21 Jun 1834

Richard Bevan Esq
Rougham Hearth
Bury St Edmunds
Suffolk

Mrs Pattendens, Henfield,
Saturday June 21

I thank you a thousand times my dearest husband for your frequent letters. Though I shall be overjoyed to see you again in health and safety yet I would rather you should stay a night in London. Bury is a great distance from Town & you are so little accustomed to stage coach travelling that I really do not wish to see you till Friday. I drove over yesterday afternoon to Albourne (a fine level turnpike road) & made some inquiries of the landlady of the Inn about the coaches. The Regent arrives 1/2 past 3. The New Dart at 4- The Age 1/2 past 5. The Times at 7. She thinks they all leave the West End. But as Baugh has occasion to send to Brighton on his own business today, Henry is to get a list from the Brighton coach offices of the Hickstead coaches which I will copy when it arrives - Albourne is about 4 1/2 miles from here, & two miles beyond Hickstead as you go from London - I think you would be very tired of the Royal Williams (the Henfield coach) circuitous route. Henfield by Horsham is 47 & 1/2 miles from London & the coach comes round by Richmond. It passes our door 1/4 before 3 generally. I got a note from Spittle Wednesday night- she said Smith was getting on as fast as possible with the windows. They had taken every precaution to keep out the damp. The outside blinds and shutters were carefully closed and at those windows where there were none they nailed up their bed side carpets so I hope our furniture etc will sustain no injury.  I am afraid it will be a heavy expense but one must not complain. The paper says that they do not exaggerate in saying there was a shower of hail stones as large as walnuts. Mr Langdon lives on this road. I think I saw him again yesterday on the top of the coach wh stopped opposite our door for a few minutes to put down a passenger. The hail storm has made terrible havoc in his little chapel he says- From all I hear we seem to have escaped with less damage than our neighbours. I have heard nothing of your poor old mother - No news they say is good news, which I trust it is with regard to her. The weather is now intensely hot. I was never so distressed by the heat as I was last night- you may suppose my discomfort was greater than my cowardice for I had my bed room door open all night which relieved me a little. Bess does not cough at all at night, but romping or running w[hic]h we cannot always check in time always produces it. I am more & More convinced that it is chiefly stomach and when you take into consideration her ra[-] [barely legible entry, may read rath or rash] as a baby & her cough without cold last summer at Harvest hill I think you will incline to the same opinion - I now doctor her myself & as syrup of poppies is the basis of most cough mixtures I give her about 30 or 40 drops twice a day and the smallest dose of Rhubarb & Magnesia every other day. When a coach passes the door she often says “If Papa was in that coach I should be so pleased”- Baby seems easier- Dora quite well & little Charlie, she behaves so nicely at meals that she is quite an example. If I reprove Dora or Bess she always says “I don’t have so, does I”? I am uncommonly well thank God - I can go through twice the exertion with half the fatigue I feel at Brighton. I am afraid you will not like our early hours but you can lunch at our dinner, & have a second jollification. Every thing has gone on very smoothly. I like the Pattendens extremely. They are very nice and obliging people without any ‘Carney’. They have one pleasant servant. Kate is footman and a very good one, and you know you will like to be waited upon by women. Then I have real tallow candles with cauliflower wigs - another thing that you like. Better beach than at Brighton so I think you would be able to exist here a week. I saw Izard just now scampering past on your grey pony. The pony looked to gay & so pretty you would have been almost tempted to wish for him back- The carrier brings things for almost nothing- He is to fetch the King’s goods today, so I suppose Mrs K & the family will come on Monday. Baugh seems very steady & takes all his meals with the maids. He has a very good respectable lodging next door - He sits a good [-] [section is torn] in the passage with the maids, & walks out with the children when I am not with them- I believe they are not sorry to have his help as he carries the little ones who are not always disposed to ride- a donkey was nearly useless without a chair saddle so I have hired one of Gaudey for 3/6 a week- The carried [sic] bought it & 2 other parcels for 8- I should much like to see Mrs Robert again & make acquainteanced [sic] with her family. I am glad you are pleased with your visit, though I will not say that I hope you will repeat it in a hurry. If you have given or received pleasure or if you have been of use in any way I shall not regret this separation- I do not think family affectation is likely to be kept up without intercourse and in this point of view I am glad you have made this journey- you must feel more interest in relations whom you see occasionally than in those who are almost unknown to you- I hope you can make out my writing, I try to make it legible- It is so small that I will not try your eyes by writing across - I propose adding a bulletin tomorrow morn’g & the coach [-] [barely legible entry] when it arrives so adieu my dearest love. The day you return (please God) I can drive over to Albourne if I set out 1/4 before 3 I should see that you did not come by the Henfield coach & should be in in [sic] time to catch you by the Regent at 1/2 past. I shall be too happy to wait for the first glimpse of you so do not worry yourself but come by the coach that will be most convenient- God help you ever my dearest prayers your most affectionate wife C.B- The children send love.

A letter has just come for you in Baugh’s parcel. [-] [barely legible entry] the date June 20, it could only have arrived this morn’g so no time is lost.  Mr Phelps says “I think it proper to inform you that one of my children is at present labouring under an attack of scarlet fever in my house. Every precaution is taken to prevent the spreading of the disease & the patient is in a part of the house purposely distant from that occupied by my pupils- The size of the house & its arrangements being calculated to make such precautions effectual”. I have given you the whole letter that you might be better able to form your opinion- Considering how fatal that disorder had been on this family I have Decided upon writing to his aunts that if they are very anxious to have him moved they might let you know by return of post. I know no one else who could or would take him. I shall desire them to [-] [barely legible entry] for you at your brother Henry’s - Your brother can act agreeably to your directions to send George to the Miss Buchanan’s if they particularly desire it- or forbid his going if you and his guardians do not approve.

Sunday all well thank God. Bess certainly very much better. Coughed but once yesterday & that from romping. The Kings came last evening. Dr K says George is not likely to take the scarlet fever a second time but it is possible- many instances have occurred of the kind- I have just got your welcome letter you found mine at Carlton yesterday. I hope I though it better not to alter the address of this as you will probably return to Rougham Tuesday.

After much consideration I have written to her. Phelps to place G in a lodging in the neighbourhood till you can Decide about him.

Henry has not sent word about the coaches. Baugh says three Brighton coaches leave the White Horse cellar Piccadilly at 10 to 1/2p10.