Robert
Abbotson from Westmoreland is in London
conducting various kinds of loosely specified business and writes to his
brother John back home and who is likely to have been the John Whaley Abbotson practising
as an attorney in Black Bull Yard, Kirkby Stephen.
Robert
Abbostson is probably lodged over the Mori and Lavenu sheet music shop at 28
New Bond Street and more likely works nearby rather than in the music shop; he
regularly visits a draper in Clerkenwell, John Pemberton, who is
well-established selling printed cottons. Abbotson writes about business and everyday
matters but describes - without making it the centrepiece of his letter - having
been to France on an excursion which went wrong when the steam packet from
London ran aground off Boulogne. This would have been the Columbine which
was wrecked north of Boulogne on the 18th September with over 300
people on board, all of whom were rescued. One would have expected the rescued
passenger to have written earlier about his experience but, no, he says “I had
nothing particular to write about”. This letter, however, does fill three sides
and is then cross written over one and a half sides.
Transcription
Addressed
to: Mr John Abbotson Kirby [sic]
Steven Westmoreland
Datelined:
28 New Bond Street Nov 16 1828
Despatch
postmark: [London] NO 17 1828
My
Dear Brother
You
will think me very negligent in not answering your letter sooner as I had
nothing particular to write about I pospon’d it till now. I am a regular
visitor at Pembertons in St John Street the first time I saw him he gave me a
general invitation, I din’d there a fortnight ago they always enquire after
you. Miss P you have been a great favourite with when she comes down to
Yorkshire she vows she will not return without seeing you. The younger of the
Miss Ps poor lass has long had a love fit her Brother did not approve of the
match, she left London in March for Burton and has been there ever since her
true lover followed a short time afterwards and I have heard that they were
married, you perhaps will know him he was Clark at Mr P. when you were in Town.
I stay all night the last time I was there. Mr P. and myself went up to the
angel at Islington and had a couple Bottles of wine we then went to his house
in St John Street & had supper by that time it was eleven o’clock too late
for me to gain admittance in Bond Street. I slept with Mr P had Rump stakes
& Coffe for Breakfast and got to Bond St time enough for business. My
Cousen Whaley [?] and me are good friends he was in town about three weeks ago
we went to the theatre at his expence he generally stays in town a week or ten
days and during that time I sleep with him four or five times I had a letter
from him yesterday morning, some commission he wants me to execute for him I
believe he is doing business in Liverpool I am going to the city tomorrow
morning about his business perhaps that is the reason of his being unusually
generous to me when in Town I have had an excursion to France but to give you a
description of it, I should require several sheets of paper, you would read in
the papers, an account of a steam packet
been wreckd on the french coast, I unfortunately was on board and had a
very narrow escape, lost my luggage but that was trifling. The vessel struck
about ½ past eight and, remained there till Eleven expecting every moment to go
down to rise no more after we got on shore by the assistance of small boats we
walkd a cross the country about 15 miles that night or rather morning when we
arrived at Bolongue which was the place we were going we banished from our
minds what had past and determined to enjoy ourselves which we did much to our
satisfaction
Robert
Burrows has return’d from the Indes he poor fellow had but an unfortunate
voyage. I have nothing more to say at present I heard from home by Mr Thomas
Redmayne he returned a bout a fortnight ago they were all quite well I am going
to write to Mary this week if you have been at Austwick [ North Yorkshire]
lately you will have the goodness to insert all the news when you write which I
hope will be soon
If
you could send me a couple brace of game to give to Mr Pemberton or send them
to him carriage paid I should feel particularly obliged to you. When you write
tell me how you are getting on in the way of business I hope it continues to
answer well for you I was sorry to hear of Richards misfortune but I hope he
will be no worse for it …. and pray tell me what they are going to make of
William it is quite time he should be off some where I have no opinion of him
staying at home. Write to me as soon as you have time excuse all faults for I
know there are many have you heard any thing of John Metcalfe Ann gave me a
shocking account sent but I hope it is not correct & must conclude hoping
this will find you quite well as it leaves me at present
I
Remain Dr Brother Yours affectionately Robert Abbotson
Reference
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_shipwrecks_in_September_1828
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