, more attention & care may very reasonably be expected as well as the exertion of pious endeavours to inform the judgment and to affect the hearts of children. It seems that a large school has been within six months been established at Dursley where Mr W generally resides. He does not yet give up the affair with Miss Cooke: it seems (at least I judge so from what he said) that it is to the mother that are to be ascribed the impediments & difficulties that have been raised [presumably to a marriage].  Mr & Mrs Scudamore the child & two servants go to Bristol for a fortnight or so next week & have taken lodgings in King Square: the latter is grown quite large & has been rather complaining of late. I go after exercise with the Corps this evening to Brimscombe [a short distance from Stroud] to make arrangements about raising the money to pay off the debt on the Chapel account. Mr Scudamore is to meet me. I called Sunday evening after having been at the Chapel on Mrs Willis & Mrs Holton who are both very poorly & not again likely, as I think, to regain strong health. Mrs Ellis is well. I indulge the hope that Dr Baillie’s prescriptions for our dear mother will be attended with the divine blessing & I trust that she will largely enjoy that peace of God that passeth all understanding. Give my tender love to her & be assured my dr. Mary of my unalterable affection NW [ Nathaniel Wathen, her husband] present me affectionately to your father & each of your circle & tell your uncle that I hope to send his cloth & … with the rugs in two or three days.

 

References

https://www.mikesclark.com/genealogy/mills.html

https://www.mikesclark.com/genealogy/wathen.html#nw

https://www.mikesclark.com/genealogy/beardmore.html

Wikipedia: Samuel Wesley (composer, born 1766)

 

 

 

Nathaniel Winter slave owner in London to Hugh McCalmont slave owner in Belfast 1820

 

When I first began this project I would have discarded any letter which began “Your favour of the 20^th Instant” shortly after followed by pound sterling signs. I did not intend to transcribe business letters or, worse, lawyers’ letters. But I have learnt that such letters often mix up business with political and personal news and that sometimes the business is itself interesting.

There is a lot of interest in this letter written by Nathaniel Winter (circa 1763-1824),  a London merchant born in Barbados and now operating as Nathaniel Winter & Co. He writes about the going prices of West India slave plantations in relation to which he has his own interests to think about. In the 1830s his widow Elizabeth (born Elizabth Pitcher), as Executor of his will, put in claims for loss of slaves on the Deutichem and Eliza & Mary estates in British Guiana, the former with 244 enslaved persons, the latter 518. His former business partners disputed her claim and the matter went to court. The monetary sums involved were large enough to justify that  and her two sons were entitled to shares of their father’s estate. At the 1820 date when this letter was written Nathaniel Winter was living in London’s Russell Square though his children were staying in the country. The weather in the winter of 1819-20 was notably cold and parts of the Thames froze though not enough to support a Frost Fair on the ice.

In the course of the letter he makes reference to the new and now rather neglected Colonial Slave Registration Act of 1819 Act owhich created a slave register held in London which supplemented the registers held in individual colonies. As a deterrent to evasion of the 1807 Act which criminalised the slave trade, the new Act required that the names of  people enslaved in the colonies now be registered in London s well as locally in the colonies; lists had to be regularly updated and the total number of enslaved persons could now only be increased by the addition of children born to existing enslaved people. Winter notes that a recent sale of an estate has been rendered void because the obligation to register names under the act had not been complied with.

Hugh McCalmont in Belfast, the letter’s recipient and addressed familiarly as “Dear McCalmont”, appears elsewhere on this site; type his name into the search bar or go to

https://www.otherpeoplesletters.com/2026/10/hugh-and-robert-mccalmont-merchants-and.html

The Spencer McKay referred to as losing £4000 was a significant plantation owner in British Guiana and received compensation in the 1830s for 656 enslaved persons. The UCL Legacies of Slavery database offers a basic biography. The Charles McGarel has a very long biography there – see References at the end for both of them. Dr Duncan I cannot pin down.

The sums of money mentioned here are very large: £40 000, for example,  converts to about £3 500 000 using the Bank of England inflation calculator.

 

Transcription

Addressed to: Hugh McCalmont Esqr   Belfast

Datelined: London January 25^th 1820

Postmarked in London JA 25 1820, manuscript charge markings which suggest that a delivery charge of 1/4 [one shilling and four pence] was corrected to 1/7.

No docketing note.

Dear McCalmont

Your favour of the 20^th Inst, to the House [his merchant house], has been rec’d with its inclosure; namely your draft on Messrs Ross & Co. at 90 ds. [days] sight for £800 which is passed to your Credit.

I also rec’d your kind Letter in course and very much regret to find you had been inconvenienced by your continuing your Linen Speculation so far; however I am glad to find it  will be attended with inconvenience only, - and not loss: - the distress and inconvenience in every branch of Commercial pursuit is infinitely greater than I ever knew it: about two years ago it was said that distress was every where, except with the West India Interest  [those dealing in the produce of Caribbean plantations using slave labour] – but the Wheel has gone round and we come in like the others for our share; - the Sugar Market is in a most deplorable state; - & the Remittances (when they do come), make no impression on the heavy advances for Sugar Estates: Cotton you know more about than I do – Coffee to be sure is a good price; - and it appears that the Stock of that article 31^st Decr. last is much less by a great deal than any previous year for some time: - we have about 100 [Puncheons?] Weight from our Estates: on board the [ship] Ann Captn Munro, which vessel is wrecked in the Bay of Galway by the unskilfulness ‘tis said of the Galway Pilot or rather a Pilot taken from Arran, an Island in the Bay: we are insured to a certain extent: - but the shipment was greater than we expected, & the still non-arrival of the packet [boat] (due 3d Inst [ 3^rd of January]) prevented our increasing the Insurance: - a person went over on Thursday night to see after it, get it dried, and reshipped to London, how it may turn out I know not: - but if it had safely arrived it wd. have fetched £7 …[unclear weight measure]: - - we have no later Answr. from Berbice than the end of Octr: - there are many vessels from Demerary [later British Guiana] expected: - and as the frost is now gone, I hope they will soon arrive – we have had a most severe Winter, the Cold has been extreme, and has pinched Mrs W. [his wife] very much, my son Charles has suffered a little; but the rest of the Family thank God – is very well; our Country Cottage has been serviceable, and we have not yet removed our Nursery to Town; - altho’ we have ourselves for some time past [ that’s to say, the children have been left in the country cottage].

The action bought in the name of the Assignees against Mr K. McKenzie for one Guarantee of Eight Thousand Pounds terminated against him: whether the Verdict will be appealed against, a few days will determine, as the [Law] Term has now commenced and four days are given for that purpose this has been altogether the most unfortunate Business I ever knew. Vigers & Co are Debtors for £85 000 and what is got from Mr K. McKenzie is I understand all that is likely to be received.

I fancy the value of Demerary estates is falling– there was a Cotton Estate called the Triumph: sold tother Day at the Auction Mart with 180 odd Negroes for £21 000 bought by Spencer Mackay, but I understand there’s some difficulty about [ letter torn here, most likely word is it] for by the Act of Parliament passed last year: - unless the Negroes are registered in London in a new office established for that purpose: that any Sale made – is void this has not been done & of course the Sale is void. – and yet Mackay cannot get back his £4000 paid as Deposit. – I understand Doctr Duncan – and Charles McGarel &c here have [bought?] an Estate for £42 000 which C McG had in Demerary offerd £53 [thousand] for [that is to say, they got it cheaper than they had previously offered]. I must now conclude with best wishes to Mrs McCalmont, yourself & young folks. Ever  Dear McCalmont

Yours truly   N Winter  

 

References

https://www.ucl.ac.uk/lbs/person/view/6914 for Charles McGarel

https://www.ucl.ac.uk/lbs/person/view/2146634514 for Nathaniel Winter

https://www.ucl.ac.uk/lbs/person/view/8983 for Spencer Mackay

https://www.ucl.ac.uk/lbs/person/view/8582 for Hugh McCalmont

 

Elementary Education in North Walsham Norfolk 1814

 

Until the Elementary Education Act of 1870 schools in England and Wales were controlled by charities, religious organisations mostly connected to the Church of England, and private individuals running schools as a business. The Act did not make schooling compulsory (that did not happen until 1880) but committed the state to the building of government-funded “Board” schools managed by locally-elected School Boards to which women were eligible for election. Existing schools were not merged into the new system but could qualify for government-funding for half their running costs. As a result, the voluntary sector actually expanded significantly after the Act was passed  and the dominant Anglican "National Society" added about 6000 schools to its portfolio between 1870 and 1885; in 2026 such schools constitute a significant part of a supposedly “state” system, the schools now receiving most of their funding from the state but retaining semi-independent status as “voluntary aided” or “voluntary controlled”; most are Church of England or Roman Catholic denominational schools with a scattering of other denominations and religions, now including Islam and Judaism. In many parts of England and Wales, and especially at primary level, parents will find themselves without a local non-denominational school despite the collapse of organised Christianity. As of 2026, no Westminster government has shown any interest in changing this anomalous situation.

The pioneers of elementary education for the lower orders or working classes in England and Wales were two Anglican societies: the British and Foreign School Society (founded 1808) and what became the dominant National Society for Promoting the Education of the Poor in the Principles of the Established Church (founded 1811). Both societies adopted what are called monitorial systems of instruction which employed proficient pupils as instructors. The British and Foreign used what came to be known as the Lancastrian system (after its originator Joseph Lancaster) and the National Society used the Bell system, named for Dr Alexander Bell. Both methods kept down costs but eventually gave way to ones dominated by more costly trained adult teachers.

The early schools were often called “Sunday Schools” but as this letter indicates did not necessarily meet on Sundays, making it possible for the Boy Wilson to instruct in several schools in the course of a week. And some schools met several times in the week depending on the supply of teachers and the demands of parents who usually had to pay something, however nominal.

The history of the National Society’s school in North Walsham has been documented; I quote from the online North Walsham Guide:

“A 'National' Sunday School had been set up in North Walsham by 1813……The school was held in a large room in the workhouse superintended by a Mr. Hay. There were 150 pupils on the register made up of 67 boys and 83 girls. By 1815 the school also met one day during the week but the number attending was now only 89-51 boys and 38 girls. The school was described as extensive by 1818 and was meeting two days in the week to teach the girls needlework, in addition to Sundays. The Vicar, the Rev. W. F. Wilkinson felt that the poor of North Walsham were not ' without means of education'. By 1827 the school was meeting in the parish church and in addition to the Sunday school sewing was taught on three half days each week. There were two teachers, William Moyes and Susanna Pope to manage 33 boys and 45 girls. The youngest children at the school were five years old and the eldest 12 and 14 years of age”.

I cannot discover how old or how well-schooled was Wilson, “the Boy” who is being despatched to North Walsham but it is clear that he is not being appointed in any regular manner or has much choice in the matter. He is in the hands of the Reverend Dr Charles Sutton (1756-1846), who as well as being a long-serving Norwich vicar held an administrative post in Norwich Cathedral and this letter is directed to him at the Cathedral’s Close – the Close being the group of administrative and residential buildings which always surround a Cathedral. 

The Mr Spurdens who is giving up one secretarial post is probably the Rev. William Tylney Spurdens, headmaster of Paston Grammar School in North Walsham from 1807 to 1825, and if not him then a relative of his.

Following the Education Act of 1870, North Walsham acquired a purpose-built Board School in 1874 able to accommodate 500 boys and girls aged 5 to 13 and charging a  penny per week.

Transcription

Addressed to: The Revd. Dr Sutton   The Close    Norwich

Datelined: North Walsham     January 3d 1814

Postmarked NORTH WALSHAM and endorsed Post Paid, 4d.

Docketing note: North Walsham

Dear Sir

Mr Hepworth at my request had the goodness to enquire at what time, a Boy qualified and accustomed to train schools on Dr. Bell’s system would be at liberty to come to North Walsham. He has informed me that Wilson, the Boy who has been at Harleston is returned and can now be spared to come here. I would therefore request that you would allow him to be sent next Wednesday & should recommend his coming by Moneyment N Walsham Carrier from the Pope’s Head, in the Upper Market. He has a good covered caravan, leaves Norwich, I think about three o’clock and arrives at N.Walsham, usually about ten O Clock. Moneyment will inform him where He is to board, or if Wilson would call at my House, as soon as He arrives on Wednesday, He shall receive proper directions. Mr Spurden has already corresponded with you upon this subject, & from him you would hear that there are other schools in this neighbourhood, which are desirous to avail themselves of Wilson’s assistance. It was at first intended that the Boy sent should instruct this Sunday School and one or two other in the neighbourhood in the course of each week but it now seems preferable that He should continue here to train the Boys & Girls Schools at North Walsham for a fortnight or three weeks as may be found necessary (a sufficient number of children with the Master & Mistress having engaged to attend every day) and after this school is enough instructed that the Boy should proceed to others, in the Dean’y [Deanery?] which may require his aid. As Mr Hepworth made use of my name in his application to you, I trouble you upon the subject myself, otherwise I should have begg’d Mr Spurdens as Secretary to have written to you on the business.

I am, Dear Sir, with much respect, Your faithful Humble Servt.  T. [or J.] Hay

PS. As you are already probably informed, Mr Spurdens (retaining the situation of Secretary to our District Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge) has desired to resign the Secretaryship to the School Committee here, but Mr Gur….  [seal broken here; likely name would be Gurney] has kindly offered his assistance to supply his place. Till our next Committee Meeting Mr Spurdens handsomely promised however to continue to be our Secretary. The next meeting is appointed for the 25^th of his month.

 

References

https://www.northwalshamguide.co.uk/chapter-11-education-in-north-walsham

Wikipedia: Monitorial System

Wikipedia: National school (England and Wales)

Wikipedia: Elementary Education Act 1870