My dear Fanny

Mrs Selwyn comes on Thursday, the Bishop on Saturday. It will be a very thing if you do go down to enliven Mrs Selwyn on Friday for it has so turned out that this week is the only one when I can go down to see my poor dear old May, so I am going down there from Tuesday till Friday evening or Saturday morning I am not sure which. I am ... 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 It is a very long time since I have had such a nice long letter from you. I think the great Corfu news has given you a spur. It did take me very much by surprise though certainly if I had been asked to guess which of the Colbornes was going to be married, I should have said Jane, and you know she is at an age when two years of ... continue reading

My dear Anne Thank you for taking all my impertinence so kindly. I hope you will not be very angry with me for being highly delighted with Mary Coleridge’s prospects, and not even pitying Alethea so much as Cordelia Colborne, for you must remember that Mary will live very near home and the sisters may see each other every day of their lives, and for Mary’s youth, she is much older at twenty, than many people ... 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 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 Driver Thank you for all your encouragement with regard to Henrietta; I assure you I mean to have my own way, and if the Churchman finds he has caught a Tartar, he must make the best of it. I am very angry with Sister’s Care, for it has done the very thing I wished not to have been done, that is to say, in one way I am glad of it, for I ... 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

Dear Miss Erskine,

Many thanks for so kindly enquiring to satisfy the Salisbury correspondent. I will wait till this day week to answer him; in case you should have more particulars for me, I wonder whether he wants to make any use of the story, which should I am sure be widely known, I have no longer the address of Miss Blanch Shelley who sent it to me, and with whom it was a tradition from ... continue reading

Dear Cobweb

I did not answer you at once because the Glowworm sent me a set of questions by the same post, and I had to refer to the Secretary to know which was to have the first turn. She decides that, as by some blunder the Glow Worm stepped into Fru Astrida’s place, and that her questions had therefore better have the first turn. I believe this is rather a good thing for your first ... continue reading

My dear Irene

No wonder the poet was puzzled! It is a very comical adventure in the annals of Goosedom! I agree with Mrs Martyn in thinking your first question excellent, and your second is very good, but No. 3 seemed to me too big a question. Only think how much there is to say about a county, even if you gave but one line to each event that happened! I was asked to write a ... continue reading

My dear Irene

I like this form of the question much, and think it suggestive. The County History would do for a historical question but would make too much history coupled with another. I am not sure however whether you have not too many pairs of qualities, and if it might not be better to leave out contemn & despise, and perhaps hope & anticipate, the distinction in the first place being too small, in the ... continue reading

My dear Cobweb,

Many thanks for your share of the photograph book, which is a very pleasant possession though my view of your self was so fleeting that I am no judge of the likeness- I was in hopes of being able to send a photograph of myself to all my faithful brood, but the man at Plymouth after keeping us waiting for two months for some copies, announced that the negative was broken. There had ... 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

Dear Mr Macmillan, I sent the drawing by the train yesterday. It was very dull of me not to have seen that it was a drawing. Our only other criticism is that a touch or two might make the little Duke’s limbs more child like.

As a matter of fact I believe the Normans did not wear beards, but I only found this out long after the book was out, so book and beard must both stand ... continue reading

Miss Yonge would wish the following presentation copies of the Trial to be sent - if they have not already been sent, - she is not certain whether Messrs Macmillan had her list and should wish to guard against any being sent twice over - Copies to be sent to

Miss Coleridge Heaths Court

Care of JD Coleridge Esq 6 Southwark Crescent

also to -

Sir William Heathcote Bart M P 91 Victoria Street

Mrs Pode 3 Craven Place Westbourne Terrace

Miss [[person:1582]Anne ... continue reading

Dear Mr Macmillan, I send both title page and the proof of the statuette, which is indeed most beautiful and suggestive. I wrote yesterday about the title page. I could not do so before as I only came home late on Saturday and the Sunday post goes early. I enclose the list of presentation copies

Yours sincerely C M Yonge

Will you be kind enough to send the sheets of the Golden Deeds to Messrs Williams & Norgate for ... 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

My dear Cobweb, I am staying here with the Secretary and we both give our parting greetings to one of our oldest original members. I wonder if you will ever have time to continue the Composer series in the Barnacle- I remember when Christabel told me how many lives you proposed, I was rather alarmed for the chance of the Barnacle living long enough to contain them all.

If you wish still to see the said ... continue reading

My dear Frances, Is this a very outrageous thing I am going to propose. You must know Goosedom has had a shock and a revolution, chiefly induced by Mildred Coleridge having no time for it and her aunt therefore losing her interest in it. So after having very nearly broken up, we are beginning again in a more brilliant manner, and the thing is would you condescend to be a Gosling. All you would have to ... continue reading

My dear Miss Erskine, Your letter only came to me this morning as you see I am on my travels - so though it is before Tuesday, I think I had better answer to May. I shall be at 45 Westbourne Terrace for a few days after Wednesday, and shall I hope have a good sight of Mary Coleridge whom I have quite missed in Devonshire

I have told Ivanova (Miss Batty) of the Institution, and if ... continue reading

My dear Miss Sewell My senses have returned for thinking and writing indeed for anything but walking. It seems to me that we might settle a great deal in a June council, Mary Coleridge is to be here for a week at the beginning of the month otherwise we are quite clear. I will send you Freeman tomorrow. It seems to me that his first seven pages, with perhaps his 4th chapter abridged would be very ... continue reading

My dear Christabel I send you the Barnacle. I had thought of keeping it for May, but as she does not come till the 6th, it would be too long. After all the sheets of the Caged Lion have got bound up wrong by my fault, for I forgot to number the pages. I have now numbered them and put a notice that the reader must manage accordingly The difficulty in keeping always the same order ... continue reading

My dear Miss Sewell, I was so hurried that I could not go to Macmillan yesterday so I am writing.

I have done the notes - the Joyeuse Garde beats both Mary Coleridge and me, we both thought it a real castle on the Seine - and never heard of its being an Order.

Michaud’s Histoire de Croisades has almost exactly the same about Simeon & his persecutions as Milman, and I dont know where to find more ... continue reading

My dear Mary Your letter met me at the Station on my way home, and I hope that the fog of Wednesday was less bad for uncle Yonge though more disagreeable than frost would have been. There was one continuous fog all the time I was away, and it is very bad for Ottery where there is a bad low typhoid fever among the poor. I found Sir John better than I expected with no cough, ... continue reading

My dear Mary I hope your headache did not forbode influenza. I have been hoping to hear that you were well, for so much seems to be about, and my dear Mary Coleridge is entirely prostrated from it, so that the doctor only says she may recover, and she was so weak and helpless before, not able to get up from her chair, or walk without help, that I scarcely dare to have much hope ... continue reading

My dear C C Did you ever hear that the treaty between Fairfax and the Cornish army was signed at Heaths Court. I never heard of it but Sir Mount Stuart Grand Duff staid with John and says it was signed in the old part of the house Perhaps dear old May was ashamed of such doings, and I should not have thought the house so old, as I remember it, and I ... continue reading

My dear C C I shall be very glad to see you on the 7th or 8th, I trust you will find Helen here as her ship is due before the end of this week. She sailed on the 18th and was to take ten days –weather being good, and to look in at Cadiz and Lisbon on the way. She will be able to tell you about Ronda &c. You will find ... continue reading

My dearest Fanny, Somehow I did not feel as if I could write to you before I heard from May how you and Joan were, and till I had in a measure realised the crush to one's feelings on the one side, and the glorious crown upon the other.

There was something in the set-apart life, and the freedom from all our common heats and strifes and turmoils that seemed to remove him into the world ... continue reading

My dear Mary

I know you will be wishing to know about us, but I am afraid there is nothing very cheering to tell except that I think the worse must have come to the worst. The five banks that were creditors would not take any compromise though they were offered more than Julian’s proper share of the deficit but it seems that by the law each single director can be made responsible for the ... continue reading

My dear Mary,

I did not like to write to you all this time because we were in a a great state of uncertainty. However Julian got a letter yesterday from the ‘liquidator’ to say that the creditors will take £2000 now and £500 six months hence which will cover everything, and is much better than at one time we expected I do think it is a comfort ones fears go too far for ... continue reading

My dear Christabel

It is a beautiful story If May & I could be girls again how we should rave about those princes. I hope some one else is capable. One or two things- Why were appletrees rare? I thought they were genuine old English I’m sure crabs are! Alvarez is a patronymic he should be Alvare, and the Portuguese would have called Sir Walter Don Guiltierre

I think the ... continue reading

My dear Christabel

I am sorry to say the 11th is the only day Mr Wilson is available that week and that (unless she alters[)], is MFCK’s day. How would it be if you came here on Monday 9th I sent you to Rownhams on the 11th, and you then returned to Winchester the same day – either having something to come for you here or being set down at Chandlers ford or ... continue reading

My dear Mme de Witt

You are quite welcome to make any use you please of my Scripture Readings. I have just completed them, though the last volume is not quite out. You must miss the spring after this severe winter Your En Quarantaine seems to have been a prediction of your winter of nursing. I am glad all is now well. We have all been having very severe colds, but ... continue reading

My dear Christabel

How soon do you like to come, for I am now quite ready for you. Mary has finished her visit, and then I had Elizabeth Wordsworth for a couple of nights on her way back from Foare. I hope your father is well again; and the Church getting on. We shall not regale you with an inspection this time, Mr Green was much more amiable, and the girls did very ... continue reading

Dear Mr Craik

Thank you for your letter, and your kind promise of £200 for this edition of Unknown to History. I hope the cheap movement will be successful. I own I should like to see the Heir of Redclyffe and Heartsease in shilling and sixpenny editions I think they would have a great sale.

Please let a copy of ‘Unknown to History’ go to

Miss Coleridge Manor House Ottery St Mary

I thought it would have come while ... continue reading

My dear Christabel

Things change a good deal.- Before John went to America, he altered his will so as to make her tolerably dependent on Bernard, hoping thus to put a stop to it all and thinking it would keep the man on his good behaviour. Since that he offered £300 for her life if before June, Mr Adams found employment so as to secure a reasonable even if small income, £400 if she ... continue reading

My dear Christabel

This is all the writing paper I have, being ‘en clôture’, with a pupil teacher, a candidate- and three senior scholars – whom I have to superintend, as Mr Brock is called off to preach at Andover. It must be rather a relief, for his son and heir squalls incessantly day and night, and Gabrielle resents being a dowager at less than 13 months. Well- I was not sure about ... continue reading

My dear Mr Wither

It has been a beautiful day Easter day, full Church and 104 Communicants – 50 early and 54 late – not quite so many as last year, but Frances was in bed with neuralgia and Helen is at Arlington. We had scarcely enough primroses for the Church, they are so late this year – but there were plenty of daffodils and it looked very well

No, Mildred Coleridge has not married Adams nor ... continue reading

. . . August and very dreary it was to see the beautiful rooms at Heaths Court with no mistress. I still believe that there will be a great awakening from the present blindness, and Mary . . .

I think Winchester is a rock that binds its limpets fast - not a good simile either for the limpets do go off, only perhaps it is their affections that stay there. I have not near ... continue reading

My dear Lizzie

Things are coming all right; Mary Coleridge will be ready for me on the 29th, so I shall have the week before for sights of the dear people.

Here am I writing letters instead of decorating, for I have got laid up with an attack of shingles; however, as it began on Sunday, though I did not know what it was, I hope it will soon finish off.

I wish someone (not a ... continue reading

My dear Miss Ingelow

Your letter has just come to me here in the midst of the steep hills and narrow valleys of North Devon. I think I must have been 2 years old when I saw the baby in the blue shawl, as my birthday is in August, and we generally went into Devon in the autumn. I do not think I taught myself to read, as I was then an only child much looked ... continue reading

consciously – in extremity breaks his heart over it and is converted by his failure. I have had my head very full of it. I want to know what you think of the Apples of Sodom, for we have various controversies about it, Christabel thinks the one religious man becoming morbid and accustomed a mistake and likely to promote the popular fancy about good men and clergy, and Miss Bramston says ... continue reading

My dear Mary

I don’t think I would venture. I think you would probably be left in the lurch in some way or other and the name is not known enough to inspire any confidence.

I think you might find some one who would take the risk which would be much better for you. I am making my way home from Devonshire where I have been first with Mary Yonge and then with Mary Coleridge, and I ... continue reading