Margaret Barnard to John Barnard   30 July 1828

Wednesday July, 1828

My dearest love

Having just finished the perusal of your long expected letter I will lose no time in answering it as I have little doubt but that you wish to hear of us tho nothing very particular has happened since you left. The Children are both quite well I told Anna¹ to kiss your letter which she is still doing very warmly. I frequently say to her where is Papa when she looks rather puzzled and begins her old chorus come me Papa yesterday she was very full of he[r] gibberish and your Aunt was quite amused with her. A[u]nt Pussy². Frank³ appears to me to grow fatter and more saucy every day. I have had a sad fit of the Rheumatism the Monday you left the is only day I have been free from it. It came on again the Tuesday more violently than ever and continued thro the week[.] Eliza Gray was with me till Saturday noon I do not know what I should have done without her on Saturday afternoon I took to my bed. On Monday morning Charlotte [Barnard] came up before Breakfast to see after me she had previously intended staying the first part of this week and Jane [Barnard] the latter. Charlotte has been quite a nurse to me and [word illegible] Rubbing and Blistering has gone on famously[.] Your Mother kind as she allways is came to advise and prescribe for me and advised me to lay in Bed so here I am still but you must understand I am a great deal better the pain has allmost subsided[.] But it has left my head in such a tender shattered state as to be more fit for the Pillow than moving about. I have been sadly plagued with Servants several of them pretending they would take the place and never calling again[.] I have no doubt my cold was very much encreased by going rather late last Thursday Evening all the way to Lower Thames Street after the character of a girl which when I got there I could not find and the next day she told me she was sorry to say she had made a mistake and that it was little Tower instead of Lower Thames Street when I got there her Mistress said she had given her one character and did not think sufficiently well of her to give another so there was an end of that[.] I am going this Evening if me head will take to Queen Square after one[.]

I was rather in hopes you would have been able to give me a better account of yourself tho I do not wonder that you feel still weak[.] I think that the great change of air alone frequently produces that feeling and then I think too so much sea sickness must shake the Head and Stomach very much for some time after tho it may ultimately tend to clear away the complaint[.] I have felt very angry with myself ever since you left that I did not pack up a kettle a little neat Brandy. I think you would have been glad of it. I think you should make use of this opportunity and do all you can to strengthen your stomach by taking some Camomile or Gentian with a little Rhubarb - do you not think it might do you good try it it can do no harm[.]

Jane is just come in she has brought me a letter from Eliza [Reid] who says (“does John not think a voyage would do him good the steam boats are very tempting and I should be very glad to see him here”) Jane says your Father tired of waiting wrote to you yesterday so perhaps I shall hear of you again thro him he has been to see me once[.] Charlotte with Margery⁴ is gone to Queen Square for me I hope to some purpose. I often think of you Anna frequently calls you to mind and since you have left I have thought her more like you than I did before. I have thought of you rather angrily since Saturday for not writing before pain made me impatient but I felt at the same time how dear you were to me I miss you particularly at night when we used to say good by but whilst you are receiving any benefit where you are I do not want you. The same morning that you left Mr. Sandon⁵ put a chimney pot on with nine arms and a hovel it has not smoked since. Mrs J. Chater⁶ has been confined a week to day and has got a little girl so they are now as well off as we are. Mother has been very poorly for two or three days with the Bowell complaint she was very much pleased with Michaels letter and desires her love to him Sally and yourself. Mary⁷ is still here tho not good for much Mr Coulson⁸ seems at a loss what to do with her he recommended the sea side and I spoke to your Father about the Margate infirmary he applied to Mr Clutterbuck⁹ but found there was no chance for her to get in[.] I hope you will be able to read this letter without much trouble you must not forget that it is written in Bed if the paper had been as long again I should have filled it up with something for I find it does not want much consideration what I shall say to you. Betsy and Family are all well[;] Robert’s as I was not out on Sunday I have not heard of[.] Charlotte is just returned with a pretty fair character of the young woman so I hope that business will be settled tomorrow morning. Caroline Barnard has just left me she desires her love to you she has brought me some [word illegible] from West End. Vernor¹⁰ has cut two teeth they are all well. Your sister Reid’s¹¹ family came home to day they are all pretty well except Mary whose eyes are but little better, Margery desires her love to her aunt and all her uncles. Give mine to Sally & Michael and believe me your affectionate wife | Margaret Barnard

Address: Mr. J Barnard | at Mrs Blackmore’s | Lynmouth | North Devon

Postmark: 31 July 1828