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Yarmouth May 24th 1813

My dear Papa

I hope you will excuse the sad letter I wrote to you yesterday as the instant I had begun Sally {1} came into the room and told me Mamma was waiting for my letter. I have finished the Gateway Castle Rising from Miss Richenda Gurneys sketch and am now going to do the entire view of that building. Mamma says I have done it very well. Yesterday morning we all went to Chappel but found we were too late as we had been obliged to wait for Harriet’s shoe string so we came home by the paved rows {2} and we were walking along the Quay [when] we met Mrs Ridge who, thinking we were going to Church begged us not to go thither as such a quantity of dust and rubbish had fallen from the pillar as had forced all Miss Coke’s school and several other people to quit the Church. Harriet looking out of the window yesterday exclaimed with astonishment to me “Ma sœur Elise observez vous bien? voilà une petite fille avec un petticoat gules”. I am sorry to say that she bites her nails worse than ever though she acknowledged to us this morning that she did not think them “very nice”. If you would be kind enough to write a few words to her or about her in one of your letters to Maria or me on that subject it would do her much more good than all our lectures.

The town is quite full of the Local Militia and they are very rude and disorderly. My cousin John {3} told us yesterday that Doctor Girdlestone {4} has put his son Charle’s† fingers into spirits. he has lost 3 fingers a thumb and part of his little finger. I saw him walking yesterday with his hand done up in a handkerchief. Were not the plants you were kind enough to send me and which you mentioned as rare Salvia verbenaca {5} and Valeriana dentata? The last I could not make out without Mr Wigg’s assistance the flowers were so very small. The garden comes on very finely but not one of my seeds are up. I begin to think that they are become rotten with the rain as those in the Hothouse which have not been exposed to the weather are all up. I suppose that as we have not heard from Mr Gurney {6} we shall see him to morrow. We expect my aunt Catherine {7} also. My Uncle Richard {8} comes at 12 to christen Gurney {9} who is very well and Fanny {10} says he is the most good tempered child Mamma has had whilst she has been in the house. Every body says he is very like me. Maria will write to you tomorrow. Sisters send their love to you and to Mr Hooker if you see him and believe me dear Papa your very dutiful and affectionate daughter
Elizth Turner

[Superscription:] D. Turner Esq. | Bedford Coffee House | Covent-Garden | London.

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Paper watermarked ‘RUSE & TURNERS | 1812’. No postal marks.

{1} Probably a servant.

{2} The narrow passages which are distinctive feature of Great Yarmouth.

{3} Probably John Spurgeon, then eleven years of age.

{4} Thomas Girdlestone, whose son Charles was then fourteen years of age.

{5} Wild clary.

{6} Joseph Gurney.

{7} Katharine Simpson.

{8} Richard Turner, the minister of Great Yarmouth. Strictly speaking he was Elizabeth’s great-uncle.

{9} Elizabeth’s brother Gurney was born on 13 May and baptised on the 24th.

{10} A servant.