Charlotte Barnard to Elizabeth Reid   18 March 1826

Saturday Morning | March 18th 1826

My dear Sister

I am now going to give you a circumstantial account of the wedding¹ and as laconically as possible. I daresay you thought of us on Tuesday which was the day it took place. We had had some delightful weather previous so I never anticipated a wet day; however when we got up it had every appearance of being a soaking day. Michael and Sally slept here Monday night, in the morning, the former went accompanied by the principal bridesmaid (Jane) to Mr Gray’s to take the bride to church. I escorted (with George’s² assistance) the bridegroom; it had just left off raining and I spied a little bit of blue to my great joy and the day was extremely fine. The company at Church (which by the by was in Watling Street) consisted of Bride & Bgroom Michael Sally father William George Mr. & Mrs. Robt Faraday³, Mr. Mrs. Livermore⁴ Mr Gray Mary⁵ & Eliza⁶ Jane & self all in regular winter dresses excepting Margaret and Mrs L[ivermore] in silk bonnets. We all except father breakfasted at Smithfield and very merry we were. Numerous droll sayings and witticisms were given out after breakfast Jane and I went home to dress in our new frocks. About ten 11 of us set off in two coaches to Dulwich to the gallery of pictures we were very much gratified and returned about 1/2 pt 3 to dinner at the Institution. Besides the party at church there was Mrs. Faraday Mrs. Edwd Barnard Mrs. Reid⁷ and Mary⁸[.] We had a very good plain dinner three boiled fowls, top, roast beef, bottom, ham, middle, pigeon pie greens and potatoes apples pie ground rice pudding Lemon cheese cakes blanc mange[.] I believe that was all[.] Mrs. Livermore helped Sally the day before which was a great comfort. John had a very sad cold all the rest were very well[.] About 1/2 pt 7 we had tea Jane presided at tea and I coffee[.] 1/2 pt 8 the bride bridegr[o]om Sally and Michael went off to Hampstead. Martha⁹ had gone in the stage; all the gentlemen went to hear a lecture on astronomy and afterwards came up to supper, they all left about eleven[.] Jane I and Mrs Faraday slept there. Michael came home to breakfast next morning; after we had seen all the china put away & every thing settled we returned to PN Row just in time to see Mr. Buchanan¹⁰ who had come to take leave of us. Jane went up to Hampstead on Wednesday and I am expecting her home every minute I hope she will trim her own bonnet I have just been doing Mary’s & Mothers with pearl white Lutestring ours are to be trimmed with pure white May cuts bonnet is white chip trimmed with white Lutestring white flowers & Green leaves with rather a dark wadded silk pelisse and white gloves[.] There was no wedding cake sent any where our twelfth cake was cut up on the occasion a small piece of it you will receive with this also a piece of one I made on Thursday.

I will now endeavour to launch in to a different strain Mr. James Huddleston¹¹ joined the church last Sunday week and last Sunday he and his wife drank tea and supped with us[.] Tomorrow his children are to be baptised[.] Mrs. Tingle¹² died on Thursday morning after a most painful illness of nearly 4 months. Mother & I was frequently with her and the pain she suffered was most distressing[.] I do not know whether you have heard of the death of Phoebe Huddleston¹³ the eldest of the two who lived with Mrs. Kite¹⁴. It is a very sad blow to them all indeed particularly to poor [word illegible]. Jane has just come in and she says Hampstead looks most delightful. Uncle Boosey¹⁵ has let his house and is going to move to one near Pentonville chapel, he has disposed of his house, chaise, dog, chickens and every thing else. Dr. Birkbeck¹⁶ strongly spoke against his riding so far in an open carriage, these last two winters he has not been at all what he used to be I think Aunt and Mary will feel it very much. Mother desires her kind love to you both she is pretty well father is very well indeed he enjoyed himself at [word illegible] very much and is in very good spirits.

Jane unites with me in best love to yourself and David¹⁷.

From your truly affectionate sister | Charlotte

My love to all the dear children

Endorsed: John wedding

Address: Mrs David Reid | Hanover Square | Newcastle on Tyne