MS Westcountry Studies Library, Exeter/ 1861/2
My dear Miss Smith
Thanks many – not that I meant to be paid when I mentioned it only to avoid the loss of MSS – I shall be very glad to have them as they are ready, and if you write with them, I will not answer without occasion. I believe an odd number of stamps is always wrong – but 4 will carry almost anything one wants to send. You are right that one author takes Margaret, the other Blanch, and I think you can guess for whose sake I accepted the whole. It is an odd device, and one that I should not advise anyone to follow, but ‘Henrietta’ is a most comical device.
My ‘Old Subscriber’ only asks in general for information how to set up a sewing school I think if your friend would kindly set down as shortly as possible how she began, whether with only lady superintendent, or paid help, how she got a room, what she did about materials, what became of the work or if the people brought their own, if she was there each night, how often in the week, if anything were paid, and if reading to the workers answered, it would make a foundation. If I cannot get up the information in time for April, I will answer promising it for May, so do not hurry, though I shall be very thankful for some help if your friends will kindly answer these questions.1I am glad Aggesden has turned out a good speculation I hope the Wynnes may do the same, and I think you sacrifice something to the non-identification, for in these things there is a great deal in a name.2
yours sincerely
C M Yonge