This long letter to which two people have contributed has experienced the gnawing criticism of the mice, for which reason there are many ellipses in my transcription. Fortunately, a docketing note added to the address panel and a further note added later in another hand identifies the two writers unambiguously. One of them, Marguerite Anne Harvey (married name, Neve) is in the record books for a reason of interest mainly to pub quiz enthusiasts: born May 1792 in Guernsey and dying there in April 1903 she became the second recorded person whose life spanned three centuries for which reason she has a Wikipedia page. She was multi-lingual and could read the Bible in Greek, etc, etc. In a marriage which lasted twenty-five years until the death of her husband in 1849, she lived in England; there were no children. The rest of her life she passed in Guernsey. The other contributor is her brother John (1793-1865). Margeurite writes about the sights of Regency London which she is visiting for the first time; her brother deals with business matters.
There is a long cast of dramatis
personae many of whom I cannot identify reliably enough to provide
details – there are just too many Lowthers - but “Mr Abbey” is Richard Abbey, tea
merchant/broker and guardian of John Keats. “The Shades” is The Old Shades in Whitehall/
Westminster, a still existing drinking establishment. Mrs H would have been a
Subscriber to the Orphan Asylum thus securing admittance for Miss Harvey to the
event described. No visit to London during the Regency era was complete without
a visit to Miss Linwood's Picture Rooms at Savile House, Leicester Square.
Transcription
Addressed to: John Harvey
Esqr Guernsey
Datelined twice: Islington April
29th 1814 and London April 29th 1814
London despatch postmark dated 29
AP 1814
Docketing note: London 29 April
14 J.H. Esqr M.A.H. [in another hand]: Ann’s First visit
to London at the Lowthers. Westminster Abbey
My dearest Parents
I have written a very long letter
to you, but as Mr Abbey and John wrote by the same packet, two letters at a
time may have been too much, you may therefore perceive that it was not neglect
which prevented my not writing, or rather your not receiving my letter.
No I will say with Burns whose
truly beautiful poems have these last days delighted me, “Grand Dieu, oublie
moi quand j’oublierai mes parens”. John and I have dined at Mr Blakey’s , it
was merely a family affair, they were politely attentive, they attend plays and
the Opera, I thought that was against the rules of Quakers. John took me that
day to see Guildhall, Lord Ellenborough was in the chair. I don’t like his
countenance we were last Friday engaged to dine at Miss Lowther’s but as Mr
Lowther had in my absence made some arrangements to accompany Mrs L and myself
to the West End of the town, which being much engaged he can rarely do, I could
not avoid writing to Miss L the day before, explaining it and requesting her to
put it off till the ensuing week, John put it in the two penny post I suppose
she received it, but we have not heard from her. Mrs Lowther and myself began
the day by going to Mrs H….. where we had agreed to meet Mr L. Mr & Mrs H …..
received me with the kindest affection and welcomes. Could I feel cold or
distant when I meet with so war a reception? I acted as if nothing had happened, besides I
thought with my dear Mamma that the bonds of union should not be too easily
snapped, they wished me to dine there, but we had not time therefore we left
them to go to Westminster Abbey. I was struck by its grandeur and felt a
melancholy pleasure in viewing the remains of mouldering genicio [genius],
beauty, wealth, and royalty, afterwards we went to see the Indian Jugglers, it
was a strange contrast to the magnificent building we had just quitted, but n
their way they were excellent, the Prince Regent has had them to exhibit at
Carleton House; their astonishing agility surprised me, What a piece of Work is
man!
“
We then went to see the Panorama
of Malta it was a view from the sea, it gave certainly a good idea of the
place, but it did not strike me much. I spent a day with Mrs H…. that I might
go to the asylum [Dr Reed’s London Orphan Asylum founded 1813] on the
anniversary, the Duke of Kent was in the Chair, I sat below opposite to him
therefore I might look at him as much as I pleased as well as at the Archbishop
of Canterbury who sat next him. The Bishop of London ….and greatness do not … health, I felt pain
in hearing him, although … not preach loud yet the exertion seemed too much for
his lungs … he looks ill.
Mrs H….told me that after I had
paid my visit to Mrs Lowther she would expect me, a slight misunderstanding had
some time ago arisen between them and John for some trivial reason, but I am
happy to say it has blown over. I have received an affectionate invitation from
Mr A. Bickley. I wish Cross was not in business, that is all I dislike. I have
not yet written to Miss Wait, I will wait until I have a letter from you, now
that it is peace if I go I ought to ask Miss W over I could not ask Cross
first, most likely she will not come, but still she might. You may feel the
little obstacles which arise on my going to Bristol to one as fondly attached
to my friends as I am, nothing could
give me more pleasure than to see them. I have given the green silk to
Mrs L. she said it was too much, she is as pleased with it as I can wish.
I have
forgotten to bring the lace I made, it is trimmed round my pink silk frock,
likewise my green shoes which are on the top of my Closet. John took Mrs L. and
I to see St Paul’s but being during service time we could not ascend, therefore
we shall go again, with his usual kindness he has got us an order to see the
tower. I have walked a great deal about the West End with Mrs L, the buildings,
the vast concourse of carriages, the width of the streets, all is so novel to
me. I hope my dear Papa’s health continues to improve. When will he come? How
is Mamma. John is down stairs for my letter, and yet you must not think I drive
off writing to the last moment, for except today I have taken it from my sleep,
but last night I was so tired. With most affectionate love to al, I am your
most attached daughter M. A. Harvey
Remember
me kindly to Esther and Luke. I soon shall write again. Mr & Mrs Lowther
present their best compts. the former often says how happy he shall be to see
my dear Papa.
London
April 29th 1814
My
Dearest Parents
I now a[ccording?]
to my promise on Tuesday hasten to inform you of the cause of my declining the
offer which I had thought so advantageous – On the night that Wilkinson first
arrived in London he went to “The Shades” where he sat drinking Wine, a
Gentleman met a man carried on London bridge in such a state of inebriety as to
be totally insensible to the rude manner in which he was handled they were
about leaving him on the bridge when the Gent. urged them on to the watch house
there he examined his pockets & found one of the cards of A[bbey] & Co
in his pocket book he took out & reckoned £50 odd in money (+ Bills) then
sealing it delivered it in the custody of the Constable mutually signing each
other an acknowledgment, the Gent was many days before he could gain on himself
to apprise Mr A. – of this, not wishing
to impose him (W) but a sense of duty prevailed – this was let out
privately to me by W – unwittingly but in a very different manner from the
above, now if an inclination to drinking
exists with his state of mind & when Dr Fop told him his sanity solely
depended on his sobriety, the most dreadful consequences might ensue. When I
told you what Mr Langmore had told me relative to the cause of his insanity
being removed, that my doubts were almost removed it did not prevent my
enquiring further & as Brookes very justly observed, when a person gets
insane from a severe shock or misfortune, that shows the mind to have but a
weak basis, & when once broken easily gives way to a variety of instance,
as cold, disappointment, fretting &c – now how much more so will an
hereditary complaint of this nature be liable to; & I find that the last
was not the first instance of his derangement – I as you may guess did not
please overmuch when I declined it & as I had previously declared to them ,
the probability & inclination I had to join, I said, You declined it. He
mentioned it to Mr Abbey who …. not seem to like … Mr A. – was at first loath
to ….from the delicate situation in which he was placed & if he gave his
opinion one way owing to the inferences that might be drawn – I told him a
greater proof could not be given of expecting unbiased advice than in my asking
it of him, he then added to what I had heard & confirmed my intention of
declining it, the As. You have on the other side is an near as I can recollect
in his own words – Independent of all this a continued uneasiness would most
probably have been the case – I congratulate myself of having before steered
clear of Scylla, & still more so in this instance of having been swallowed
up in Charybdis – I forgot to mention before that the socks last sent fit as
well as it is possible for them to do, if they were least thing longer
in the feet they might wear better, but they fit well
Mr A
[Abbey] has just bought rice at the E.I Ho. [East India House] at 23/- 26/1,
28/- will it answer to send you 100 Bags of each - & are you inclined to
have any Tea, you know it is very high you could not have it under 3/8 or more.
Mr Abbey has obtained for me a Catalogue of the ensuing sale at the E.I. House
on the 11rh of May of Salampores [?] Long
Cloths Necklaces &c which I have seen if Mr Helme has not concluded with
Brown & Co I think it would answer your purpose a few through Mr Abbey in
your next you had better say what & how much of each he should buy. I am
now looking out for a letter announcing your own improvement & shall be
happy to hear if you are well enough yet to be able to fix your departure.
With
best wishes to all believe me my Dear Papa
Your affection. J Harvey
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