Little Longsdon 9^thOct. 1801
James John & William Longsdon
My dear Children
I feel a peculiar happiness in
addressing you at this time from the danger I have been in by
a fall from my Horse, the great danger was from my foot
remaining in the stirrup & from the manner in which it
was extricated I look upon it as Providential & for which
undeserved goodness I fear I never shall be sufficiently
thankful. I can truly assure my Affectionate Children
that the greatest dread I had was for the situation your
Dear Mother and Yourselves would have been left in on account
of your Juvenile years. The Accident happened on the 31 [illeg].
but your Mother joined me that it was not necessary you
should be immediately informed. I [?just] have a [?verbal]
information by --- Hill a neighbour of M^r Ashbridges.
In Johns letter {^of the 7^th} to his Mother rec.^d last night are your
inquiries & good wishes, to which I have the pleasure of re
turning the account you will be so glad to hear, that from
all appearances I am recovering fast. I ventured as far as
Chesterfield on Tuesday in a Chair with y^r Mother who wanted
to see y^r sister Elizabeth, but notwithstanding our care

the swelling near my Ankle was increased, but has again
subsided. Mr Walker is not pleased that I went but I hope
I shall feel no further bad consequences from the Journey.
I have to tell James that I have the pleasure of his of
the 4.^th in answer to mine [?p^r Joe]. The Prices I sold the
[?Grain] & Bullocks at, he guesses very near indeed. You will
hear from --- Hill all about the little Sheaves. I have not
sold any more Cattle, which probably at this Season I should
have done if I had not been confined to the House -
James & John too - I desire you will write to me frequently.
shew my request to M^r Ashbridge I well know he will
not object to what I think is for your improvement.
Your Cousin Sarah is here, Gay as the month of
May & lively as young June. Your Mama said she
had some message [?here] as she is gone and I shall
leave Her to speak for Herself. We are both happy
in hearing of your being well, and the frequency of your letters
of late have been pleasing to us. My best respects attend M.^r Ashbridge
when he has a few leisure minutes I should be glad if they
produced a few lines to me. I am thinking how rejoiced
your young hearts would be at the sudden news of Peace.
Treasure the Event in your memories, and some of the oc
urrences of the War have been [^so] extraordinary, that I think

you will remember them when you are old.
for I hope there will [illeg] no similar scenes to contrast
them with in yo[illeg] future days, and that you will
never more hea[illeg] of Hosts incamping against
this happy Count[illeg] or see its Peace destroyed by
Civil War, or the [?anarchy] of foolish republica{^nism}.
Mr Finch [?illeg] to me on receipt of the News
of Peace at [?Manchester], if I had been well I should have
been there by his [?account] every mind concerned in
Trade is filled with [illeg]astle & speculation
Bakewell Fair is [?on] Monday, I have not yet deter
mined whether to se[pagefold] Cattle or not. Your Mother is
not yet come in [pagefold]leave my dear Children and
believe me to be [?your] truly Affectionate Father
Ja^s Longsdon

[change hand] My dear John,
I had the pleasure of receiving your letter last
night & was delighted to see it so well written. - I have
not opportunity at this time, to fully answer your letter,
Acept my best thanks for it and you shall hear from
me again soon. Your Cousin Sarah desires her love to you
all, and she particularly desires to have a letter from you.
I should much like a letter from my dear William. -
Katharine desire her true love to you all - Accept Mine.^d
I am your very Affectionate Mother
E Longsdon
[vertical left side] PS. I will send James stockings next
week.

Master Longsdon
Heath