My dear Lottie

Many thanks for the Water Soldier who came in excellent order. Fancy Arthur Yonge being like Julian. He was in a very different style in his younger days being very dark and always carrying his chin rather in the air but I think his beard must have made a difference and I know there always is a tendency in us to be more like the Duke Yonges than anyone else. ... continue reading

My dear Mary How nice to have two letters from you together! You are alone, as I am for a fortnight as Helen comes on the 30th, and Lottie has just left me, but I am not sorry for a little quiet time. Thank you for letting me see those letters, I think almost Grandmamma’s last words to Dr Harris were ‘Don’t let Fanny be in a scene not fit for her,’ and we ... continue reading

My dear Anne, Have you seen any more of Charles’s owl? The shells got home quite safe. I send you a carrier Trochus and Charles a waved whelk, Duke a fresh-water mussel and Jane a cyprea. I went to the theatre whilst I was at Oxford; it is a great large place shaped like a horse shoe; at the flat end sat all the musicians and singers on a stand raised on ... continue reading

My dear John, Since P?? I have thought a little more about Northcote’s application for a reduction and really on second consideration it does seem to be most unreasonable. Considering the situation, Garden &c I do think that at £70 it is one of the cheapest houses to be found. I am sure I know of none in a come at able situation to be compared to it for cheapness I ... continue reading

My dear Anne, You must not expect a very continuous letter from me as Mary Davys is here but I believe the best chance is to begin a long time beforehand to thank you for your charming long letter which we were delighted to see on coming back from school on Sunday. You said when you were here that we should sit in the drawing room gasping for a drop of water but last Sunday ... continue reading

My dear Alethea I have begun on this great piece of paper because I really have a great deal to say both to you and Anne, but I believe you wrote first, so I make the letter to you. I am very much & sincerely obliged to you for sending me the opinions so frankly, & I really believe the best way of proving it, is to try to defend myself as well as I ... continue reading

My dear Anne

Thanks for your letter, and Mamma’s thanks for Mary’s. I am very glad indeed that you like Amy Herbert though I was sure you would enjoy it, her brother comes here today and I am sure he will be glad to hear of its being such an amusement to aunt Yonge. I am curious to know what you say about certain things I have heard objected to Some people especially ... continue reading

My dear Anne I was just begun to think that it was quite time to hear from you, when your letter arrived this morning. I see I have begun on the wrong side of my paper but it is the black cat’s fault as she was scrambling on my lap and disturbing my ideas. We have been out all the morning having set out to Twyford to look at some books which are to ... continue reading

My dear Anne, It is impossible not to write another scrap to you, but I hope it does not worry you to read my notes. We have had Mr Keble at Church today his text was ‘For the Lord hath pleasure in his saints,’ and he went on with the 149th Psalm, ‘Let them rejoice in their beds’ speaking of the especial privilege of those who have chosen to keep the things of this world ... continue reading

My dear Anne, I scarcely expected you would be so kind as to write to me so soon, and I hope it was no great exertion of spirits to you. Such a morning as this is just what one would figure to oneself as the right day for you, and I think I can see both Puslinch and Newton this morning. At the moment I am writing I suppose you are just beginning to ... continue reading

My dear Anne It is very nearly post time and I am afraid I have not time to write a long letter and indeed I do not know how I should for writing to you is a very different thing now from what it was not a month ago does it not seem to you as if it was a year ago that uncle Yonge and Alethea went to Ottery and as if you were quite ... continue reading

I send you the Lichfield children What the Christian Remembrancer says of the Birthday is that it is too transparently instructive, and I must write out a little bit which exactly expresses what I was always trying to say to you. ‘The Conversation of the well informed man, whose words flow on because his mind impels them is more valuable in hours of relaxation than the set lecture composed to ... continue reading

My dear Anne Thank you for your letter. I am very sorry you feel so deplorable and still more sorry that our last conversation should have been such as to leave an uncomfortable impression on your mind I am afraid it was all my fault and I am particularly sorry to have talked in such a manner as to make you think I meant to set myself up for an example which was far ... continue reading

My dear Anne It is enough to frighten one to see all one’s words taken so seriously, not that I did not really mean them, but perhaps I spoke more freely from not thinking you would attach so much weight to what so young and so flyaway a person might say. However it is quite right to feel that words have weight. I think I must begin from henceforth to assure you that you ... continue reading

My dear Mary, My letters must seem to be very few & far between but sudden revolutions happen now & then, wh disorder my private arrangements, such as yesterday, when I was just seated to write to Alethea & Uncl Wm proposed driving Char: & me to Southampton, & before we came back the visitors were arrived. You will see how much I enjoyed your very long letter presently when I tell you how pleasant ... continue reading

My dear John I hope the untoward task you had to perform on Monday may turn out better than there seems reason to expect, for really one has no right to look for happiness from such a marriage. As the little man was going to Gibraltar, she had better have left him to take a wife from among the Monkeys of the Rock. He might have matched himself from among so many. Delia ... continue reading

My dear Miss Dyson If developments interest you, you should begin with Charlotte long before Abbey Church, and trace the dawnings, not only of herself, but of some of the Beechcroft young ladies in the Chateau de Melville. Let me send you one if you have not seen it, and if ever you begin to teach your herd to low in French, we can furnish a complete stock. The French is probably good enough for ... continue reading

My dear Driver I rather doubted about sending you Cyrus, because, as you will see, he does not stand alone, but is a chapter of general history and therefore is not very minute, nor has he been written more than once, so that you must excuse numerous deficiencies and please to let me have him again. To my shame be it spoken I have not read Clarendon; we ought to have read him aloud ... continue reading

Sir Guy Morville has just arrived at Hollywell, and Charles does not know whether to like him or not. I have got hard into the beginning now, but I believe some work at the Landmarks  will be very wholesome for him. You know his first confession of love was made at a time when all was going smoothly, and I should think the consciousness of the doom was not at ... continue reading

My dear Alice, Would George mind being the Colonel? He is never on the stage with Edmund, and a cloak and blue scarf would turn him into a Roundhead. I do not see what else is to be done, for altering the part now would spoil the dinner scene. I am glad you are not more perfect in your parts. I say mine every evening when I am going to bed, but I cannot ... continue reading

My dear Anne A great many thanks for the news yesterday, and the Barnacles today, if Alethea gives her son the 2nd name of Bargus it would be applicable considering the story of the Gentleman who took up the spoon with the stork crest and said ‘This confirms it, I always thought your name was derived from Barnacle Goose, and now I see it.’ What a capital picture too, and the old gentleman seems so ... continue reading

My dear Anne Many thanks for the further particulars of Tern, I am glad they are allowed to be Arctic. Alethea’s children seem chequered in and out, brown and fair instead of being divided into boy and girl, how very amusing the others must be, I think Edmund must be remarkably clever to be doing lessons, and joining so much in the play of the others. Alethea Mackarness’s daughter came as unexpectedly as Frank ... continue reading

My dear Anne How sorry I am to hear that Mary has a cold to pull her down just as she was getting better. I hope it will not last, but this is bad weather for shaking it off. It signifies rather more than my nose. I have been laughing much at the sensation that made two months after it had quite recovered. And after all it was not in consequence of ... continue reading

My dear Dr. Moberly, Of all days in the year this is one that I should specially have chosen for receiving the note Mamma sent on this morning. Indeed I do thank you and Mrs. Moberly very much for giving me a Pearl to think of every day. How I shall look forward to the christening day and to having a possession of my own in your house! I wonder what you will ... continue reading

My dear Marianne If the maids had not an evil habit of keeping the arrival of a parcel a secret for some hours, I should not have let the dear Guy go without note or comment, but we never heard of him till just as we were starting for Winchester, when I wrote his mother's name in the first that came out, and carried him off. I hope she has had him by this time, and ... continue reading

My dear Miss Butler Thank you for your message. I do not think Rudolf requires to return to you for he stands so much alone that he only needs to be taken out.

Thanks too for the derivations, I shall trouble you with plenty more, I have no doubt, when I am at home with my list, and see my way out of the Latin derived names. I am to go home this afternoon after ... continue reading

My dear Anne Mamma is writing to Uncle James so I think Puslinch must hear at the same time otherwise I should like to save Uncle Yonge the anxiety.

Papa has been over working himself with spending whole long days without dinner upon Julian’s preparations, and yesterday after going to Portsmouth to take leave of him, and coming home very late, a sort of seizure came on like an exaggerated headache. We sent for Mr Lyford ... continue reading

My dear Marianne I thought often of your saying papa would be the worst of us, for we have had a terrible night. After the long day at Portsmouth he came home, and about 10 o'clock at night a sort of attack came on that frightened us very much, and we sent for Mr. Lyford who cupped him, which relieved him much, and he has been getting better since, though still with very bad oppression and ... continue reading

My dear Marianne Your letter was the pleasure of sympathy that I knew it would be. We have been going on what seems a long time, with a great deal of severe pain in the head, which gets better late in the afternoon, then he sits up, overtires himself, and makes it worse again. Yesterday mamma had one of her worst varieties of headache, as might have been expected, but it mended in the middle of ... continue reading

My trouble has come; he had a second attack and died at six to-night.

Mamma is too like Amy, excited with thankfulness. I dread what it will be; I don't think we half believe it yet.

You will write to me; perhaps I may write to-morrow, but I can't tell. We have Mr. and Mrs. Keble helping us to-night. Oh what will the waking be! So many of our Psalm superstitions have come true.

Your most affectionate C. ... continue reading

My dear Mr. Yonge Incapable as I am of doing any thing today, to do nothing is worst of all, so I will try to thank you for sending me two comforters and for enduring for the sake of those who are anxious about you, the great grief and sorrow I know it is to you not to join the family and friends tomorrow

I have many obligations to you, and amongst them that of having given ... continue reading

My dear Mr Yonge, Such an outpouring as your letter which I had last evening was, gives me great pleasure, and I hope you will continue to write to me when you feel inclined. What I most dread is the want of companionship for Charlotte She had been used all her life to discuss with, and refer to her Father everything that pleased and interested her, and these happy evening when he came hope ... continue reading

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 ... continue reading

My dear Papa, I feel greatly obliged to you for writing so often. I fear your leisure will decrease rapidly now, that you are able to resume your out of door occupations, to say nothing of all the Confirmation Children, and also such an increase in the colony within doors. I hope you will not find yourself quite overmatched by the half dozen grandchildren, and obliged to retreat to the top of the House, ... continue reading

My dear Mary I could hardly help writing a note last night before I went to bed, it seemed so long to have known about Harvey without saying a word. I do not know whether I mentioned that we were to spend Saturday in a shopping expedition to Southampton & so no chance of writing then, but so it was. You will quite understand how little I mean the words to apply to herself ... continue reading

My dear Alice, I wrote instantly to thank Dr. Moberly for his good news, but the cart was missed on Sunday morning. Tell us if Margaret has seen the brother, and what she said of him, and tell us who the boy is like and whether he is large or small, dark or fair. Three days of well-doing make us think you will soon be ready for ‘Heartsease’; there will be plenty for ... continue reading

My dear Marianne . . . But all this time you have not heard how I had three walks between College and St. John's house arm-in-arm with the Bishop! Don't you call that preferment?

We went to the Cathedral with the troop of Moberlys, and I am glad my first sight of him was in his lawn sleeves. I never saw a face of which one would so much say it was inspired. ... continue reading

My dear Mrs Blackburn, Herewith is a ‘Heartsease’ which I don’t expect you to like much except one character in it. I wonder if I judge rightly which of them you will tolerate, not that I shall tell you beforehand.

The time for the Little Duke’s second edition is come, so would you be so kind as to give directions to have another 2000 plates struck off. It is to be a cheaper affair this ... continue reading

Mamma told you of the wonderful début of Violet. I only wonder whether she will thrive as well when the critics have set their claws on her; the home critics are very amusing in their variety and ‘characteristicalness’ (there's a word!).

My Colonel correspondent complains of the babies . . . .Sir W. Heathcote says the will would not stand; Judge Coleridge falls foul of the geography of the Lakes; and so ... continue reading

My dear Anne It is a relief every time your letters are opened to see the [sic] at least not worse, and it is cheering that they go at the best time of the day, but one feels half sick to know that the afternoon did not bring a return of that terrible suffering. Julian is intending to go and get the letters today, but if the terrible weather lasts he cannot attempt it, as ... continue reading

My dear Anne I must write a word or two before Church. I do not think I dared to expect better than this, and I do hope that at least the suffering is not what it was the day before. It is the Cross at least, and she has been bearing it so in patience and meekness all her days that one thinks of her as one made meet. I am glad that ... continue reading

Madam I am much obliged for your great kindness in allowing my mother and myself the perusal of the enclosed valuable letter. I have been from home for some days, or I would sooner have returned it, and expressed our best thanks for the favour of its perusal

yours much obliged C M Yonge

My dear Charlotte, We shall send K.Charles back to-morrow or the next day, with many thanks.

It is very interesting, but I own I think the conclusion rather lame and impotent, and I think most people would consider the Marquis as the hero of the Conference.

I send 4 or 5 copies of our Missionary notice for Wednesday, for those who may be supposed likely to have interest enough in the work to make an offering . . ... continue reading

My dear Alice, With all our best birthday - 20-year-old - wishes, we send a peculiar assortment of presents,. 1. Eau de Cologne from the most genuine-looking place in Cologne. 2. ‘The Lances of Lynwood,’ hoping the Black Cats will not frighten Edward. 3. I doubt whether it is in your special line, but Mamma's heart was so grieved by hearing of the bereaved canary sitting disconsolate - and as she is ... continue reading

My dear Miss Bourne I waited a few days to see if time would come to make something like a drawing, but waited in vain, so now I send a mere tracing of what my notion is, as well as the size of our letters and Numerals, the Exodus in red with blue border, the figures blue with red, and white patterns on all. I wish they would look as pretty in the sketch as ... continue reading

My dear Papa, I am much obliged for your notes this morning; and I do not much expect now that John will join our festivities. It wd have been very nice and pleasant if we could all three have come together, Jane expresses great disappointment that there has been no time to arrange things in any orderly manner. She wd have had no thought but of John & Cordelia being here, if it ... continue reading

My dear Mary, It is a great undertaking to describe accurately so great a wedding, a great deal of the details I must reserve until I get home, but I was surprised to find that anything so ponderous cd be passed thro so quietly & easily. Aunt Seaton even seemed in not the least bustle & everything was arranged like magic; I suppose from the number of workmen & the abundance of payment. ... continue reading

My dear Mamma- Yesterday made my news run into arrears, so I will only note that you must ask me about the College, and the three black Graces perched round the bell, with Science to make a fourth, and how we took them for Faith, Hope, and Charity, and Graham said Irish divinity had not much to do with faith, and the beautiful embodiment of Ruskinism in the new museum with green Galway marble columns, and ... continue reading

My dear Anne- Graham and James Yonge went away before we were up this morning, and it would all have seemed like a dream if Duke had not been there at breakfast. Alice Moberly came out in the fly that fetched us, and spent the whole day with mamma; they gave the schools some buns and sugared negus by way of celebration, and I think mamma did very well.

I think we must have made a very ... continue reading

My dear Mr Coleridge I send you a Post Office order for £2 which is all I can very well do for this most melancholy case, as just before Christmas is not the time for my galleons to come in. If you will send me another paper, I will forward it to some of the Gibbses who might perhaps be able to do something for the poor family. I do not know of any one else ... continue reading

My dear Miss Smith, I meant to have written to you on Saturday, but was hindered. On the whole I think I should say that your case was more disappointing and vexatious than anything else, and that Mr Mozley though his conduct is decidedly provoking did not exactly deserve such strong censure.

You see his view of the case is that if a book do not answer it is no particular pleasure to anyone, ... continue reading

My dear Miss Smith The end of Aggesden does not at all disappoint me, I think Frank's gradual self conquest beautifully done, and John not at all less charming than at first. Mary is a very good lesson altogether, and very nicely done. And now for the subject of those two troublesome verbs to lie and to lay. I observe you say 'he lay down his head' and 'I must lay down all ... continue reading

It is nine years since I had been here. . . . All is much the same, and the ways of the house, sounds and sights, walks and church-going, are all unaltered. And there is all the exceeding pleasure of the old terms, the playful half teasing and scolding, and being set down for nonsense, and oh, above all, Uncle Yonge - having more of the father to me than ... continue reading

My dear Caroline I find mamma is answering your questions and leaving me to tell you what I know you will wish to hear about our loss. I do so wish you could have seen our dear little William, with his large dark, soft eyes, and his merry smile, he was such an unusually intelligent and pretty creature, I suppose too much so, as if marked from the first for a brighter home. Somehow I ... continue reading

My dear Mrs Moor,

I am afraid Otterbourne will be unrepresented at Ampfield on the 21st, as Mamma and I are going on the 17th to London for a few days, chiefly to meet the Colbornes on their return from Ireland. I did not write before because our plans were not fully fixed. We shall not be long gone, but it is a pity we just miss your celebration.

yours sincerely

CMYonge

My dear Friends,

Forgive us for not having remembered to write to you yesterday. Our dear Sister departed like a babe from its mother’s arms with hardly a shudder, seemingly in the midst of a sweet sleep which had lasted a great many hours. God be thanked for her, and may He pour His rich blessings on you and all who love her.

It was at 9.30 yesterday morning; my wife was poorly, but ... continue reading

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, out of your letter, it says so many things that have not been said, and should be said on that endless subject – ... continue reading

My dear Miss Bourne

Mamma’s letter to you was a surprise to me when she shewed it to me, and I did not answer it till we had heard from you again, in hopes we might see you. The matter with Winchester is overbuilding - the Itchen supplied all drainage while the place was of moderate size, but it is now too big for that, and the dear Warden, Dr Moberly and the Cathedral people have ... continue reading

My dear Miss Smith,

I think your answer is a very wise one, and quite what I can understand. I am sure with all the poor I have known unusual help unless on some very pressing occasion would be anything but really beneficial, but the three old couples might be most happily provided, and I hope Mrs Elphinstone may choose that way of spending the sum. I will put what you say before her, thank you ... continue reading

My mother and I are much obliged for your kind letter. Our route to Thirsk lies direct from London, and we are due there on Friday, staying there about a fortnight or so--but afterwards we have to get across to Gloucestershire, and Sheffield is so temptingly on the way, that if you are likely to have room for us, we should much like to sleep a night at Ecclesfield, in the last of September, as ... continue reading

My dear Miss Peard

It is very kind of you and exceedingly inviting - the Sphinxes especially, but just at this moment my mother and I are moving into a cottage - as my brother’s family is outgrowing this house, where I have lived the 39 years of my life - and we are in such difficulties how to stow away our belongings, especially in the way of pictures that we are really afraid to increase ... continue reading

My own dear Anne

I don’t know how to write or how to think, it all came in one together for your letter of the 20th had been round to James and then home, and it was a note from Mary Coleridge, written on the 23d that told the reality and the first thing I had opened was a note from poor Johnnie all about his botanical prize and Domum. Oh those boys - one knows ... continue reading

My dear Anne,

A few lines I must write before we go – Your letter this morning told us much more than we had had before but it was so sad yesterday getting both together the letters written in the fluctuations. We shall be only one day’s post away now, and that really induces Mamma to go on to St Dunstans. Otherwise we should like to have staid [sic] in this kind quiet place. Those boys ... continue reading

My dear Anne,

Thank you much and indeed for your letter which told so much that we wanted to know. I had not been able to gather what you had been doing, nor how it had come to you, and now uncle Yonge has written the most beautiful account to Mamma, of the last hours, so that we understand far better the closing in and extinction of hope upon them all. And oh! that beautiful ... continue reading

Dear Mr Furnivall

Thanks for the list of needs of the letter B. I had been making the like, but found the wants so constantly supplied from the overflowings of your pigeon holes that I grew lazy and desisted.

The printer at Winchester charges 7/6 per 1000 for the titles he prints for us on show paper, and we have had 4000 - which have chiefly been used by my mother, as I have generally taken mine ... continue reading

My dear Kittiwake I am glad you are meditating a flight to us, but will you let it be on Monday the 14th this day week. I want the skies to clear up a little, as I hope you will allow time enough for a walk to see our daffodil copse of which we are rather proud, and which will gain by the week’s delay.

Do not be deceived into turning into the wrong house for ... continue reading

My dear Miss Smith I did not write yesterday as I had to go to Winchester, and besides my sister in law had not quite finished reading the M S. The part about Horace’s marriage I do like, and the softening, but I am very sorry you adhere to the early part - especially his father’s repeated wishes for his death. If you could only hear the horror of my mother and my sister in law ... continue reading

Dear Mr Furnivall, I do not think I quite know what ought to be the rule about the news and the nons. I meant to have asked you but somehow missed doing so. My own notion would have been only to put those as words - (in the case of new) which could not be explained by simple disintegration -- as for instance new-birth for regeneration, but not new born, when simply meaning lately born. But ... continue reading

My dear Mrs Johns,

We are much obliged for your kindness, and if things - weather included turn out well - I hope to bring the Cricket and her sister in time for a four o’clock tea with you on Monday. I am afraid we cannot do more, as after that it gets so late and cold for an open carriage. Our basket only holds three so that my mother - though thanking you for your ... continue reading

My dear Mrs Johns, Thank you so much for letting me [see] Mr Ruskin’s very characteristic opinion of the beautiful Griselda work. I have thought and talked it over with my mother, and certainly it is a complication, but would not the most satisfactory course be to ask some opinion of a person such as Richmond a thorough artist, and also a religious man, a gentleman, and father of daughters whether it would be his judgment ... continue reading

My dear Mr Macmillan, Here is the notice of Cawnpore but I shall not be surprised if you do not think it the thing. The whole was too overpowering to say many words about and I have run into mere narrative more than I meant at first from the very force of the events. I am obliged to send it without any other eye over it, as my mother cannot bear to think of the horrors. ... continue reading

My dear Marianne- We were at Hursley two days ago, and Miss Best looked so melancholy about Mrs. Keble that we were quite frightened; however, she came home from a drive and seemed to me much better than when I saw her last. I wish Queen Emma was over, but there had been some cross purposes of letter-writing, and they were not sure when her four days were to be. I have just seen that Miss ... continue reading

Dear Mr Macmillan By no means did I mean the graceful little lamp on Golden Deeds - nor the Dove in the Sunday Book - nor the well in Cawnpore. I meant such a high priest and book as are outside Smith’s Biblical dictionary; or some of the whole pictures of men and women one often sees upon books, - spoiling the whole effect of the real illustration within. It was odd that I asked my ... continue reading

My very dear Child, This comes first to say that, to my very great relief, I found this morning the two letters in a drawer in which I myself had specially lodged them for safe keeping, and herewith they come, saving something to myself which he would not perhaps like to have shewn. How precious it all is, and what thoughts it brings over one (among others) of one’s own ways. . . . We ... continue reading

My dear Anne As we fully expected, the holy and blessed spirit went to its rest at one o’clock on Thursday morning; the other gentle spirit is placidly waiting her call to be with him. She slept quietly after having given thanks after it was over, but was much overcome on wakening, and this is the last we know of her. I should feel comforted to know the rest had come, which cannot be far off ... continue reading

It is quite a comfort, my dear Mrs. Moberly, to have your letter, and to answer it immediately. And it is better to write than to see you; our hearts would be too full for speech. Charlotte and I can only trust ourselves to talk at times. It comes at the best possible time for us all; these services are so especially full of Mr. Keble. At the same time we are quite alive to ... continue reading

Dear Mr Dodgson Your kind note and parcel have followed me here, and much obliged we are for them. We - and all the party here - think these by far the best photos that have yet been taken of me - and they are pronounced to be excellent likenesses of us both, as I am sure they are admirable photographs. Would you let us have - on the purchasing terms - half a dozen of ... continue reading

My dear Miss Jacob, We were so sorry to have missed you. I meant to have written that same evening but somehow missed doing so. If you can give us another chance, the best time would be earlier in the day - as my mother now does not leave her room till 2 or 3 o’clock so that if you could drive over in the forenoon, and stay to luncheon, we should be more sure of ... continue reading

Dear Mr Macmillan, Can you tell me how far back in time the reservation of the right of translation goes-? There is a pretty story of Paul Feval’s in the Feé des Grèves which my mother translated, and I want to have in the Monthly Packet. It was printed in 1853, and is out of print in France, and there is no notice of reservation of translation in the title page - however by way of ... continue reading

My dear Edith, You will think there is no end to me but I saw Mr Moore yesterday and he says that his magic lantern came from Carpenter & Newman 24 Regent Street, and that they are much better than Negretti having devoted their minds to magic lanterns His lamp is an Argand These were all your questions I could recollect, but if you have any more, he will gladly and clearheadedly answer them. Mamma has ... continue reading

My dear Maggie, Your book marker [is] a great beauty, and I thank you very much for it, particularly admiring the beautiful little shy bee. Mamma thanks Alice for her [note] and good news of you all. I hope we shall see you before long I am much better, and feel quite proud that I am sitting up to my work this morning while Miss Wilford is lying on her back. It is ten weeks since ... continue reading

My dear Edith You will not be surprised to hear that Charlotte is over head and ears in work and glad to find any thing that I can help her in. So you must believe it will give us both great pleasure to see you if you will let us know when you can come. The beginning of next week we are sure of and after the third Sunday in Advent, we shall be free till ... continue reading

Dear Madam,

I am sorry to have kept you waiting so long for an answer about Lady Beatrix, but first I was unhinged by a long influenza, and then a great Sorrow has engrossed me, and left me little time for letter writing.

I like the journal very much in its gentle tone_

I only think in revising it, it will need a little condensing - and one or two things struck me. I do not think Scots ... continue reading

Dear Mr Macmillan, Thank you much for your kind answer. The second set of cameos is nearly all written, but the Monthly Packet must have the first turn of them and that will take a good while - about a year at shortest.

I am afraid you think me very idle about the Worthies. The truth is that my Mother has grown so infirm of late that I have less time than usual, and that time I ... continue reading

My dear Edith It is indeed a great treat to have had a note from you again. I always feel as if my grand setting to rights when you ought to have been resting in peace was one of the drops that assisted in making your bucket overflow Friday seems to me to have been a day that in the rudest health might be felt to be like air to a fish, but how kind the ... continue reading

Amiable Beloved Can dear Eyes feel great hope in joy kindling lonely Margaretta’s notions of procuring quarters reposefully secure through united votes with xpressed youthful zeal - ?

The alphabet will not serve me to express that I never gave you the direction to the lady who will try to get votes for Miss Erle, and here it is. Mamma is very well and bright. The Chair is to be sent for to be inspected at home

your ... continue reading

My dear Edith, The Gates of Paradise came this morning and a very pretty little book they make. I don’t think one would guess the drawing had been finished in bed! I wish I could come and see you, and thank you for them but Mamma has to take a drive every day and is not fit to get out of the carriage so that I can only take her within moderate distances, and we see ... continue reading

My dear Christabel Here are the answers but I really have no time to do their Cackle. The two months holidays come now, and would you kindly tell the brood that I think they had better not send me any questions after the holidays till I tell them. I hope by no means to give up Goosedom in the end, but Mamma is so sadly failing that I must for the present drop all unnecessary claims ... continue reading

My dear Edith It is very good in you to have written me that kind little note, and I am very glad you have made those steps forward. May you meet some beneficial breezes at Malvern, and may you have a window with a view where you can watch the clouds. I wish I could have come to see you, but I can do very little now but watch, though we still have our drives and ... continue reading

Dear Miss North, I hope the translation of 'Mulhause' is ready as this is the time at which it ought to be sent to the printers. I hope you were thanked for the Hints on Reading but my time is much taken up at present by my mother’s infirm state, and a friend who was staying here wrote for me. I think if possible it would be best to avoid French idioms in English

Yours sincerely C ... continue reading

My dear Duke Thank you for your very kind letter, which has been a great pleasure to me and will be so to think of. Though every one of our friends is so kind one’s own people that all one’s life is mixed up with are so much more to one. I think that the expectation of the Consecration must have been exciting Mamma more than we knew for weeks before, she so often fancied ... continue reading

My dear Edith I am so glad to have heard from you though I wish I could hear that Malvern was invigorating you, to say nothing of Dr Gully. Miss Dyson is the niece of my friend; I have only once seen her. She, ie Miss Dyson of Malvern is the daughter [of] old Mr Frank Dyson of Tidworth whose name I think you must know and do not take it as a bad omen, has ... continue reading

My dear Mrs. Moberly,

Thank you for your kind, sweet, cheering note. It does seem to me truly that it is the burden of the flesh she is freed from, so entirely labour and weariness had the mere act of living been to her for months past; but with what sweet smiles! I am glad your dear Alice so thoroughly shared the peacefulness of the earlier watch, as well as that last trying day, which I ... continue reading

Dear Mr Macmillan I am obliged for the cheque which came safely this morning.

My dear Mother died on Monday, the end coming much more suddenly than we had expected - and very mercifully to close the long course of feebleness of mind and body.

I do not think that I shall be able to do much steady work for some weeks to come, but after that, I hope to return to regular ways

Yours truly C M Yonge

I add one line, my dear Cousin, to assure you of my prayers being offered for you, now more especially when a heavy trial is upon you and a deep sorrow awaiting you. May God comfort and bless you! Perhaps the full experience of such anxiety and the pressure of a constant weight may, in His good Providence, qualify you more than ever to help others by words put into your mouth out of your ... continue reading

My dear Miss Jacob I am afraid you will be vexing yourself at having written to me, but indeed there is no cause, I was quite able to read and thank for it. The sad decay of the recent months makes me thankful that the painful struggle is ended, and the thread has been rather slowly untwisted than rent violently out of my life.

Your aunt’s sufferings have been far more acute, but Rest has come to ... continue reading

My dear Miss Smith, Thank you for your kind, warm hearted letter. I know you too know what a great grief is, and how close one clings to the last surviving parent, and the sense of being still a child at home. May you long preserve that blessing.

I should be very lonely but that my brother and his wife are only a garden’s length from me, and most kind, and just at present I have a ... continue reading

Many many thanks for your most kind letter, and for telling me of the happy prospect before Dora . . . I have asked Mrs. Wilson to send on to you a letter of Bishop Patteson’s, which I think you will feel refreshed by reading; please send it on to Miss Anne Mackenzie. You are so very kind, and it would be very delightful to make one in the migration; but I have only seen ... continue reading

My dear Cousin, I must write you a few lines, not as yet in answer to your very interesting letter about Mr. Keble and about Ritualism, &c., but about our great event of yesterday.

George Sarawia was ordained Deacon in our little chapel, in the presence of fifty-five Melanesians and a few Norfolk Islanders. With him Charles Bice, a very excellent man from St. Augustine’s, was ordained Deacon also. He has uncommon gifts of making himself thoroughly ... continue reading

Dear Sir Do you know what it is to make the worst blunders in that which one knows so well as hardly to think real recollection worth while. This is the only way in which I can understand my own blunder about that hymn upon Sennacherib, which is not only home made - by my mother - but I have always heard every Sunday for more than twenty years.

I will send the July No of the ... continue reading

My dear C C Do you want Campbell’s Highland tales? I dont think there is anything bearing on Arthur in them he was quite Cymric not Gaelic. I sent the two Mags for young yesterday. Shall I write notices of SPCK’s books? They are not a good lot thus far as I have read, and there are two by Miss E Finnimore, the Postwoman and Uncle Isaac’s will that I am ... continue reading

My dear Miss Beale I can’t resist telling you, apropos to your article about Mrs Dorothy Kilner’s books, that somehow they did gain a curious hold of children’s minds. In ‘Lecture graduées a translation of Tommy Piper appears, with Mr Makegood as Monsieur Réforme! A reproduction of the old book (how well the ‘cuts’ are given) was mine some 60 years ago. My young nephews and nieces constantly were borrowing it when the ... continue reading

Dear Miss Yonge Thanks for your interesting letter, it will give pleasure to Mrs. Emery, Miss Kilner's great-niece.

That is very curious about the Lectures. It is strange that we found these books so fascinating when we were children; is it because the story of the development of the soul is the most interesting thing even to little children, and these books, spite of all their erroneous methods, dealt with nothing else? Besides, we ... continue reading

Dear Sir I suppose you must have a privately marked copy of the Child’s Christian Year, since it never was published with authors’ names. My mother’s maiden name was Frances Mary Bargus, born Jan 13th 1795 - married to William Crawley Yonge of the 52d regiment died Sept 28th 1868

I think all I care to have published about myself is already in biographical notices

I remain &c C M Yonge

I put the scholars first because the connection began with so many as scholars. As I looked round I could see among the party two (at least) who had been my mother’s scholars when she first began her Sunday class in what is now Miss Missellbrook’s kitchen, about sixty five years ago. I can just remember sitting by her there, when you used to ... continue reading

Dear Mr Holgate This is really only an abridgement of the article in the Christian Remembrancer, except that I added the going to Winchester College chapel in 1854. I signed the paper because once or twice I found myself writing I to a personal reminiscence, but it can be altered if you wish it. I think Lord Seaton’s personal appearance is fully described in the paper. He was the most striking old man I ever saw. ... continue reading

My dear Bea, It must have been the Die and not the seal itself that was hidden in the wall. Lottie Yonge has discovered at the Croft Vertue’s Cromwell seals and medals with Richard’s seal - he is on horseback on one side and in parliament on the other. Also that Timbs in his ‘Abbeys and Castles’ says that ‘Wllm Heathcote Esq found the die and sold it but Sir William Heathcote bought the die. ... continue reading

My dear Mary I have just heard from Jane Moore. She is at Ramsgate, where her husband has been sent to get over an attack of bronchitis from 7 hours work at Aldershot! She and I have had a great blow in the sudden loss of Lady Susan Blunt. You know she was the General’s cousin, and the daughter of my mother’s old friend, Lady Nelson We always so enjoyed meeting ... continue reading

Dear Miss Finchcliffe, I am very glad to have seen Edith Crawley’s letter which I return with many thanks. I had proposed the Irishwoman to Mrs Gray for the Cape ladies, and she had rejected her, but perhaps they know their own plans best. I am glad that another and elder lady has been added to them for someone to take the command was much wanted.

I am glad that dear Miss Mackenzie is so much better, ... continue reading

Dear Madam Q Q belonged to some relations of mine, and was much liked, and I think borrowed by my Mother. I well remember the story of the child who dealt in imperfections and was taught to persevere by having a perfect article given her whenever she completed anything. I do not think it disquieted me but was rather a stimulus but then I was not a modern child. I believe I rather confuse Q ... continue reading

My Lord, Allow me to express my gratitude for the kindness of your invitation and of the arrangement for the journey. I must however beg to decline it until another year when I hope I may have the pleasure of making your daughter’s acquaintance under more cheerful circumstances.

I cannot at present feel inclined to enter on a large party, nor to leave my mother, and I should be much obliged if you would allow me to ... continue reading

My dear Mr Moor Time vanished away suddenly from me yesterday, or I should not have missed thanking you for the division of the Income, which will be an excellent standard for the unpractical young ladies, some of whom I fear have been answering the question but I shall get theirs on the 25th

Mamma has been comparing your scale with our own, and finding we exactly agree in coals & wages and not at all in ... continue reading

My dear Mr Moor I think it will be much better to throw the prizes open to the whole schools [sic]; it is so discouraging and troublesome to be put out of the competition, and everyone has not a garden who has children at school

My mother says she meant her prizes instead of the home prize - of course they would chiefly concern the first - not the second - if all the extraparochial people are ... continue reading

Sir I was obliged to let your letter wait till my return as I could not reply without referring to the book.

‘The Second Temple’ is an anonymous poem in a collection called the Casket made by Joanna Baillie some 50 years ago

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Moses Cardinal Newman - in the Lyra Apostolica

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Seventh Sunday after Trinity- Keble - Lyra Innocentium

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3d Sunday in Advent Mrs Yonge

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Good Friday Come to a desert place Wednesday in holy week Professor Anstice

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22d after Trinity St John the Evangelist Epiphany Whitsunday from [[otherbook:823]Translations of hymns from ... continue reading

My dear Mr Tyrwhitt,

There is a chapter on Basilica in the printer’s hands just now. I ought to have sent it up for October and I don’t know how I missed laying my hands on it when I was packing up the MS. I ought to have mentioned it when you wrote to me, and now I am terribly afraid I have given you ‘double double toil and trouble’. When the proofs come ... continue reading

My dear Florence

I am glad you finished your journey prosperously, and I hope you have brought home a store of strength for the winter and for the trials.

How one sometimes wishes that one's people may never have another worry, and yet I suppose it is all right! I have just lost my most good and wise friend Marianne Dyson. For more than a year she had been in so utterly feeble and broken ... 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

My dear Mrs Blackburn,

It is very pleasant to hear from you again! Someone ought to collect versions of Father Isams[?] and Sister Katieaia[?] (as she was in my time) Our school children have been seeing [sic] playing at them in Church. I should not have understood but my mother and her half sister had played at it in their childhood without understanding it. A few years ago one of my cousins saw another - a ... continue reading

Dear Mr Craik

Thank you for the Wilberforce extract.

It occurs to me that if the Jubilee history were put out without illustrations, and with more of the religious element than would be fit for the English Illustrated Mag. but would be liked by my own special world of readers, the publication if cheap, might answer /moderately. But you will judge when you have looked at the chapters I sent. They go about half way.

You would rejoice ... continue reading

My dear Mrs Johns Thank you warmly for your kind note. I can see that both as daughter and as mother you have more than a common fellow feeling for the sorrow. In fact, I think the present loss is softened by the long weaning as it were which the slow dimming of the faculties led to, with quite as much affection and clings, but without the power of response - and latterly the weariness of ... continue reading

Dear Mr Henderson ,

Pray take your own time in making the addition to the paper on Folk Lore, it will not be able to appear in the January no. and indeed I fear I may have to divide it, as 45pp is rather a large allowance out of 112 for one subject, and it will answer better to cut it in two. I am glad to hear of the further additions.

Many thanks ... continue reading

Dear Miss Walker I was much interested in your letter, though I am afraid I had not heard Miss Lawrence’s name. I believe my mother left school at 14 in consequence of her father’s very sudden death, so her career there must have been a short one. I have always thought it must have been a very good school, her knowledge was so thorough, and she taught me almost entirely except a French master ... continue reading

Dear Miss Walker I should like much to know your Grandmother’s name, in case I should have heard of her from my mother. The curious thing is that my mother had no idea that she was a success. She was very miserable at school, being really too delicate for the treatment of those days and never well in London. She thought her lessons were always marked ‘très mediocre’, and her comfort was watching ... continue reading