My dear Miss Sewell, You will think that this is to announce the Simeons but there is no news of them all this time, and the hyacinths are blowing for them in vain in their bay window at Winchester.

My present purpose is to pass on to you a question which a correspondent of mine - a clergyman’s wife in Cornwall - has sent me on the principle of a delusion of which I have known other ... continue reading

My dear Mrs Pascoe,

Just a few lines in haste to say that the two specimens arrived quite safe and in excellent order this morning - and that I greatly thank you and your friend for them. I wish I knew of a precedent of dried flowers travelling per post, but I don’t see how they can be charged as letters. Country posts are always more punctilious than the general post office, from the Jack in ... continue reading

Dear Madam

I am exceedingly obliged to you for this kind gift of good old Mrs Pascoe’s letters. She was indeed a most amusing and clever correspondent and her letters were always a great pleasure to my mother and me. I never saw her, but I heard of her from two old neighbours, Mrs Keble, who used to see her at Penzance and Mr Arthur Johns who was an old neighbour.

Pray thank Mrs Rogers much for ... continue reading