1453 - Barbara Johnson to George William Johnson, 13 February 1777

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Image #1 of letter: Barbara Johnson to George William Johnson, 13 February 1777

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Image #2 of letter: Barbara Johnson to George William Johnson, 13 February 1777
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Feb: 13th 1777

My Dear Brother
I have this minute receiv’d your
Letter with that half the Bank-note enclos’d.
I am oblig’d to you for the other Charards. I found
them both out directly. the first is Flowers, the
second Flora. tho’ if I had not lately read Goldsmith’s
animated nature I should not have {^known} the Ray to be the
Genus of the Skate-fish.
I have not discover’d all the Charards which Robert
sent me but will explain those I have found out.
1st School-Boy, Garrick’s is Bedlam, 4th Napkin,
8th Boatswain, 9th Hedge-hog, 10th Platonick-Love.
11th Sexton, 12th Waggon, 13th Hatband, 14th Lilly.
I should like vastly to see the Tour you went last
year thro’ Wales, and as you wd be so good to lend it me
to read, it is a little Book and will come by the
Newsman who is a very safe conveyance for anything
I will take care to return {^it} you with thanks.
Did you ever read a small Poem call’d Ver-Vert or
the Nunnery Parrot? A translation from Grefset by
Gilbert Cooper, it is now out of Print and therefore very
valuable, Mr Wodhull was so good to make me a present
of it lately, and if you have not read it I will send it. if
it will be any entertainment to you.
a ludicrous instance of the excess to which Gaming is
carried occur’d here lately, a poor Man confin’d in jail
was playing at Cards with another man in the street

[f.21v]

who dealt the Cards to him thro’ the prison – Grate.
My Love to Charles I will write to him soon,
in the mean time pray let me know if either
of you find out the enclos’d riddle.
I believe Mr & Mrs Liddiard are now with Robert
at Bath, they were all well when I heard
Adieu my Dear Brother, Believe me Sincerely
Your affect. Sister
B. Johnson
Feb: 13th 1777

My Dear Brother
I have this minute received your
Letter with that half the Bank-note enclosed.
I am obliged to you for the other Charades. I found
them both out directly. the first is Flowers, the
second Flora. tho’ if I had not lately read Goldsmith’s
animated nature I should not have {^known} the Ray to be the
Genus of the Skate-fish.
I have not discovered all the Charades which Robert
sent me but will explain those I have found out.
1st School-Boy, Garrick’s is Bedlam, 4th Napkin,
8th Boatswain, 9th Hedge-hog, 10th Platonic-Love.
11th Sexton, 12th Waggon, 13th Hatband, 14th Lilly.
I should like vastly to see the Tour you went last
year thro’ Wales, and as you wd be so good to lend it me
to read, it is a little Book and will come by the
Newsman who is a very safe conveyance for anything
I will take care to return {^it} you with thanks.
Did you ever read a small Poem called Ver-Vert or
the Nunnery Parrot? A translation from Grefset by
Gilbert Cooper, it is now out of Print and therefore very
valuable, Mr Wodhull was so good to make me a present
of it lately, and if you have not read it I will send it. if
it will be any entertainment to you.
a ludicrous instance of the excess to which Gaming is
carried occurred here lately, a poor Man confined in jail
was playing at Cards with another man in the street

[f.21v]

who dealt the Cards to him thro’ the prison – Grate.
My Love to Charles I will write to him soon,
in the mean time pray let me know if either
of you find out the enclosed riddle.
I believe Mr & Mrs Liddiard are now with Robert
at Bath, they were all well when I heard
Adieu my Dear Brother, Believe me Sincerely
Your affect. Sister
B. Johnson
Details

Barbara Johnson to George William Johnson, 13 February 1777

Discussion of her answers to puzzles or trivia questions sent by her brother, and a discussion of things they have both read and books they will send in the post. Recounts the story of an imprisoned man who played cards with a man through the bars of his cell. Mr and Mrs Liddiard are with Robert at Bath, and all are thought to be well.

Johnson Family

MS. Don. c. 193 21

Bodleian Library, University of Oxford

1777

2

13

[England]

[England]

  • enquiry
  • reporting
  • response

  • humorous
  • positive

  • closing
  • main body
  • opening

21-40%

People
Person: Barbara Johnson
View full details of Person: Barbara Johnson

primary author

  • gifting
  • reading
  • recreation
  • thinking

happy

Person: George William Johnson
View full details of Person: George William Johnson

primary addressee

  • reading
  • recreation
  • thinking

Person: Robert Augustus Johnson
View full details of Person: Robert Augustus Johnson

other

well