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(Two messages.)

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Transcript

Yarmouth June 6. 1<812>

My dear Papa

I have very good news to tell you; poor Edward Rigby has been getting better every day and was so well that he was able to ride out and hear the guns fire for the King’s birthday on the Castle hill, which had been promised him for a long while. {1} My aunt Katharine has been so kind as to write Mamma an account of him almost every day. Mr Wigg brought me the day before yesterday Cynoglassum cheirifolia and another white flower that I could not make out as he had brought but one blossom without either leaves or stalk. Mr Hooker brought me a very fine specimen of Erica mediterranea and Andromeda polifolia, both of which I have dried with the Cynoglussum†. {2} There are several flowers out in our garden which I want to have but must not go out. {3} We have a great many Nectarin<s> set I believe 25 at least about 10 Peaches and 6 Apricots which are a great many as the trees most of [them] are not taller than Mary {4} and have not been planted above half a year at the most, and are all, except the Apricots, growing in the open air; there are very few cherries and several Plums. Mr Cotman came on Tuesday {5} but was so unwell that he did not stay much more than an hour, Maria called on him {6} to know how he did on Wednesday he was stretched on a sofa and looked very ill but he expected to be better (as he was) the next day. I have bathed twice and like it very much I bathe with my aunt Powys and Charlotte {7} who does not like it very much but I told [her] I should bring her a stone or a fish so I took a stone and put it upon my foot when I came into the machine, and she now keeps the stone as if it was a wonder for a stone to come out of the sea. Maria has seen her little Indian cousins, {8} she says that the girl is very plain, she is sallow with grey eyes the boy is fairer and more pretty. I have heard that the nurses were great curiosities but Maria has not seen them yet. We have had very bad weather ever since the 4th of June towards the evening there came on a thick sea fog which lasts still. My aunt Powys sends her love I am sure you will like her for she gets up at 6 o’clock. Sisters send their love and believe me dear Papa your very affection<ate> daughter

Elizabeth Turner

Dear Papa,

I write purposely to thank you for your letter to me, which pleasure and indulgence I had not expected; as you say, and I do not doubt it, that you are much engaged, and have no time to spare. I had certainly no way expected any thing more than a few lines at the bottom of a letter to Mamma, but I am only the more agreably surprised. To-day (Sat) is the Concert, and I could not have spared time to write to any one but you, but it is my bounden duty to do that, as you have spared some to do so to me, and I do not doubt but that your time is now more precious than mine. My uncle Powell {9} is here now, he arrived on Thursday night, and stays till tomorrow morning. Mr Eager {10} is I believe exceedingly well satisfied with our progress. I hope he will be as much so tonight. We are all, and I especially, very sorry that Aunt Jane {11} does not come as I had particularly wished for her opinion of Maria’s and my performances. We have this morning removed back into the parlour. I think Eliz is much better and believe so does Mamma. We shall all be very glad to have you back and particularly, Dear Papa, your affectionate and dutiful Daughter, M. Turner

[Superscription:] D. Turner Esq. | R. Sparrow Esq. | No. 28 George Street | Hanover Square | London

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Paper not watermarked.

{1} Elizabeth’s cousin Edward Rigby, then aged seven, was staying in Norwich with her aunt and uncle, Katharine and William Simpson. A twenty-one gun salute was fired on the Castle Hill there on 24 May in honour of King George III’s seventy-fourth birthday. See the Norfolk Chronicle, 6 June 1812.

{2} Cynoglassum cheirifolia (properly cheirifolium) is a kind of houndstongue, Erica mediterranea a kind of heather; Andromeda polifolia is bog-rosemary.

{3} Elizabeth was recovering from an illness; see Maria’s message in the same letter.

{4} Elizabeth’s sister, then aged nine.

{5} 2nd.

{6} Cotman’s house was in Southtown, overlooking the river.

{7} Elizabeth Powys and her daughter Charlotte Frances, then aged five.

{8} Not identified.

{9} Philip Lewis Powell.

{10} John Eager, a dancing-master of local celebrity.

{11} Jane Palgrave, later Taylor.

Transcript

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.