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Beinecke Osborne MSS File S, Folder 14170. Not previously published.
These letters were edited with the assistance of Carol Bolton, Tim Fulford and Ian Packer
For permission to publish the text of MSS in their possession, the editor wishes to thank the Beinecke Rare Books and Manuscript Library, Yale University; Berg Collection of English and American Literature, The New York Public Library, Astor, Lenox and Tilden Foundations; the Bodleian Library Oxford University; the British Library; Boston Public Library; the Syndics of Cambridge University Library; the Syndics of the Fitzwilliam Museum Cambridge; Haverford College, Connecticut; the Historical Society of Pennsylvania; the Hornby Library, Liverpool Libraries and Information Services; the Houghton Library, Harvard University; the John Rylands Library, Manchester; the Kenneth Spencer Research Library, University of Kansas; Luton Museum (Bedfordshire County Council); Massachusetts Historical Society; McGill University Library; the National Library of Scotland; the Newberry Library, Chicago; the New York Public Library (Pforzheimer Collections); the Pierpont Morgan Library, New York; the Public Record Offices of Bedford, Suffolk (Bury St Edmunds) and Northumberland, the Master and Fellows of Trinity College, Cambridge; the Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle upon Tyne; the Trustees of the William Salt Library, Stafford, the Wisbech and Fenland Museum; the University of Virginia Library.
A research grant from the British Academy made much of the archival work possible, as did support from the English Department of Nottingham Trent University.
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After writing my last hasty epistolet, I set off with Wynn for
St Mary Cray.which on our left was exceedingly striking, – masts & towers, – houses & gravel clifts, –
there wanted only ver summer verdure for the gardens & trees, & sunshine which would have made an incumbent
atmosphere of smoke beautiful. We very soon got into an unfrequented road, where even fewer travellers were to be met than I have seen
between Keswick & Ambleside, when the laking
season is over, & the country left to its own inhabitants. From time to time we had fine rich, woody inland views, – of that
character which is peculiar to Kent. There is a greater appearance of general comfort in this county than in any other, – the cause is
probably to be found in the old xxxxx british law of gavel-kind,would might not have been so much expected) has also preservd old
families in the possession of small but independant estates. Hence there is less riches, less poverty, more industry & more
comfort.
The distance proved to be 15 miles instead of 12. The last three, we complained of as an imposition, &
but like other impositions we would not have submitted to it, – if it could have been helped. Elmsley has got into a comfortable old house, built about a hundred years ago. His garden
communicates with the church yard, & the river Cray flows thro it, immediately under the dining room window. That river would be
very beautiful if it were not bricked up with formal banks, & its bed defiled with the filth of the village, potshards, a dead dog
or two – all xxxxx no ornaments to a stream of clear water which is nowhere above three feet deep. When the weather is warm
enough Elmsley means to send in boys to clean it, & then to keep it clean by
a grating where it enters his premises, small enough to stop such nuisances, & not so small as to shut out the fine trout, which at
present look as if they had no business in so denaturalized a brook,. There are paper mills just above & below, – near enough to be
heard, but not unpleasantly. He has two nephews & two nieces with their mother, living with him, & I believe wholly dependant
on him. The eldest is a boy of eight years, the youngest a girl of four, – fine, good-humoured children, always disposed to laugh &
romp, – but without the least shyness at the sight of strangers.
The post – & your letter. – I have escaped some uneasiness by being out of the way during Ediths feverish attack, – & yet I wish I had been there to have xx eased
you of some part of the nights trouble. How is it that you have not mentioned the little
one
in? – not a word concerning her!
I have written to Taunton & expect an answer every day. On
Monday next I leave town – reach John May this day week, stay with him Wednesday,
& if it be possible shall go to Sir Ch. Mallets
As the lottery is drawn only on Tuesdays I know nothing of the ticket but shall enquire tomorrow. Last night Longman wrote me a note, inclosing a draft for 25 £ – which he & the other
publishers of H K Whites Remains thought proper to present me, in
consideration of the advantage they are deriving from the book.
The stockings are made. Today on my way out to dinner I shall buy your dinner service, – which is to be, like Elmsleys, the pattern of those breakfast cups & saucers which we have broken up
at Keswick. – My Uncle leaves town
before me, & is not likely to visit us this summer. Tom will in all probability
return with me, till he has thoroughly recovered the effect of his long confinement. I will take the Espriella to Martha.