311 - Rebekah Bateman to Mary Jane Hodson, 19 October 1781

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Why really Miss Hodson will you excuse
my not writing before this indeed I have often thought of
doing it but always something prevented me indeed I
have been very poorly of late & had little spirits for any
thing. My Sister is out of Town & has been near a fort=
=night. We had Mr Scott here yr week before last he
stay’d 2 Sabbaths. Mrs Priestly has been out of Town
near 3 Months & I don’t hear she is for returning yet. I
saw Mr P y tonight he is just as chearfull as ever.
Poor Lucy is got to School at last poor thing she
cry’d very much ye night before she went (I am sure I
shoud) I have writ to hear & what do you think I
said for I was determined to hint it if I coud say it.
I suppose by this time you are reconciled to school I’ll
assure you I am quite settled in Manr & have no
inclinations to move {^again a 2nd time} I wonder what Mr T—r will
say if he sees it – I made my Mamma laugh when
I told her. So I hear poor [illeg] is there again what
she dreaded is come upon her it will {?pick} up be for
[new page]
her good but I think she wont like it pray has
she wrote you yet? O my dear I often think of ye time
we have spent together in St Sepuls Church yard a
dismal place indeed & our tone of voice resembled [damaged]
sometimes I am sure to this day I coud cry for joy
yt I am away from yt wretched spot – tho’ not {?as}
much ye spot as ye inhabitants but O how I talk
I believe it has been for my good in many respects
& upon ye whole we shoud be thankful for such
a priviledge: many better than we & more {?deservg}
woud be glad of our opportunities in many ways
O for a thankful heart for all his mercies I hope
I can say it is my desire to be thankfull.
I can’t say but I was sorry when
they told me what had past yt I was not at home
when your Papa was here to have stood up in my
own defence I believe they are mistook about my not
telling them & indeed I thought there was no probab=
=ility of it or I shoud have been more urgent for I’ll
assure you there is not a Place I know yt I shoud
with more pleasure than Chester nor a Person than Miss
Hodson: whether she thinks it or not. Now winter is
[new page]
coming indeed its here & therefore all hopes are over for
ye present only now let me hear from you as I cannot
see you. I am in daily expectation of a letter from Lucy
I shall however send you word if there is any news
I hear Miss {?SJ} Medley is all & all at present Miss
Rutt writes to my Sister & tells her she is a most
amiable Girl & she tells her yt Davies is gone from
school did you know that I’m sure it was news to
me. I cant tell how to think this letter will be
receiv’d {^best} if you burn it accept of my sincere love
& excuse it for its really like ye writer & Pen: very
bad – bad indeed you say for not writing before but
don’t be angry with me this time my intentions
if life is spared to do better for ye future [damaged]
be in daily expectation of a letter till I see one [damaged]
let be long before I do I wish it to be more speedy
in its arrival than mine. My Papa & Mamma beg
their respecfull compts to Mr & Mrs Hodson & shall
be very happy to one or both any time with yourself
I shall expect when you come to Manr you wont be
at Mr Dinwiddies old Mrs D is gone into Scotland with
her son Will so you woud have nothing but Gentle=
=mens company except ye oldest gets married he proposes
[new page]
may be going tho I hear nothing of it if it is so it is kept
a great secret but I really begin to think if I don’t
conclude that you’ll be bored for it {^is} not worth reading.
Betsy is not at home or I know she woud join with
me in love to yourself compt to your Papa & Mamma only
give me leave to add that none has a more affectionate
regard for your welfare than your ever affectionately
R Clegg
Manchester
Octr 19 1781
Miss Hodson
Cuppins Lane
Chester
Why really Miss Hodson will you excuse
my not writing before this indeed I have often thought of
doing it but always something prevented me indeed I
have been very poorly of late & had little spirits for any
thing. My Sister is out of Town & has been near a fort=
=night. We had Mr Scott here yr week before last he
stay’d 2 Sabbaths. Mrs Priestly has been out of Town
near 3 Months & I don’t hear she is for returning yet. I
saw Mr P y tonight he is just as chearfull as ever.
Poor Lucy is got to School at last poor thing she
cry’d very much ye night before she went (I am sure I
shoud) I have writ to hear & what do you think I
said for I was determined to hint it if I coud say it.
I suppose by this time you are reconciled to school I’ll
assure you I am quite settled in Manr & have no
inclinations to move {^again a 2nd time} I wonder what Mr T—r will
say if he sees it – I made my Mamma laugh when
I told her. So I hear poor [illeg] is there again what
she dreaded is come upon her it will {?pick} up be for
[new page]
her good but I think she wont like it pray has
she wrote you yet? O my dear I often think of ye time
we have spent together in St Sepuls Church yard a
dismal place indeed & our tone of voice resembled [damaged]
sometimes I am sure to this day I coud cry for joy
yt I am away from yt wretched spot – tho’ not {?as}
much ye spot as ye inhabitants but O how I talk
I believe it has been for my good in many respects
& upon ye whole we shoud be thankful for such
a priviledge: many better than we & more {?deservg}
woud be glad of our opportunities in many ways
O for a thankful heart for all his mercies I hope
I can say it is my desire to be thankfull.
I can’t say but I was sorry when
they told me what had past yt I was not at home
when your Papa was here to have stood up in my
own defence I believe they are mistook about my not
telling them & indeed I thought there was no probab=
=ility of it or I shoud have been more urgent for I’ll
assure you there is not a Place I know yt I shoud
with more pleasure than Chester nor a Person than Miss
Hodson: whether she thinks it or not. Now winter is
[new page]
coming indeed its here & therefore all hopes are over for
ye present only now let me hear from you as I cannot
see you. I am in daily expectation of a letter from Lucy
I shall however send you word if there is any news
I hear Miss {?SJ} Medley is all & all at present Miss
Rutt writes to my Sister & tells her she is a most
amiable Girl & she tells her yt Davies is gone from
school did you know that I’m sure it was news to
me. I cant tell how to think this letter will be
receiv’d {^best} if you burn it accept of my sincere love
& excuse it for its really like ye writer & Pen: very
bad – bad indeed you say for not writing before but
don’t be angry with me this time my intentions
if life is spared to do better for ye future [damaged]
be in daily expectation of a letter till I see one [damaged]
let be long before I do I wish it to be more speedy
in its arrival than mine. My Papa & Mamma beg
their respecfull compts to Mr & Mrs Hodson & shall
be very happy to one or both any time with yourself
I shall expect when you come to Manr you wont be
at Mr Dinwiddies old Mrs D is gone into Scotland with
her son Will so you woud have nothing but Gentle=
=mens company except ye oldest gets married he proposes
[new page]
may be going tho I hear nothing of it if it is so it is kept
a great secret but I really begin to think if I don’t
conclude that you’ll be bored for it {^is} not worth reading.
Betsy is not at home or I know she woud join with
me in love to yourself compt to your Papa & Mamma only
give me leave to add that none has a more affectionate
regard for your welfare than your ever affectionately
R Clegg
Manchester
Octr 19 1781
Miss Hodson
Cuppins Lane
Chester
Details

Rebekah Bateman to Mary Jane Hodson, 19 October 1781

Apologising for not writing and attributing it to her illness, providing information about school and her feelings on it, Lucy's distress, remembering their time spent in St Sepulchre's 'dismal' churchyard, updates on various friends and acquaintances.

Bateman Family Papers

OSB MSS 32 Box 1, Folder 10 [2]

Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Yale University

1781

10

19

Octr 19 1781

Manchester

[Lancashire, England]

Miss Hodson, Cuppins Lane, Chester

[Cheshire, England]

  • reporting
  • response

  • apologetic
  • happy
  • hopeful
  • religious

  • opening
  • throughout (consistent)

41-60%

People
Person: Rebekah Bateman
View full details of Person: Rebekah Bateman

primary author

  • heart
  • spirits (body part)

  • crying
  • talking
  • travel
  • visiting
  • writing

illness

youth

  • easy
  • ill-health

  • affection
  • grateful
  • happy
  • love
  • low
  • sorrow
  • sympathy

  • duty
  • education

  • environment
  • religious meeting
  • school
  • travel
  • weather
  • winter

  • family
  • friendship

Person: Mary Jane Hodson
View full details of Person: Mary Jane Hodson

primary addressee

  • reading
  • writing

youth

anger

friendship