From Maria Payne   January 10th 1841.

Bagnalstown, January 10th 1841.

My dear John

You were not wrong in your opinion when you conceived that your expressive motto¹ would stir up my feelings I assure you that I gazed on it with unfeigned and heartfelt pleasure. Yes I do indeed love to think of bygone pleasure hours and the days of auld lang syne² will always contain a charm for me. Memory presents a faithful and sometimes a painful picture of the past and though its flowers are indeed fragrant we cannot always cull them without being pained with the thorns. I am glad to hear you say that you are romantic you will the more readily pardon the nonsense that frequently flows from my pen dear John how is it that you never speak of Jane³ is it possible that you are not friends she never spoke of you but once I cannot think that you are in fault as I know that she is changable and those that are it is hard to account for them. Your advice with regard to the soft passion is indeed excellent and I must not forget that you have acknowledged that you are yourself a worshiper at Cupid’s shrine. Come now be candid and in your next tell me who has succeeded in winning your valuable heart I am quite sure that she possessed something more than common to win such a heart as you are possessed of and I hope she will merit your warmest affection. I would have written to you sooner only in consequence of the new year I was very busy. Do you remember last year when you wrote the Reports for me?⁴ I thought of you on this occasion how many things happen in one short twelve month Tell me how is it that we did not see you at Christmas I can assure you that we got disappointed You have asked me to inform you who I meant by your favourite in my last Well then in two words Ellen Wall⁵ was she not a favourite? When do you purpose coming to the County Carlow for surely you will not quit the Emerald Isle without paying us a visit I need not tell you that you are welcome We hear that your party are going to England in Spring is that the case? I have got nothing in the shape of news to tell you only the death of Mrs Chapman⁶ after an illness of eight days She is deservedly regreted by every one that knew her.

And now I must conclude as it grows late

Your sincere and affectionate cousin | Maria Payne

Write soon and answer all the questions that I have asked you concerning <words missing>

Yours &c &c

RI MS JT/1/11/3840

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