667 - Judith Madan to Martin Madan, 1724
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- People (2)
- How to Cite
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Friday Morn: 1724
[May 1]
My Dear Dear Madan
I can no more pass a Day wthout dedicating
some part of it to you, then I can injoy one wthout seeing you --- I would
fancy to days post would bring me a Letter from you, but am disappointed and
must defer ye Happiness I propose’d from it, till Sunday, wch sure will bless
me with a Line from yt Dear hand, I have so many times kiss’d with
Transport. Dearest, Best Creature! By wt Expressions shall I discribe ye sence
I have of your Goodness & ye numberless obligations I have to you? to you I owe
more then Life, a just relish of it, you, my Angel! First taught me to love, &
since have show’d me a yet higher Degree of Happiness, yt of being Belov’d:
could you know how Infinitly dear to me, all ye arguments of your
Tenderness are, I am sure you would be good, & generous enough to set a
value on my gratitude & say, you were Paid. How do you pass your
time? How often do you think of Her who never Ceases thinking of you? I
believe I was as much Form’d by nature to love you, as you were to be a
Sufficient Excuse for me, to Love any man beside your self, in ye manner
deseveing of men, is my Distinction, & Pride – ye only species of Pride
I can Pardon my self for. Thou Dear Object of my Eternal Love &
unwearie’d fondnes! how many times have my endeavours to Express my Heart
Ended only in, Dear Madan I love you I never attempted to tell you
how much, nor ever will, for all I can say falls too far short of wt: I
continuly feel in my soul for you since you went, I have read all
[f.35v]
ye Spectators ever, ye Dr read to us ye last Happy Day we liv’d together, I please
my self with reviewing ye passages you lik’d, & took notice of, & reflecting how you
smil’d at some parts of ye good old Knights character – how precious were
those moments! How happy, ye melancholy tender ones we afterwards pass’d in
mutual fondnes, & greif! Dear Creature! wt did not your lovely, belov’d Eyes
make me feel, wn they melted for my misfortune, & told me more eloquently ye Sentiments of your soul, then all ye Language upon Earth could have
Done – If I am blest enough to see you again I will as Moneses says
---- own, I ought not to complain
Since yt sweet Hour is worth whole years of Pain.
I will Defer ye rest til to morrow, yt a Day may not pass without my convers=
=ing with you – Saterday morn. I am just set down to tell, my soul
yt ye near approach of a Letter from him, is at once great pleasure & pain
to me, I shall wait at ye window with an impatience only like yt I shall
find in my self, when I am blest enough to Expect himself: remember me
My Dearest Life, & recollect now, & then ye thousand assurences of Eternal
Love & truth, you in Hours of fondness have given me, you are by promise
to be forever mine – as for me, Death its self is more Dreaded by me
as wt will Divide me from you, then as wt will shut me from all
other scene of gaity, & happiness ye world can afford – farwel, my
Dearest friend – my faithfull lover – my only Bliss, & in one word
Dear, everlastingly Dear Husband. Yours Intirely, & Tenderly
J Madan
Sunday noon. I have {^this} moment rec:{^d} my Dear Madans wish’d for
Letter, I am resolv’d to think my self completely happy even at this Distance
from you, since you think of me, & remember me with ye tenderness I set so
high a value in – my next wish is for another testimony of your Love
rememberence, Dear Dear Soul, don’t miss a Post: I have kiss’d your Dear
Letter a thousand times – fill yr paper next time you write & always
for I can never see too much of that faithfull, Generous, Tender, belov’d heart of yrs
[May 1]
My Dear Dear Madan
I can no more pass a Day wthout dedicating
some part of it to you, then I can injoy one wthout seeing you --- I would
fancy to days post would bring me a Letter from you, but am disappointed and
must defer ye Happiness I propose’d from it, till Sunday, wch sure will bless
me with a Line from yt Dear hand, I have so many times kiss’d with
Transport. Dearest, Best Creature! By wt Expressions shall I discribe ye sence
I have of your Goodness & ye numberless obligations I have to you? to you I owe
more then Life, a just relish of it, you, my Angel! First taught me to love, &
since have show’d me a yet higher Degree of Happiness, yt of being Belov’d:
could you know how Infinitly dear to me, all ye arguments of your
Tenderness are, I am sure you would be good, & generous enough to set a
value on my gratitude & say, you were Paid. How do you pass your
time? How often do you think of Her who never Ceases thinking of you? I
believe I was as much Form’d by nature to love you, as you were to be a
Sufficient Excuse for me, to Love any man beside your self, in ye manner
deseveing of men, is my Distinction, & Pride – ye only species of Pride
I can Pardon my self for. Thou Dear Object of my Eternal Love &
unwearie’d fondnes! how many times have my endeavours to Express my Heart
Ended only in, Dear Madan I love you I never attempted to tell you
how much, nor ever will, for all I can say falls too far short of wt: I
continuly feel in my soul for you since you went, I have read all
[f.35v]
ye Spectators ever, ye Dr read to us ye last Happy Day we liv’d together, I please
my self with reviewing ye passages you lik’d, & took notice of, & reflecting how you
smil’d at some parts of ye good old Knights character – how precious were
those moments! How happy, ye melancholy tender ones we afterwards pass’d in
mutual fondnes, & greif! Dear Creature! wt did not your lovely, belov’d Eyes
make me feel, wn they melted for my misfortune, & told me more eloquently ye Sentiments of your soul, then all ye Language upon Earth could have
Done – If I am blest enough to see you again I will as Moneses says
---- own, I ought not to complain
Since yt sweet Hour is worth whole years of Pain.
I will Defer ye rest til to morrow, yt a Day may not pass without my convers=
=ing with you – Saterday morn. I am just set down to tell, my soul
yt ye near approach of a Letter from him, is at once great pleasure & pain
to me, I shall wait at ye window with an impatience only like yt I shall
find in my self, when I am blest enough to Expect himself: remember me
My Dearest Life, & recollect now, & then ye thousand assurences of Eternal
Love & truth, you in Hours of fondness have given me, you are by promise
to be forever mine – as for me, Death its self is more Dreaded by me
as wt will Divide me from you, then as wt will shut me from all
other scene of gaity, & happiness ye world can afford – farwel, my
Dearest friend – my faithfull lover – my only Bliss, & in one word
Dear, everlastingly Dear Husband. Yours Intirely, & Tenderly
J Madan
Sunday noon. I have {^this} moment rec:{^d} my Dear Madans wish’d for
Letter, I am resolv’d to think my self completely happy even at this Distance
from you, since you think of me, & remember me with ye tenderness I set so
high a value in – my next wish is for another testimony of your Love
rememberence, Dear Dear Soul, don’t miss a Post: I have kiss’d your Dear
Letter a thousand times – fill yr paper next time you write & always
for I can never see too much of that faithfull, Generous, Tender, belov’d heart of yrs
Friday Morn: 1724
[May 1]
My Dear Dear Madan
I can no more pass a Day wthout dedicating
some part of it to you, then I can enjoy one wthout seeing you --- I would
fancy to days post would bring me a Letter from you, but am disappointed and
must defer ye Happiness I proposed from it, till Sunday, wch sure will bless
me with a Line from yt Dear hand, I have so many times kissed with
Transport. Dearest, Best Creature! By wt Expressions shall I describe ye sense
I have of your Goodness & ye numberless obligations I have to you? to you I owe
more then Life, a just relish of it, you, my Angel! First taught me to love, &
since have showed me a yet higher Degree of Happiness, yt of being Beloved:
could you know how Infinitely dear to me, all ye arguments of your
Tenderness are, I am sure you would be good, & generous enough to set a
value on my gratitude & say, you were Paid. How do you pass your
time? How often do you think of Her who never Ceases thinking of you? I
believe I was as much Formed by nature to love you, as you were to be a
Sufficient Excuse for me, to Love any man beside your self, in ye manner
deserving of men, is my Distinction, & Pride – ye only species of Pride
I can Pardon my self for. Thou Dear Object of my Eternal Love &
unwearied fondness! how many times have my endeavours to Express my Heart
Ended only in, Dear Madan I love you I never attempted to tell you
how much, nor ever will, for all I can say falls too far short of wt: I
continually feel in my soul for you since you went, I have read all
[f.35v]
ye Spectators ever, ye Dr read to us ye last Happy Day we lived together, I please
my self with reviewing ye passages you liked, & took notice of, & reflecting how you
smiled at some parts of ye good old Knights character – how precious were
those moments! How happy, ye melancholy tender ones we afterwards passed in
mutual fondness, & grief! Dear Creature! wt did not your lovely, beloved Eyes
make me feel, wn they melted for my misfortune, & told me more eloquently ye Sentiments of your soul, then all ye Language upon Earth could have
Done – If I am blest enough to see you again I will as Moneses says
---- own, I ought not to complain
Since yt sweet Hour is worth whole years of Pain.
I will Defer ye rest til to morrow, yt a Day may not pass without my convers=
=ing with you – Saturday morn. I am just set down to tell, my soul
yt ye near approach of a Letter from him, is at once great pleasure & pain
to me, I shall wait at ye window with an impatience only like yt I shall
find in my self, when I am blest enough to Expect himself: remember me
My Dearest Life, & recollect now, & then ye thousand assurances of Eternal
Love & truth, you in Hours of fondness have given me, you are by promise
to be forever mine – as for me, Death its self is more Dreaded by me
as wt will Divide me from you, then as wt will shut me from all
other scene of gaiety, & happiness ye world can afford – farewell, my
Dearest friend – my faithful lover – my only Bliss, & in one word
Dear, everlastingly Dear Husband. Yours Entirely, & Tenderly
J Madan
Sunday noon. I have {^this} moment rec:{^d} my Dear Madans wished for
Letter, I am resolved to think my self completely happy even at this Distance
from you, since you think of me, & remember me with ye tenderness I set so
high a value in – my next wish is for another testimony of your Love
remembrance, Dear Dear Soul, don’t miss a Post: I have kissed your Dear
Letter a thousand times – fill yr paper next time you write & always
for I can never see too much of that faithful, Generous, Tender, beloved heart of yrs
[May 1]
My Dear Dear Madan
I can no more pass a Day wthout dedicating
some part of it to you, then I can enjoy one wthout seeing you --- I would
fancy to days post would bring me a Letter from you, but am disappointed and
must defer ye Happiness I proposed from it, till Sunday, wch sure will bless
me with a Line from yt Dear hand, I have so many times kissed with
Transport. Dearest, Best Creature! By wt Expressions shall I describe ye sense
I have of your Goodness & ye numberless obligations I have to you? to you I owe
more then Life, a just relish of it, you, my Angel! First taught me to love, &
since have showed me a yet higher Degree of Happiness, yt of being Beloved:
could you know how Infinitely dear to me, all ye arguments of your
Tenderness are, I am sure you would be good, & generous enough to set a
value on my gratitude & say, you were Paid. How do you pass your
time? How often do you think of Her who never Ceases thinking of you? I
believe I was as much Formed by nature to love you, as you were to be a
Sufficient Excuse for me, to Love any man beside your self, in ye manner
deserving of men, is my Distinction, & Pride – ye only species of Pride
I can Pardon my self for. Thou Dear Object of my Eternal Love &
unwearied fondness! how many times have my endeavours to Express my Heart
Ended only in, Dear Madan I love you I never attempted to tell you
how much, nor ever will, for all I can say falls too far short of wt: I
continually feel in my soul for you since you went, I have read all
[f.35v]
ye Spectators ever, ye Dr read to us ye last Happy Day we lived together, I please
my self with reviewing ye passages you liked, & took notice of, & reflecting how you
smiled at some parts of ye good old Knights character – how precious were
those moments! How happy, ye melancholy tender ones we afterwards passed in
mutual fondness, & grief! Dear Creature! wt did not your lovely, beloved Eyes
make me feel, wn they melted for my misfortune, & told me more eloquently ye Sentiments of your soul, then all ye Language upon Earth could have
Done – If I am blest enough to see you again I will as Moneses says
---- own, I ought not to complain
Since yt sweet Hour is worth whole years of Pain.
I will Defer ye rest til to morrow, yt a Day may not pass without my convers=
=ing with you – Saturday morn. I am just set down to tell, my soul
yt ye near approach of a Letter from him, is at once great pleasure & pain
to me, I shall wait at ye window with an impatience only like yt I shall
find in my self, when I am blest enough to Expect himself: remember me
My Dearest Life, & recollect now, & then ye thousand assurances of Eternal
Love & truth, you in Hours of fondness have given me, you are by promise
to be forever mine – as for me, Death its self is more Dreaded by me
as wt will Divide me from you, then as wt will shut me from all
other scene of gaiety, & happiness ye world can afford – farewell, my
Dearest friend – my faithful lover – my only Bliss, & in one word
Dear, everlastingly Dear Husband. Yours Entirely, & Tenderly
J Madan
Sunday noon. I have {^this} moment rec:{^d} my Dear Madans wished for
Letter, I am resolved to think my self completely happy even at this Distance
from you, since you think of me, & remember me with ye tenderness I set so
high a value in – my next wish is for another testimony of your Love
remembrance, Dear Dear Soul, don’t miss a Post: I have kissed your Dear
Letter a thousand times – fill yr paper next time you write & always
for I can never see too much of that faithful, Generous, Tender, beloved heart of yrs
Details
Judith Madan to Martin Madan, 1724
A letter written over several days - Judith and Martin have not been married for long and Judith repeatedly emphasises her love for Martin, her delight at being newly married, and the difficulty of being separated from him. Filled with embodied language of heart and soul, and of kissing his hand and the page of the letter. She has been thinking of him constantly, and re-reading passages that she has recalled made him smile when they were last together. She recalls a time when Judith had received news of a misfortune, and Martin had cried with her. She wonders if he has been thinking of her while they have been separated. Death worries her not because it signals the end of worldly life, but because it would separate the two of them. Towards the end of the letter she is cheered by the arrival of his letter to her. She kisses the page, asks for another letter by the next post, and that he will fill the page next time, as she can never see too much of his ‘heart’.
Madan Family
Eng Lett C.284 f.35
Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford
1724
5
1
[England]
[England]
People
Person: Judith Madan
View full details of Person: Judith Madan
primary author
heart
- death/dying
- kissing
- reading
- thinking
separation
longevity
- feeling
- happy
- hopeful
- love (romantic)
- low
- pleasure
- sorrow
- memory
- self
- soul
pain
marriage
Person: Martin Madan
View full details of Person: Martin Madan
primary addressee
- eyes
- hands
- heart
- crying
- reading
- smiling
- thinking
- writing
separation
- feeling
- happy
- love (romantic)
- sorrow
- self
- soul
marriage
How to Cite
To Cite this Letter
Judith Madan to Martin Madan, 1724, 151724: Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford, Madan Family, Eng Lett C.284 f.35
To Cite this Edition
Material Identities, Social Bodies: Embodiment in British Letters c.1680-1820. Compiled by: Karen Harvey, Helen Esfandiary, Sarah Fox, Emily Vine, University of Birmingham. Project funded by the Leverhulme Trust (2021-2025, Ref. RPG-2020-163), https://socialbodies.bham.ac.uk.