MS Hampshire Record Office 9M55F55/5/1 1
My dear Miss Bourne,
If you ask what business have I to write, I can only answer that I do so out of the abundance of my heart which wants to speak out on great and little matters.
We wish you would, or let Charlotte make a P.S. to the review of My Life,2 out of your letter, it says so many things that have not been said, and should be said on that endless subject – my life- It is curious to think what Mrs Delany and those great women of 120 years ago would have said to such a book dropping down upon them. They would have better understood on sight of your beautiful bed covered with knotting which is so exactly described there I think Mrs Delany must have given the pattern. Having a great weakness for reading letters, I admire them all, but every one must like the third volume and look anxiously for the fourth.
One of the things that our beloved Warden had most at heart was making the Hospital more effective, and Mr Rawlinson’s report seems to make it certain that a new one should be built on a more healthy spot. This would be a glorious memorial of one whose large heart overflowed with loving kindness and would embrace many more who wish to show their love to him than anything peculiar to the College would do. I cannot tell whether it could be brought to pass, but I want Julian to undertake to raise a thousand pounds of promises before Easter, and that I think would turn the scale. The attendance of townspeople was great yesterday besides all those who were there by necessity as well as inclination. We went to the Friday Evening lectures at Hursley and think your Dysons are well off & he so near them. We hope to hear more, but as we are situated there must be uncertainty. Suppose you were to come here for one Friday and hear one, & sleep here, I would let Charlotte have her share of talk to you, though you might suppose by this letter that I should keep it all to myself
Your affectionate
F M Yonge