MS Plymouth and West Devon Record Office 308/2561
My dear Mary
I hope this mild day is doing every thing for your father’s cure, I wish more for his own sake than mine that he could have been here, but the necessity of allowing half the county to shew their respect made it much more trying to the family.
I seem to be out on a visit, and I do not know how I shall get on when we resume our old habits. Anne is a very very great comfort and I am employing her this morning in writing for me which saves both me & Charlotte and at walking time she is invaluable. Duke has done us a great deal of good and we thank him for giving up so much time to us. I have desired Duke to get a full explanation from Harry Mason of his views about the Wheat, and your Father will advise us accordingly. It does seem so strange to me to give orders. I have hardly got to think myself mistress of the house in the place of my Mother, and now I have not only to try & do my best, but to avoid the danger of being too much engrossed in my wish to keep things from going to ruin, and I try to keep Charlotte from what I most dread for her, the forlorn feel on those evenings the pleasures of which you know so well, and how she enjoyed them. Poor Julian I cannot write about him till his letters come.
your affect
F M Yonge