BC RF/103/1/16: Letter from The Shrubbery, Liverpool [1852?]

BC RF/103/1/16: Letter from The Shrubbery, Liverpool [1852?]

Letter from The Shrubbery [Uncle Richard Yates's house?] apologising for her seemingly harsh words about the College, but worried that EJR was 'quite worn out last spring' and allowed herself no rest when in Malvern. She reports that EJR's scheme for helping Unitarian Ministers was received enthusiastically by EAB's aunts.

Transcribed by Claire Burns

The Shrubbery
Wednesday Morning.

Dearest Mrs. Reid,

I must write you a few lines because I am quite distressed to think of what I may have said in my last from Llandudno about the College. It may have sounded harsh to you & unkind & as if I did not care about [^ what] I have really very much at heart.

I forget the exact expression, but the idea in my mind at the Time was that you were not allowing yourself any repose or refreshment to your spirit at the time with [page 2] continual writing & thinking about the College. whereas I am sure you were in so much need of a complete change of ideas and relaxation as any lady could be. You were quite worn out last spring, it made me sad to see you. So I wanted to persuade you that you had done all that any human being could in the cause.

I also wished to prepare you for not meeting with any very lively interest from my little Aunts- not knowing what you were going to propose to them. [page 3]

I saw them last night for a few minutes & read your letter to them You have just hit upon a scheme they would enter into namely for helping Unitarian Ministers the class of people of all others they delight in.

I have just thought of Mr [?Hammond] who was minister at Sheffield. the last I heard of him he was in distress. He health failing & a large family. he is a very clever man: his wife a silly woman & should think [?education] much wanted.

I have not time to add more today; except that I trust if you thought anything wrong in my last you will believe it was the expression & not the feeling

We go to the Park tomorrow we left Wales with much regret having had a delicious fortnight. Ever dearest Mr Reid in much haste Yours Truly afft.
E A Bostock

I am in hopes you will get this almost at the same Time as the other as I suppose you had left [? Malvern]

Elizabeth Anne [Eliza] Bostock

The Elizabeth Jesser Reid Papers are part of the Bedford College archive held at Royal Holloway, University of London Archives

Royal Holloway, University of London

[1852?]

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1 letter

English

BC RF/103/1/16