Letters,
References and Notes (1846)
Relating to
Anne Marsh (Marsh Caldwell)
The following is a listing of letters, references and general notes, from 1846, relating to Anne Marsh (Marsh-Caldwell) and her family, in particular her husband Arthur Marsh and their son Martin Marsh. For notes relating to other years please go to Letters, References and Notes (1780-1874).
Letter from Anne Marsh (Marsh-Caldwell) to her son Martin Marsh, 2 February 1846. This letter and most of those for the rest of 1846 are written on paper with a black edging presumably as a mark of respect to Anne' father-in-law William Marsh, who had died 1 January. The letter reads as follows:
Monday Feb 2nd 1846
My dearest Martin
Now begins my answer to your delightful Journal letters. It
certainly is the most beautiful of inventions though I miss your
darling voice and merry jokes. I seem to know full as much of
your mind and to give you as much or more of mine at Oxford as at
Eastbury. Now first about this £10 note. Your father
cannot help thinking that you must have dropped it or lost it.
His accounts tally with the supposition that he gave you £50, so
pray endeavour to recollect where you first took out your money and
the adventures of your money afterwards. I do not know whether
you have even a purse to keep it in or whether you huddle it into
your pocket anyhow, prepare for a little scold. No one can be
more careful or acconomical [economical] than you are in spending
your money, but I suspect you are careless in the keeping of it.
This is not very wise, and perhaps not quite right as it exposes
those about you to temptation. I believe you once lost a £5
note out of our drawer here, a thing that gives me considerable
uneasiness. I should like to know who was housemaid at that
time. Let this be amended dear son mine in future, as I am
quite sure it will. In the mean time we will send you another
£10 note as soon as you wish for it. Now for your
letter. You have decided quite rightly about the coach and I am
not sorry to have to be coach a little longer. It is a great
pleasure to me, and I think we understand one another so well that
for the present we shall get on very well together. I am likewise
very glad you have taken to your Mathematics and are going to master
decimals, and all other necessary things in their turn. It
would provoke me to have your mind halting on one leg and your
life. I would advise you to arrange your hours as to take all
the hardest and least pleasing work first. You are like me in
one respect I perceive. When you are exhausted, you cannot get
through what is really hard, and you are rather sooner exhausted than
you ought to be. You will probably by habit become every year
capable of much more work without this disagreeable testing of
fatigue. It seemed to be very ungracious to send you your books
without a line. I was excessively busy that day, so busy that I
could scarcely give orders about the . . . even. We are so
poorly furnished in divinity, except those two huge tokins of Baxter
and Bonow[?], that I really had no choice left, Paliys[?] Natural
Theology is a very favourite book of mine. Not so much for the
argument sake, though I think that managed in a masterly manner but
for the cheerful views it gives one of the divine government in this
natural world of ours. It fills my own heart with love to the
divine author of so much beauty and happiness, and a sort of
childlike confidence if I may use the expression with reverence
arises when I consider the minute love and provision made for all his
feeble creatures. Creatures which to us appear as sincerely
worth regard are none of them forgotten to his infinite
benevolence. I am glad of all you say with regard to
Kirtlington[?]. We must make it a rule to do on our own side
all that is right to cultivate and preserve advantages acquaintance
leaving all the rest to them. Now what have we been doing.
On Monday Albert Pell came and spent two days the mornings of which
were entirely occupied in laying out the . . . for your father in
Barroughs[?] Hill, and in the evenings in agonizing over the coin
loss with us. He was very pleasant. We had a great
commotion with Clarke, who went and sold all the hay, without even
consulting with your father who was at home all the time. I
don't think the bargain was a very bad one though concluded in this
hasty and unjustifiable manner and I hope the check he received upon
the occasion has taught him who is master upon this farm. I do
not think Albert Pell thinks much of his farming, however it is
certain that the farm is in a very different condition as to produce
and cultivation to what we have ever had it before. On Thursday
Col Eden came down and stayed all night the talk was more of
drawing than any thing else a matter that has a good deal ceased to
interest me. Marty[?] went home with him. George went on
Saturday. Your father and Louisa took him for I was not capable
of so fatiguing a journey. They were greatly disappointed in
the aspect of Messers Shoten[?] and Mager[?], themselves any thing
but gentlemen. Rather orse and ouse sort of men, but the school
seemed well managed as far as the material went, and we hear such a
high character of it, that there is I hope no reason to be anxious,
though anxious I am. We have not heard from him yet. He
will find it after all more comfortable than the Blue Coat, and I
fancy to rough it a little will teach him to know himself and others
better than I quite suspect he does. Farewell my dearest and dearest
again, light of my eyes and joy of my heart, and all sorts of foolish
expressions come to the end of my pen. Your tender Mother.
Sparke is very well and we love him and pat him as his master or
himself could wish.
Letter from Anne Marsh (Marsh-Caldwell) to her son Martin Marsh, Monday 23 February, presumably 1846 (but possibly 1845?). The letter reads as follows:
Monday February 23rd
My dearest Martin
It really is fortunate as it will be so long before you get a better
room that you have had so mild a winter. 7 weeks seems a
very long time before we shall meet, but as I am very busy finishing
my story for Mr Chapman which story is very abhorrent to my
soul, and will I fear not be what I wished to make it. It
becomes in such a case a very nervous painful and exhausting task to
write, but it is a duty, and duty consoles. The money will
enable us to make head against the expenses of this year and it may
please God to bless our endeavours and enable us when this year is
over to draw sufficient from the farm to maintain our place in this
dear spot. I am answering your letter as you will
perceive. I come next to your temperance in which I heartily
rejoice. I believe there is no way save those odious cigars, in
which health and power are so much thrown away as in the induced and
careless use of wine. A little I believe to be a good thing for
almost every constitution and the fine way is to do as you do, give
yourself an allowance such as you think fit of wine and adhere to
it. Your health God be thanked seems excellent. I never
hoped to see my delicate nervous little boy, so healthy and high
spirited a young man. I believe under his blessing it has been
greatly the reward of your own prudence and good sense. Your
constitution now evidently strengthens every year and you will I hope
by the time the battle with the Law begins find yourself quite equal
to it. I like your being of the Freemasons, yet what an odd
sort of feeling it gives me to hear that you belong to a secret
society. There have been times when such secret societies were
very awful and imposing things but such times are over. It will
show you a new side of that human nature which you never can study or
practice too much. Posy is no better at present and I am uneasy
about her. I could fancy however that there is some little
amendment today, though it does rain and is a sort of day upon which
all the . . . feels . . . Skip has been sitting tete a tete
with me all morning. I have taken the little middle room for my
sitting room and the poor fellow rejoices himself in my fire and
sofa. Yes I think Mr Shaw's[?] speech was a very clever and
interesting one, and Mr Disraeli's on Sunday (I think it was)
excellent. We have heard of it was praised much in town.
He has given it well to Sir Robert Peel , and pulled his fine speech
to pieces. Mr Hudson[?] too the railway king, spoke very well
it is said. I thought his speech read very well in the
Newspapers but one cannot very well tell by that whether it was
really an effective one. The cause of Protection[?] seems to be
gaining ground by everybody's account. I cannot answer your
agreeable account of where you have been and what you have seen, by a
relation of any adventures of my own. I have been no where and
seen only Mrs Clutterbuck who has just been here, and whom I always
like to see though our talk is only of our husbands, farming and our
children's health. Clarke goes next Monday his behavior has
been of an insolence perfectly astonishing. He refused to go
away, and said he should go when it suited his convenience upon which
your father's blood was up and he told him, he thought Clarke had
been as much mistaken in his character as he had been in Clarke's,
and that he was only a weekly servant he would have him to know and
could be discharged that very day and should be. Upon which the
gentleman made his excuses, and it ended by your father allowing him
a week instead of a fortnight in which to remove his family.
Your father has engaged a young man recommended by Mr Herxmon[?] as a
regular working foreman, and old Shelling[?] is to come and
superintend from time to time. It was the best plan we could
hit upon. I am sorry Clarke has turned out such an ill
conditioned fellow for upon the whole I think we were doing pretty
well, and your father will have more . . . and anxiety under the new
system. I fear things are looking well but we shall not get so
much for our hay as we had hoped by I fear 50 or 60 pounds.
Food however is very cheap after this open winter. Farewell
dearest Martin. I have got a bad headache, and will end my
tiresome stupid letter which really is not worth sending.
Ever my dearest boys tenderly affectionate Mother.
Letter from Anne Marsh (Marsh-Caldwell) to her son Martin Marsh. Dated Wednesday, with Feb 23 1846 added in pencil. This was filed after another letter which was dated Monday Feb 23. The letter reads as follows:
Wednesday February 23 1846
My beloved Martin,
This morning your long delayed letter arrived, it had been missent to
Welford, so you must take care in future to make Watford very
legible. They had tried Hertford. Surely never was . . .
so little drawn to fame as our self esteeming Watford, the tradesmen
at least of which consider themselves as among the most important
people on the face of the earth. It would have been a pity
indeed if I had lost your letter, which was most interesting and
agreeable. You begin to write extremely well indeed and your
description of Dr Posey[?] might do for a place in a prize
essay. You seem to see this matter in exactly its just point of
view, and to estimate to its full extent the mischief of that sort of
. . . satirical interference with men's consciences, which carries
such a specious plausible appearance, and which having been so long
met in the Roman C. Church has been found productive of such immense
evils. Most of the horrible causes into which the members of
that Church have at different periods of history been betrayed, may
be . . . I believe to this surrender of conscience to the keeping of
other men and thus casting responsibility from a mans own self upon
others, and those others misguided prejudiced ambitions short
sighted, as other of our imperfect use, and often from their peculiar
circumstances particularly exposed to the temptation of all those
crimes which were from heaven views and a desire of spiritual
domination. The great triumph of the Reformation was not so
much the enlightening mens minds upon this or that doctrine, as the
general emancipation from priestly sway which was then affected, and
which as long as priests are men, there will be always an effort to
restore, your young neophytes with anxious looks drinking in every
word of their reverend preacher as if it were a revelation from
heaven was quite a picture. It is curious how men love to be
deceived, or whether perhaps I should say love to make unto
themselves idols. We marvel when we send the old testament at
the obstinate propensity on the part of the Israelites to make unto
themselves Idols of wood and stone, but if we would look . . .
as we should see the same propensity inside another form in the
tendency of mankind to erect to themselves idols of flesh and
blood. Scriptural simple rely in and Christ for the divine head
and only head of the Church, is a . . . lly that the human mind of
this day seems to find as unpalatable as that of the Unity of God was
to the ancients. We are living in strange days and I believe in
the midst of a vast social revolution if we did but know it.
Old things are fast passing away and a leaf is being turned over in
human history. What you will all have to read on the other side
no one on earth seems to pretend even to guess. To us and those
who think like us these Anti-protection measures appear the most rash
unstatesmanlike and . . . lled for that can be . . . , and the
rapidly advancing prosperity of this country arrested and all affairs
thrown into the utmost confusion , for no one good reason at
all. We read the speeches on each side and find not one single
reason advanced for this change of opinion. By a letter from Dr.
Holland this morning this opinion seems to gain ground he says
proselytes to protection are being made every day and the majority
will be less it is thought than was at first expected, he speaks of
the confusion in which men's minds are thrown and the utter . . . as
to the issues of this most unexampled piece of rash legislation.
We heard an anecdote of the Queen and Lord Melbourne not . . .
, se non e'veso, e'ben trovato. The Queen - Oh my Lord I am become an
Antiprotectionist. Lord M - Are you indeed? Then I'll be
d__d if you don't bring the monarchy about your ears. I see
your warden has been drawing his pen upon the right side. If
all would only exert themselves to the uttermost these fatal measures
might yet be arrested. I was in London on Monday and saw
Mrs.Eden and Miss Morrison and Lady Pell, but heard no news except
that Albert Pell is very staunch in defense of protection. I
really cannot express to you my dearest boy, how I feel your
affection in writing to me when you are tired and weary at night and
I know how hard it is to persuade oneself to take up a pen.
Your affection and piety are indeed sweet ingredients in our life's
cup. I will send you the £10 note tomorrow. I have
not got one till your father returns from town. We sell hay and
get a pleasant sum in every week. I only wish we had 12 hay
stacks to sell instead of two and then we should be very easy, as far
as money went, which is a good way. One cannot . . . though far
from all the . . . way. They are now busy carrying out manure
into the great meadow so I hope we shall have a large crop next
year. Farewell my dearest boy. Ever your most tenderly
affectionate Mother. Good letters from George who seems very
happy and is able to tell us that he has not been reported for
laughing or telling in school nor . . . down for on . . . yet.
So I hope he means to be a good fellow. He writes proud letters
in imitation of yours as nearly as he can.
Letter from William Gifford Cookesley to Martin Marsh. The letter reads as follows:
Eton College
May 2 1846
My dear Marsh,
Many many thanks for your kind promise of Linwood's Sophocles and
Ellendt's Lexicon Sophocleum. They will be most valuable
additions to the library. Pray tell your friends not to send a
Paley, which is already in the library. But would they send
Demosthenes opera and Schafer[?] 9 vols (London. Black &
Young 1836) and Wunder's[?] Sophocles? The Wunder's
unbound is £3.10.0. 14 Wunder about 23 Shillings or 24
Shillings. But they of course ought to be bound. I send
you a list of desiderated books. It was drawn up by
Hawtrey and is not a very good one. Will you speak to
Baston[?] of Baliol, if you know him? To Borlean[?], of
University and Ialfourd[?] of Christ Church, and when I have
also written: will you use your interest with them? Pray settle
a day to visit me. I am delighted to hear of your probable
expedition to Greece.
Ever yours truly,
W Cookersley
I want to have a talk with you de omuilas relus et gruluxden alis[?].
Letter dated 3 May 1846, from the poet William Wordsworth to Ann Marsh, thanking her for writing a dedication to him in her novel "Emilia Wyndham". The original of this letter is now in the Mortimer Rare Book Room, Smith College, Northampton, Massachusetts, USA. The letter reads as follows:
Dear Madam
Pray accept my acknowledgements for your Emilia Wyndham and for the
honour you have done me by the Dedication, and by the manner in which
your sentiments in respect to my writing is expressed . The
book just received by me will I have no doubt be read both by myself,
and the members of my family, with much interest. Wishing that
these volumes may in all respects answer the purpose for which you
have written and published them.
I have the honour to be
dear Madam
respectfully
your obliged
William Wordsworth
Rydal Mount
3 May 1846
Emilia Wyndham was Anne's most
well known novel. Originally published in 1846 in London by
Colburn, in Paris by Galignani and in New York by Harper &
Brothers, all in the same year. It went on to at least 9
separate issues including one in Leipzig by Bernh Tauchnitz Jun in
1852. The last issue may have been the 1875 issue in the Select
Library series by Chapman & Hall, London.
The dedication to William
Wordsworth printed in the front of Emilia Wyndam reads: "To
William Wordsworth, ESQ., one from among the countless numbers of
those deeply indebted for the advancement of their moral life to the
fine influences of his poetry, offers this imperfect tribute of
admiration and gratitude".
Letter from Anne Marsh (Marsh-Caldwell) to her son Martin Marsh. Dated Monday 4 May and in pencil 1846. The letter reads:
Monday May 4th 1846
My dearest Martin,
In the first place I have the pleasure to send you your book on Latin
Prose which Adelaide found in the Schoolroom at last. She did
not know what sort of book to look for and took it for granted it was
a bound one. In the next by this post I shall send you a Post
Office order for £5. We have been disappointed of some
money, and therefore I cannot conveniently send you any more this
week, but I hope to be able to send you some more next. We hope it
will do if we send you the money to pay for your rooms about the
middle of the month when our tythes come in but if that is too
late pray send me word immediately and I will endeavour to get the
money. If my Chapman and Hall come in sooner you shall
have some of that immediately but I think they are inclined to wait
till the noise about Emilia Wyndham is over before they bring out the
Romance in which case I shall be delayed in getting my money. I
do not like if I can help it to sell any of your Railroad shares as
they are so low now but they are evidently rising and will be I hope
at a good price before it is long. Now for this Greece.
Both your dear father and I most passionately desire to give our
excellent son this pleasure and advantage. The first thing to
learn is what the probable expense would be. Do you think
£100 would do it? Suppose you are absent 60 days and at a
pound a day travelling . . . and £40. For gap
stopping I cannot help hoping it would be hardly so much. We will
immediately set about considering ways and means for it. It
would be such a pleasure to give you this little reward for the
happiness you have ever been to us both. The going with Mr
Lucas is such a . . . advantage, and you would see so much. Well let
us have your estimate dearest Boy. I think Posy is better but
she mends very slowly, however I shall not think of moving her till
the weather is more settled and I want to get my present work off my
hands and make sure of those funds before I leave home. I am
very much pleased with the success of Emilia Wyndham. If they
can but sell this edition there is the £100 ready for the Greece
of my beloved boy. If they sell 700 copies there is half of
it. I cannot help hoping that at least this £50 will fall
to my share. Then a man wants to buy some of the couples and if
he will offer a good price he shall have some of them which will make
the farm swim of itself for some time. I think I have now gone
through your dear letter and will recite our adventures. They
have been few enough since you went. On Friday last Fanny and I
went up to town to dine at Mr.
Frederick Holland's in Chester Street. We met Mrs Grace[?]
and Lousia Holland his sisters. A Mr Baillie[?] a very
agreeable charming looking person, the son of the late Dr.Baillie[?]
Mr Lake[?] a nephew of these here Lakes, a clever agreeable man, a Mr
Rawlinson[?] son of the Police Magistrate a somewhat clever lawyer
and Lady Bell[?]. Emily came in in the evening looking lovely
as usual. I am afraid poor Harry is sadly disappointed about
his scholarships. He went to one of the Examiners and asked
about it. The Examiner told him that by his papers he observed
that his hand must have ached. They seem to think this a
consolatory sentence. It does not strike me as such. The
rest was better that his improvement had been so great and his
general conduct was so good that they hesitated whether to give it
him, but could not in justice refuse it to the superior excellence of
the other papers. Frederick Holland
spoke of Harry in the very highest terms, I do believe he is an
excellent fellow. Have you heard from him I wonder. Mr
Lake[?] talked so aristocratically that till I found him out I
imagined he must be a Feroope[?] or a Jermingham[?] at least.
It really is a disadvantage to have such cousins bearing ones name
after the Tales of Pinner. Still I cannot fancy him a gentleman
though he has quite the manners of pretty nearly one, and is
certainly very intelligent and agreeable. On Saturday Emilia
and Blanche Lyon came but Mr.Lyon did not appear, he was on guard
which prevented him. He talks of coming down today but time
passes and he doth not appear. The Queen Dowager does come to
Castenbury[?]. She has taken little Castenbury[?] in addition
and so we lose the Blandon[?] Capels[?] which is a great loss to us
and she wants Nascot[?] in which case we shall lose the
Clutterbucks[?] which will be a still greater, and so royalty will
not do much for us. Lord Epesthis[?] is short about £6,000
that is all and people think he might as well have stayed where he
was and saved it. He goes to Paris they say where Lady
Epesthis[?] will soon spend more money than they will save . . .
. . . walking into her husbands room the other day with £4,000
dress bills to be paid. We are busy carrying in the Bark today
which they say is capital as is some of the timber. Now the
leaves are coming out the adored Eastbury does not look very much the
worse. Now Farewell beloved boy ever your tenderest of Mothers.
Letter from William Gifford Cookesley to Martin Marsh. The letter is dated 10 May 1846 and reads as follows:
Eton College
May .10. 1846
My dear Marsh,
I herewith send you a catalogue of the Boys Library, premising,
however, that since it was made out, some 4, or 5, . . . volumes have
been added. They have got Hammond's Paraphrase. But only
Brundes[?] Aristophanes . . . Bekker's Mitchell's, Kusten's[?]
(especially) or Birgler's[?] Aristophanes would be a useful
book. I thank you very much for the interest you take in the
library. When may I expect to see you?
Yours very truly,
W.G.Cookersley.
Letter from Anne Marsh (Marsh-Caldwell) to her son Martin Marsh. Dated in pencil 12 May 1846. The letter reads:
May 12th 1846
My dearest Martin,
Greece seems to take a form and a shape. I see your dear kind
generous father cannot bear the idea of not giving you this
pleasure. He feels it is an opportunity of showing you how
dearly he prizes your good conduct by indulging what we see is a wish
so near your heart. Ride it as you will dear boy. It will
be a great pleasure because your mind is filled with images which
will people the lovely present with the still more beautiful and
glowing past and teach you what is a most important truth to know
that a cultivated intellect is the highest of worldly
possessions. That without it the scenes of this life are but an
idle meaningless picture of forms and colours such as a Raphael would
be to the eye of a child, which with it are instinct with meaning and
the deepest interest. You must take sketch books and journal
books with you. Sketch books while you are with us at
Whitsuntide. I can give you a few short hand notions of how to
take short hand sketches. Not such as are of any merit as
artist but infinitely valuable as an aid to memory and
observation. Could I envy my son, who is myself, my life.
How should I envy you sailing upon the Ionian sea among those
exquisite isles and under that blue heaven, or walking over the
fields of Linetha[?] and Marathon, and above all Troy. If your
funds go out in Herrs[?] Yacht you will to be sure have a great
addition of possibilities, added to your plans. I am in great
hopes that Emilia Wyndham really will be clever enough to furnish the
means for this expedition, and then will she not be a proud
woman? I like your acquaintance with Bosworth, a man whose line
of prejudice, for all minds of the age of yours are better led by
imagination and prejudice than by reason and . . . How
should they help it, runs counter to your own. It is good for
you both. It is that communication with the world forms the
understanding and mere solitary thinking deforms it. I admire
at your energy and hope in soaring for the highest height, even if
you attain it not, which please God you may and will of lofty
aspirations, advancement always comes, one shall be higher at all
events for sharing at the highest. I should think Doctor North might
probably be able to give you some good letters if you go to Greece,
and perhaps your Kirthington[?] friends, and others you must I should
think go furnished with all advantages of this sort and use every
face of sanity your home and opportunities will admit. You
startled me with another tale. I should say another
accident. I hope whenever you have a blow upon the head you
will be very careful to consult a medical man. Evil after
consequences are often prevented by proper applications at the
time. It is rather late now but if you have any weight or
headache in consequence pray get the best advice you can
immediately. I wish you would not knock your head against the
ground. Prey send the word if the least inconvenience has
followed this accident. Posy has been very ill this week, and I
was half in despair about her but she is now better again and I
really hope getting well though slowly. We have had the Lyons all
this week and they are here still. Mr L came on Monday and
stayed till Wednesday. He made himself very pleasant, and is a
gentlemanlike nice fellow. On Wednesday we went up and dined
with Miss Morrison Mr and Mrs Morrison the radical cousin, Col Shee,
Lady Drummond and Aunt G. the party. The radical cousin
in high ferther[?] at what he thinks the triumph of his party, and
thanking openly the Church and the House of Lords. Rather
startled Col Shee who is a slow going regular Free Trader of the old
Whig school, and in the simplicity of his heart behind that free
trade was literally the ultimate object of the disciples of Cobden
and Co. Do you see your father in his brief pithy way opening
the Cols eyes and making him stare about him. We dined on
Thursday at the Milmans and met
the Partridges from near . . . bridge. She was a Dashe[?]
of Amersham[?]. He is of a family before the . . . I believe.
People of the world he very intelligent will informed agreeable old
man. She . . . One does not quite know whether . . . or
rough but I incline to think the last which in a fine lady one does
not so dislike. Such praise of Emila from William
and Mrs [Matilda] Milman, it really was gratifying.
Farewell my dearest. Such weather, such pasture! Such
thriving lambs and such healthy looking cows and stock, such an air
of plenty and peace at this sweet dear place. It looks as if
the blessings of God if one may say so in humble gratitude and not
presumption was upon it
Ever your loving Mother.
Letter from Anne Marsh (Marsh-Caldwell) to her son Martin Marsh. Dated 19 May 1846. The letter reads:
May 19th 1846
My dearest Martin
Adelaide would tell you that I was quite knocked up at last by my
sweet Posy's sever attack on Friday, and was obliged to put off
writing my letters. I have been able to keep her from any
return since and she really seems gaining a little strength, and
consequently my mind is relieved from great anxiety, and I am
beginning to feel a little better myself and can at last sit down and
answer the delightful letter of last Sunday. It was delightful
of course to me, for nothing can give me greater pleasure and pride
than to be of use to my beloved and valued son. I do flatter
myself we did that mile well, and I hope we shall finish the second
volume equally to our satisfaction. As soon as I can get these
tiresome manuscripts off my hands I shall set to and study it to be
prepared for coaching perfectly. I am not a little pleased that
I was thought to be right in some of my criticisms, particularly as I
think the principles of which I embattled would lead by a covert
way. Much the most dangerous of ways to Atheison[?]. I
forget (for my memory begins to fool me), the exact nature of the
prepositions that I then object to, but I recollect well that their
tendency as I thought it, was what made me in earnest upon the
subject. He is wrong too (if I recollect right) I thought in
denying existence of entities. I think he says there are only
two existences things and the ideas of things and I think we agreed
that we worked an expression for what was neither a palpable object
not the idea of it, as justice hath mankind and c and c. I see
Carlyle in his life of Oliver Cromwell uses the word entity
with much effort in this sense. I have nearly finished this
strange but interesting book. He appears to me quite to prove
his main point, that Oliver was no . . . but a thoroughly devout
Puritan. Some of his actions he cannot quite clear from the
suspicions of . . . ambition and calculation, but in the main he
certainly seems to come out, a man devoted to great objects and
purposes of which Religious liberty seems to have been the main , and
certainly a nobler object than that of securing the rights of
conscience. It would be difficult for a man to propose to
himself. There are very few of his letters in existence.
I want to get at those that were your grandfathers and are now your
fathers and see whether they cannot be intercalated . The plan
of the book is one I must admire, to intercalate Cromwell's letters
and genuine speeches with a sort of running commentary to put one in
possession of the current history of the time. One is sorry to
find so little genuine . . . as there is, but one has the
satisfaction of feeling that it is genuine. I quite agree with
Mr Rice as you well know with respect to coaching. The best men
by all means, and by all manner of means a man to yourself.
Your account of Mr Wall is exactly a description of the man you want,
so I hope you will get him. The farm is going on in my opinion
very prosperously that is it pays its way and looks busy and
thriving. It is the opinion of Farnes (to whose opinion I
attach a good deal of weight) that it never was going on so quietly
and well. I think he must know much better than any of us, as
whether we really are well rented or not. I suppose your
sisters have told you of all the engagements which have been all in
their line and not in mine. They are going to the C. . . ball
tomorrow night but I shall not choose to leave Posy. So your
father has consented to take them, with heavy groanings of the spirit
you may be sure. I like William Lyon. He is as free from
finery affectation or nonsense, as anyone can be, and was as busy
making cakes with your sisters as ever you could be with Mad.
Dohl. Farewell my dearest boy. It will be a terrible blow
if Mr Lucas does not after all got to Greece, but I think such a
misfortune cannot befall us. You are in the middle ages where
you are, with your old carved . . . large fire places etc etc but who
is Christie that the good . . . at B & C reminded you of.
Ever my loved boy's affectionate Mother.
Spark[?] is sitting in a state of supreme felicity by Posy on her sofa.
Letter from Anne Marsh (Marsh-Caldwell) to her son Martin Marsh. Dated in pencil 26 May 1846. The letter reads:
Monday
My dearest Martin
I shall send down £5 to be sent you by a P.O. tonight. You
ought to get it tomorrow, Tuesday that is. If you do not
receive it give me a line but it if comes safe to hand you need not
give yourself that trouble. Dr Holland
was here on Thursday and he decided that Posy's . . . had better be
put off till the middle or latter end of next week. So I shall
not have the mortification of being away when you are at home, and we
still have time to discuss all the plan. At all events I
intended you to come down to me at Southampton for not to see you
before you went to Greece was not to be thought of. I have
quite set my heart upon your going if Mr Lucas goes. If he does
not go, I think it will be wiser to reserve ourselves for what is
sure to arrive some opportunity of travelling in company with him or
some other clever men. If it were not for seizing this
advantage I should say this was not the year of all years as we would
employ our long vacation together as I flatter myself greatly to your
advantage. I have cleared off all my business for the present
in order to be at your disposal in case the scheme of Greece fall to
the ground, but I heartily hope it will not and that you will be
indulged in this rational desire. I should hope that though an
only son it may not stand in your way as it must be well known that
your father is not rich. The Warden must be aware of this, and
his offering you the Jackson showed it I think. There are
however plenty of Fellowships to be had I suppose and if you succeed
in the grand object of taking a good degree I should hope this most
important object may be secured it is, indeed, of vital importance to
us all, and I do not allow myself to think that in some way or other
you will not be able to accomplish it, but sufficient for the day are
these anxieties, and the day demands of us all to labour cheerfully
in our several ways and trust under the blessing of God to keep our
heads just above water. There was a notice of Emilia Wyndam in
the John Bull which pleased me comparing the Author's view humour to
that of Addison and Molière . This was
pleasant, as the humour of Addison is always reckoned particularly
refined. I hope I shall get my next £100 which will very
nearly do your journey though I fear not quite for the time is longer
than I calculated upon. It cannot possibly be done in two
months, however that does not weaken my resolution that if Mr Lucas
goes you go. All things on the farm are going on in a
flourishing manner and one thing or another goes on which enables it
to pay its way. We shall have between 30 and 40 pounds more for
hay as there is a saving made upon the rick, that was not for our own
use. Our lambs and sheep will pay well this year, and the young
cattle are coming on in a way that it is beautiful to behold. I
think L . . . will suit as well. I told you he had Farnes's
good word, and I think he seems an honest well behaved man.
Posy is gradually mending. She has now been 8 days without any
attack except the one brought on by Dr Holland's
visit, which of course . . . her a little. Our not going will .
. . up the grand schemes for the Pic nic. It will resolve
itself into a quite affair, but I leave the whole management to your
sisters. They will write to you about asking John or Foster,
for I want him to come again very much. This place is really
inenviably lovely this spring. I never saw it I think so
charming in spite of the fallen trees, which except in one or two
points are . . . . . . Farewell my dear boy.
Your ever affectionate Mother.
I rejoice you have seemed well. With a great coach you will
find study quite a different thing and life as interesting as ever it
was again.
Letter from Anne Marsh (Marsh-Caldwell) to her son Martin Marsh. Dated in pencil 9 June 1846. The letter reads as follows:
June 9th 1846
My dearest Martin,
A short letter must do for today as I am immersed in business which I
believe is the classical term for over head and ears. I am glad
indeed my dear boy that what you think of with such great pleasure as
your tour in Greece seems really about to be realized, but I must
have all dates and particulars immediately the day you are to start
and the money you will want as no time must be lost in procuring it
for you. You had better direct your next letter here and it
will be forwarded to me as I do not know exactly when we shall be at
the Isle of Wight. Posy goes on charmingly. We dinned at the
Milnes[?] Goschells[?] yesterday, and I had a good dose of incense,
but offered in so polite and almost affectionate a manner that it was
impossible not to be gratified. I hope we have made a valuable
acquaintance, and it is a house I shall very much like to introduce
you to. There was a very nice party, a Mr.West, Lord
Delaware's[?] son a very gentlemanlike young man, a clergy man, a . .
. hat but whose name we did not learn, very clever and pleasant a
young man of the nobles whose name I have forgotten, very pleasant
too. Young Dr.Phillimore[?] and Lord Morpeth[?], who came there
I believe to get acquainted with the author of Mount Sorel and
with whom I had a regular good talk in the evening. Mr and Mrs
Goschell themselves are very nice people indeed. He is a great
Protectionist so your father was quite in the element he loves.
Dr.O'Sullivan breakfasted with us yesterday. He took up all my
time so that I could not possibly get a letter written. I like the
Giffords exceedingly . Scott has imbibed very gentlemenlike manners
at the Foreign Office and got leave last night to come down
again. They are all gone fishing. We have a right of
fishing from Dr.Whites farm to Watford which is Sonetts[?] but we
have got leave for them at Harper Mill which is a better place.
We want you sadly and I would be ten times as happy if you were
here. Finally my dearest Martin don't forget particulars
of time and money in your next. I am so busy I can't write a
word more. Most tenderly yours.
Letter from Anne Marsh (Marsh-Caldwell) to her son Martin Marsh. Dated Sunday 15th and in pencil1846, filed as the last letter (after 9 June 1846). The letter reads as follows:
Sea View [Isle of Wight]
Sunday 15th 1846
My dearest Martin,
I do not like to write on Sunday but I am anxious not to lose a post,
because I am not sure what day it is that you come home.
Whether Tuesday 17th or Tuesday 24th. In the first place we
shall be quite delighted to see Mr.Garth. That is, those who
are at home for for me Alas! I shall not be able to get back to meet
you without shortening Posy's stay here more than I ought, so I hope
you will come down and see us here for one night. On your way
to London, if you come from Eastborough in the Coach to Kingston
which is only three miles beyond Richmond and stay all night the
train will take you to London the next day. I must see you
before you go. I should be perfectly miserable if you went away
and I had not seen you. But in this way I hope you will be able
to accomplish the meeting. The sum you require is less than I
had set you down for. £140 will be yours and I hope you
will have all the enjoyment we wish for you, your dearest father and
I. I cannot doubt but you will find all the improvement and
enjoyment you anticipate for you go out with the proper dispositions
and preparations, eyes and not no eyes. Your father writes me
in high spirits about his bark and timber which Shilling seems in a
way to dispose of far more than we dared to hope. This will I
know be a pleasure to you as well as to learn that your Grecian
journey is provided for without inconvenience to any one. And
now for the last and sweetest portion of your letter my beloved and
treasured son. Few mothers meet with hearts like yours to work
upon. I fear, were there more such sons the task of parents
would be blest indeed. Your affection and your grateful heart
do more for me than make me happy. They . . . my faith and hope
in God, and my confidence that sooner or later through his infinite
mercy and love, a happiness is reserved for his poor failing
imperfect creatures too for whose comprehension or words, the return
I have received from you, from your goodness, your piety your energy
and your young mans purity and virtue. The loveliest moral
sight under heaven, has been already beyond all hope, and your
affection and friendship crowns the cap of my happiness. As far
as my son is concerned it has pleased the all mighty to fill it to
overflowing. We are likely to be very happy though very quiet
here. Posy is gaining strength every day and I hope to bring
the little darling home quite restored. Never were 17 weeks of
tedious trying illness borne as that little angel has borne
them. We have a fine sea and about 100 yards from the
house. There is lovely bay called Priory Bay with the woods
dropping into the water. The air is soft and mild as I never
felt it anywhere else and fait que voadeas is the motto of the
place. Our friendship my dearest Martin to return to that part
of your letter to me so dear, will I hope last my life and that
confidential interchange of thought which has made me feel as if I
know your heart and mind better than that of any living
creature. Such effusions are for myself, except when I share
them with your beloved father whose genuine affection for me makes
him sympathic in my joy. Your direction is quite right and . . . as.
Ever your tenderest Mother. Write as soon as you can and tell us
whether you can come down to us here, because as Posy says otherwise
we must come and meet you. I find Louisa directing your letters
on. The direction is at Mrs Grenhams Sea View near Hyde, Isle of Wight.
It is recorded that Martin Marsh, the only son of Anne and Cuthbert Marsh, did travel to Greece but died tragically 10th August 1846 in Athens. Both his parents and his six sisters must have all been utterly devastated.
6 August 1846. Agreement on Copyright between Anne Marsh and Richard Bentley regarding "History of the Reformation in France" and "Norman's Bridge". The document is not written by Anne but is signed by her. It is stamped with a crown monogram, dated 16.4.46 London. British Library 46614f326. The agreement reads as follows:
Mrs Marsh 2 Works History of Reformation and a Novel. Copy of "Hugenots" for 10 years from day of publication. Norman's Bridge.
An agreement made this sixth day of August 1846 between Mrs Marsh of
Eastborough Lodge, Herts, of the one part, and Richard Bentley of 8
New Burlington Street, London, publisher of the other part. The
said Mrs Marsh agrees to write an original work on the History of the
Reformation in France to form two volumes being 8vo of about four
hundred and fifty pages in each volume, and to place the MS of the
same in the hands of the said Richard Bentley for publication in the
course of November next ensuing. And the said Mrs Marsh hereby
agrees to dispose of, and the said Richard Bentley agrees to purchase
the copyright of and in the said work for the period of ten years
from the day of publication for the consideration hereafter stated
viz: 1st The sum of One Hundred and Fifty pounds , from which shall
be deducted by way of discount the sum of Two pounds and Ten
shillings for prompt payment which shall be made in the said Richard
Bentley's promissory note for the net sum of £147.10.- at
two months date from the day of delivery of the manuscript of the
said work. 2nd The further sum of Fifty Pounds subject to a
deduction of two and a half percent, as discount for prompt payment,
in the said Richard Bentley's draft for the Net sum of £48.15,
when the sale of the aforesaid work shall have reached five hundred
copies. It is also agreed by and between the aforesaid parties
that the said Mrs Marsh shall write a work of fiction, to form three
volumes post 8vo of not less than three hundred pages in each volume;
the subject to be left to the author's choice and the MS of such work
to be delivered into the hands of the said Richard Bentley for
publication in the course of the Spring of 1847. And the said
Mrs Marsh hereby agrees to dispose of and the said Richard Bentley
agrees to purchase the copyright of and in the said work of fiction
for the period of four years from the day of publication for the
consideration of Three Hundred Pounds, subject to a deduction for
discount of Five Pounds for prompt payment which shall be made in the
said Richard Bentley's promissory note for the net sum of £295
at two months date from the day of delivery of the manuscript of the
said work of fiction.
In witness whereof the aforesaid parties have pursuant set their hands.
Anne Marsh.
Letter from Anne Marsh (Marsh-Caldwell) to her daughter Posy (Rosamond Jane Marsh). This letter is complete with envelope, both with a wide black border. The envelope is addressed to Miss R J Marsh, Mr C Barnardistone[?] Esq, The Ryes, Sudbury, Suffolk. It is postmarked Watford 23 Oct 1846 and Sudbury 25 Oct 1846. The letter reads as follows:
Oct 23rd 1846
My dearest Posy,
I send you a P.O. for three pounds if that is not enough, let me know
in time. I think you had much better wait to come with
Mr.Barnardistone[?] as Mrs.Barnardistone[?] is so kind as to ask
you. I think my dear child you seem really getting on again
under the love of this kindest of friends. My dear love to
her. Her books are in London. I shall go there next
Wednesday and will write the names in them and send them off.
You must return, my love, for the visit to Mrs Morrison must be paid,
and as soon as possible. I hope after this bad October you may
have a mild . . . At all events I hope the visit will not undo
what the . . . has done, but it must be paid, there is no
remedy. Thank dear Adelaide for her letters, we all find them
very entertaining. I will write to her soon. I am very
busy with my history now and find the occupation interesting,
though when it is over the tide of regrets seems to set in with more
force than ever. Fanny and Mary set out today for Ramsgate and
I have only that dearest Robinetta to stay with me and play the part
of a daughter, is not that strange. Louisa I expect
tomorrow. I do not feel afraid of being alone. I am as I
have heard someone say, my tears and thoughts are food enough for me
but I am well and wonderfully cheerful. I am glad to hear a
good account of both you dear girls and glad you enjoy the thoughts
of coming home but take care your admirable friends do not mistake
such feelings, and misconceive what you feel for them. I have
sent you a paper which you will sign and return to me, by next
post. The P.O. will arrive with this letter. I have been
writing to Miss Page[?] Turner[?] to enquire did you see in the
papers or has any one told you that Sir Edward is dead at
Tunbridge. Mr Noth[?] and Emily come for two nights on
Monday. I have bespoken Emily for a longer visit when you
return. Dr.H has been in Poland and Gotheim! Farewell my Posy,
dear, love to Adelaide, to Mrs Barnardistone and Louisa. Your dear
Mother. I have written so many letters today this must be brief.
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