Maintained by: Elisa E. Beshero-Bondar (ebb8 at
pitt.edu) Last modified: 2018-04-24T19:01:21.755-04:00
Edited by Elizabeth Raisanen.
Sponsored by:First digital edition in TEI, date: August 8, 2017. P5.Edition made with help from photos taken by Digital Mitford editors. Digital Mitford photo files: 2March1822SirWilliamElford1a.JPG, 2March1822SirWilliamElford1b.JPG, 2March1822SirWilliamElford2a.JPG, 2March1822SirWilliamElford2b.JPG, 2March1822SirWilliamElford3a.JPG, 2March1822SirWilliamElford3b.JPG, 2March1822SirWilliamElford4a.JPG, 2March1822SirWilliamElford4b.JPG, .
Published by: Digital Mitford: The Mary Russell Mitford Archive, Greensburg, PA, USA: 2013.
Reproduced by courtesy of the Reading Central LibraryReading Central Library The principal archive of Mary Russell Mitford’s personal papers and related documents, holding approximately 1,000 manuscripts and a nearly comprehensive collection of her publications.Digital Mitford Letters: The Mary Russell Mitford Archive
Repository: Reading Central Library. Shelf mark: qB/TU/MIT Vol. 4 Horizon No.: 1361550 ff. 448
Two quarto sheets of paper with correspondence on pages 1-3 and address leaf on page 4, then folded in thirds twice more and sealed for posting Address leaf bearing black postmark, mostly illegible, reading REHands other than Mitford's noted on this manuscript:
In all the variety of letters & modes of letters which, we have at different times sent to one another, pray did we ever try that fine classical thing a fragment? If not I have the pleasure of beginning the practice with the enclosed half pagesheet--without an end--& beginning most Pindarically in the middle of a subject--"Ruin seize thee ruthless King"[1] Mitford quotes from The Bard. A Pindaric Ode by Thomas GrayThomas Gray | Born: 1716-12-26 in Cornhill, London, England. Died: 1771-07-30 in Cambridge, England.
-- (I.1.1-4. Bard: "'Ruin seize thee, ruthless king!/'Confusion on thy banners wait,/'Though fanned by Conquest's crimson wing/'They mock the air with idle state.")—#jcm is not a finer instance of abruptness.--The truth is, my dear friend, that about a week ago, I began a letter to ask you a question respecting a person whom I thought it possible you might know--but getting the information I wished from another quarter, the first page & a half of my letter became useless--& being as you know a great economist of time & paper I tore off the un-business part of the epistle & shall enclose what remains. I was talking I believe of Mr. MilmanHenry Hart Milman
--#lmw's new Poem The Martyr of Antioch--I know that you don't read much of things printed in uneven lines--& I fancy that nine tenths of Mr. Milman'sHenry Hart Milman
--#lmw readers care as little for poetry as you do--only that very few have the honesty to say so--They read him for fashion--for the honour & glory of reading a poem--& the soberer credit of reading a good book--ItsIt's a sort of union of Sermon & romance--a Sunday evening amusement, which Mamas tolerate & Papas smile upon--& the book sells--and it ought to sell for it is full of splendid passages--with only one faux pas--all the Heathen persons odes & descriptions are worth a million of the Christian hymns & people--indeed Mr. MilmanHenry Hart Milman
--#lmw has a fine sense of classical
page 2
beauty--he would make a glorious thing of some old Grecian story--but then that would never make him a Dean or a Bishop--how you will not be very violently at a loss for a connexionconnection with the fragment--which I have made still more of a subject for the Antiquarian Society(do you belong to that learned body?) by tearing off with my usual mal-adressemaladresse the beginnings & endings of some of the lines--never mind you like riddles. 〰 By the bye coming back to one eternal theme the AuthorWalter Scott | Born: 1771-08-15 in Edinburgh, Scotland. Died: 1832-09-21 in Abbotsford, Scotland.
Scottish antiquarian, poet, and novelist. Also
worked as clerk of the Court of Session in Edinburgh. He assembled a
collection of Scottish ballads, many of which had never before been printed,
in Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border, first published in
1802, but continually expanded in revised
editions through 1812
. Author of the long romance poems,
The Lay of the Last Minstrel (1805),
Marmion (1808), and
The Lady of the Lake (1810). From
1814-1831, Scott published 23 novels, and over the course of his literary
career, he wrote review articles for the Edinburgh Review, The
Quarterly Review, Blackwood’s Edinburgh
Magazine, and the Foreign Quarterly Review.--#ebb #esh of Waverley--I heard a day or two back from the young American Traveller of whom I have I think elsewhere made honorable mention [2] Mitford appears to have met an American with whom she corresponded, possibly Nathaniel Parker WillisNathaniel Parker Willis | Born: 1806-01-20 in Portland, Maine, USA. Died: 1867-01-20 in Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
American poet, journalist, periodical editor, and lecturer. Also published under N.P. Willis. The
brother of American author, Sara Willis, "Fanny Fern". Literary celebrity and considered
something of a gossip and a dandy. Corresponded with Mary
Russell Mitford.
--#lmw.—#jcm that Captain Scott is much respected by those much with him in Canada (our Traveller aforesaid had the honour to be introduced to him) of having at least some share in the novels[3] Thomas Scott was rumored to have been the author of Waverley, or at least a major contributor to the Waverley Novels. Many novels subsequent to Waverley were simply ascribed to "the Author of Waverley".—#jcm--he is certainly eternally writing--& if that be not the subject no one can guess what is. 〰 To come back to a less distant Traveller (really I have done injustice to my own excellence in the art of transition--the ScottWalter Scott | Born: 1771-08-15 in Edinburgh, Scotland. Died: 1832-09-21 in Abbotsford, Scotland.
Scottish antiquarian, poet, and novelist. Also
worked as clerk of the Court of Session in Edinburgh. He assembled a
collection of Scottish ballads, many of which had never before been printed,
in Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border, first published in
1802, but continually expanded in revised
editions through 1812
. Author of the long romance poems,
The Lay of the Last Minstrel (1805),
Marmion (1808), and
The Lady of the Lake (1810). From
1814-1831, Scott published 23 novels, and over the course of his literary
career, he wrote review articles for the Edinburgh Review, The
Quarterly Review, Blackwood’s Edinburgh
Magazine, and the Foreign Quarterly Review.--#ebb #esh question being in itself a sort of conundrum would have hitched into the MilmanHenry Hart Milman
--#lmw & Antiquarian subject with no bigger a link than the little word Enigma--& Traveller would have served equally for Him of AmericaUnited States of America | United States of America |
37.09024 -95.71289100000001
--37.09024 -95.71289100000001 & Her of Exmouth[4] Here, Mitford refers to the "American Traveller" (possibly Nathaniel Parker Willis) and the "less distant Traveller" (Mrs. DickinsonCatherine Dickinson Allingham | Born: . Died: .
Catherine Allingham was born about 1787 in
Middlesex, the daughter of Thomas Allingham. She married Charles Dickinson on
August 2, 1807 at St. Giles, South Mimms,
Middlesex. They lived in Swallowfield, Berkshire, where their daughter Frances
was born, and where they were visited by the Mitford family. According to
Mitford, Catherine Dickinson was fond of match-making among her friends and
acquaintances. (See
Mitford’s February
8th, 1821 letter to Elford
. Her husband Charles died in 1827, when her daughter was seven. She died
on September 2, 1861 at St. Marylebone, Middlesex. Source: L’Estrange). --#ajc #lmw), respectively. She compares their geographical distance to the disparity of her topics mentioned above.—#jcm--there was not the slightest occasion for a mark of jerkification inasmuch as there was no jerk) Mrs. DickensonDickinsonCatherine Dickinson Allingham | Born: . Died: .
Catherine Allingham was born about 1787 in
Middlesex, the daughter of Thomas Allingham. She married Charles Dickinson on
August 2, 1807 at St. Giles, South Mimms,
Middlesex. They lived in Swallowfield, Berkshire, where their daughter Frances
was born, and where they were visited by the Mitford family. According to
Mitford, Catherine Dickinson was fond of match-making among her friends and
acquaintances. (See
Mitford’s February
8th, 1821 letter to Elford
. Her husband Charles died in 1827, when her daughter was seven. She died
on September 2, 1861 at St. Marylebone, Middlesex. Source: L’Estrange). --#ajc #lmw is come back from the West--quite delighted with DevonshireDevonshire, England |
Devon
|
50.7155591 -3.5308750000000373
| County in the south west of England bordering the English Channel
and the Bristol Channel. Now called Devon.--#ebb #lmw50.7155591 -3.5308750000000373 scenery DevonshireDevonshire, England |
Devon
|
50.7155591 -3.5308750000000373
| County in the south west of England bordering the English Channel
and the Bristol Channel. Now called Devon.--#ebb #lmw50.7155591 -3.5308750000000373 manners, & DevonshireDevonshire, England |
Devon
|
50.7155591 -3.5308750000000373
| County in the south west of England bordering the English Channel
and the Bristol Channel. Now called Devon.--#ebb #lmw50.7155591 -3.5308750000000373 people. We shall never get her to hide BerkshireBerkshire, England | Berkshire | England |
51.4669939 -1.185367700000029
| The county of Berkshire, England, abbreviated "Berks."--51.4669939 -1.185367700000029 again. We spent her time very gaily & very happily at Exmouth & they have laid in a stock of health, she & her little girlFrances Vikris Dickinson | Born: 1820-03-07 in Farley Hill, near Swallowfield, Berkshire, England. Died: 1898-10-26 in Siena, Toscana, Italy.
Frances Dickinson was the only child of Charles
Dickinson and Catherine Allingham. She was born on 7
March 1820 at Farley Hill, near Swallowfield, Berkshire, and was
baptized on April 17. Her father Charles died
when she was seven years old. She died at Siena, Toscana, Italy on October, 26 1898 and is buried in Rome. She was
married to and divorced from her first husband, John Edward Geils (1813-1894)
and later married the Rev. Gilbert Elliott (1800-1891). --#ajc #lmw, which will last them a twelvemonth--Mr. D.Charles Dickinson, or: Mr. Dickinson | Born: 1755-03-06 in Pickwick Lodge, Corsham, Wiltshire, England. Died: 1827 in Farley Hill, near Swallowfield, Berkshire, England.
Friend of the Mitford family. Charles Dickinson
was born on March 6, 1755 at Pickwick Lodge,
Corsham, Wiltshire. He was the son of Vikris Dickinson and Elizabeth Marchant.
The Dickinson family were Quakers who lived in the vicinity of Bristol,
Gloucestershire. On August 3, 1807, he married
Catherine Allingham at St Giles,
South Mimms, Middlesex. They lived at Farley Hill, near Swallowfield,
Berkshire, where their daughter Frances was born, and where the Mitfords
visited them. Charles Dickinson owned a private press he employed to print
literary works by his friends (See letters to Elford from March 13, 1819 and
June 21, 1820). Charles Dickinson died at Farley Hill in 1827.--#ajc #lmw is still indifferent--they are
page 3
talking of going to LondonLondon, England | London | England |
51.5073509 -0.12775829999998223
| Capital city of England and the United Kingdom; one the oldest
cities in Western Europe. Major seaport and global trading center at the mouth
of the Thames. From 1831 to 1925, the
largest city in the world.--#lmw51.5073509 -0.12775829999998223 for advice (N.B. when it is got he won't take it--I am sure of that)--Perhaps they are already gone--for they set off with a whole family with little more preparation than a bird makes when it takes flight from a tree--The Albatross whose wing has five joints to put in motion before it can get under way (vide The London MagazineThe London Magazine. 1820-1829.
An 18th-century periodical of this title (The London Magazine, or
Gentleman’s Monthly Intelligencer) ran from 1732 to 1785
. In 1820, John
Scott launched a new series of The London Magazine
emulating the style of Blackwood’s Magazine,
though the two magazines soon came into heated contention. This series ran
until 1829, and this is the series to which Mitford and her correspondents frequently refer in
their letters. Scott’s editorship lasted until his death by duel on 27 February 1821 resulting form bitter personal
conflict with the editors of Blackwood’s
Magazine connected with their insulting characterization of a
London
Cockney School. After Scott’s death,
William Hazlitt took up editing the
magazine with the April 1821 issue.--#ebb #lmw for this month) is much longer in taking flight than [Gap: 1 chars, reason: torn.][M]rs. Dickinson. Pray [Gap: 1 word, reason: torn.][are]you going to TownThree Mile Cross, Berkshire, England | Three Mile Cross | Berkshire | England |
51.4047211 -0.9734518999999864
| Village in the parish of Shinfield in Berkshire, where Mary
Russell Mitford moved with her parents in 1820. They lived in a cottage there until 1851. --#ebb51.4047211 -0.9734518999999864 this season? If you think of such a thing don't forget that we are only three miles from ReadingReading, Berkshire, England | Reading | Berkshire | England |
51.4542645 -0.9781302999999753
| County town in Berkshire, in the Thames valley at the confluence
of the Thames and the River Kennet. The town developed as a river port and in
Mitford’s time served as a staging point on
the Bath Road and was developing into a center of manufacturing. Mitford lived here with her parents from 1791 to 1795, on Coley Avenue in the parish of St.
Mary’s and attended the Abbey School. The family returned to Reading from 1797 to about 1804, after which they
relocated to Bertram House. They
frequently visited Reading thereafter from their homes at nearby Bertram House, Three Mile Cross and Swallowfield. Mitford later used scenes from Reading as the basis for Belford
Regis; or Sketches of a Country Town.--#lmw51.4542645 -0.9781302999999753 & that we shall be delighted to see you in our hut. There is some chance that I might be able to show you Miss JamesElizabeth Mary James | Born: . Died: .
Close friend and correspondent of Mary Russell Mitford. She was born about 1775 in Bath,
Somerset, the eldest daughter of Thomas Webb and Susanna Haycock. Her father
died in 1818 and her mother in 1835. After her parents’ deaths, she lived with
her two younger sisters, Emily and Susan, in Green Park Buildings, Bath,
Walcot, Somerset; High Street, Mortlake, Surrey; and 3 Pembroke Villas,
Richmond, Surrey. According to Coles,
referring to Mitford’s diary, letters were also addressed to her at Bellevue,
Lower Road, Richmond (Coles 26). She died on November 25, 1861, at 3 Pembroke
Villas, Richmond, Surrey and was buried at St. Mary Magdalene, Richmond,
Surrey. In the 1841 census, under "profession, trade, employment, or
independent means" she lists "Ind." for "independent means;" in the 1851
census, she lists "landholder;" in the 1861 census, she lists "railway
shareholder."--#lmw--for I think she will come to Dr. ValpyRichard Valpy, Doctor of Divinity (DD), Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries (FSA), or: Dr. Valpy | Born: 1754-12-07 in St. John’s, Jersey, Channel Islands. Died: 1836-03-28 in Reading, Berkshire, England.
Richard Valpy (the fourth of that name) was the eldest son of Richard Valpy
[III] and Catherine Chevalier. He was born on December 7, 1754 at St.
John’s, Jersey, Channel Islands. He was a friend and literary mentor to
Mary Russell Mitford. He matriculated at
Pembroke College, Oxford University on April 1, 1773, aged eighteen, as a
Morley scholar. He received from Oxford a B.A. (1776), M.A. (1784), B.D.
& D.D. (1792). He took orders in the Church of England in 1777. Richard
Valpy served as Second Master at Bury School, Bury, Huntindonshire from 1771
to 1781, and was also collated to the rectory of Stradishall, Suffolk, in
1787. He became the Headmaster at Reading School, Reading, Berkshire, in
1781 and served until 1830, at which time he turned the Headmastership over
to his youngest son Francis E. J. Valpy and continued in semi-retirement
until his death in 1836. During his tenure as Headmaster of Reading Grammar School for boys over
the course of fifty years, he expanded the boarding school and added new
buildings. He is the author of numerous published works, including Greek and
Latin textbooks, sermons, volumes of poetry, and adaptations of plays such
as Shakespeare’s King John and Sheridan’s The Critic. His Elements of
Greek Grammar, Elements of Latin Grammar,,Greek
Delectus and Latin Delectus, printed and published by
his son A. J. Valpy, were all much
used as school texts throughout the nineteenth century. Valpy’s students
performed his own adaptations of Greek, Latin, and English plays for the
triennial visitations and the play receipts went to charitable
organizations. Valpy enlisted Mitford to write reviews of the productions
for the Reading Mercury. In 1803, his
adaptation of Shakespeare’s King John was performed at Covent Garden
Theatre.
Richard Valpy was married twice and had twelve children, eleven of whom
lived to adulthood. His first wife was Martha
Cornelia de Cartaret; Richard and Martha were married about
1778 and they had one daughter, Martha Cartaretta Cornelia, born 1779.
His first wife Martha died about 1780 and he
married Mary Benwell of Caversham, Oxfordshire on May 30, 1782. Together they had six sons and
five daughters and ten of their eleven children survived to adulthood.
Richard Valpy and Mary Benwell’s sons were Richard Valpy (the
fifth of that name), Abraham John
Valpy, called John; Gabriel Valpy,
Anthony Blagrove Valpy; and Francis Edward
Jackson Valpy. His daughters were Mary Ann Catherine Valpy; Sarah
Frances Valpy, called "Frances" or "Fanny"; Catherine Elizabeth Blanch Valpy;
Penelope Arabella Valpy; and
Elizabeth Charlotte Valpy, who died as an
infant. Richard Valpy died on March 28,
1836 in Reading,
Berkshire, and is buried in All Souls cemetery, Kensal
Green, London. Dr. Valpy’s students placed a marble bust of him
in St. Lawrence’s church, Reading, Berkshire, after his
death. John Opie painted Dr. Valpy’s portrait. See .
--#ebb #lmw's at Easter--& when she comes for the form of the thing to D. ValpyRichard Valpy, Doctor of Divinity (DD), Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries (FSA), or: Dr. Valpy | Born: 1754-12-07 in St. John’s, Jersey, Channel Islands. Died: 1836-03-28 in Reading, Berkshire, England.
Richard Valpy (the fourth of that name) was the eldest son of Richard Valpy
[III] and Catherine Chevalier. He was born on December 7, 1754 at St.
John’s, Jersey, Channel Islands. He was a friend and literary mentor to
Mary Russell Mitford. He matriculated at
Pembroke College, Oxford University on April 1, 1773, aged eighteen, as a
Morley scholar. He received from Oxford a B.A. (1776), M.A. (1784), B.D.
& D.D. (1792). He took orders in the Church of England in 1777. Richard
Valpy served as Second Master at Bury School, Bury, Huntindonshire from 1771
to 1781, and was also collated to the rectory of Stradishall, Suffolk, in
1787. He became the Headmaster at Reading School, Reading, Berkshire, in
1781 and served until 1830, at which time he turned the Headmastership over
to his youngest son Francis E. J. Valpy and continued in semi-retirement
until his death in 1836. During his tenure as Headmaster of Reading Grammar School for boys over
the course of fifty years, he expanded the boarding school and added new
buildings. He is the author of numerous published works, including Greek and
Latin textbooks, sermons, volumes of poetry, and adaptations of plays such
as Shakespeare’s King John and Sheridan’s The Critic. His Elements of
Greek Grammar, Elements of Latin Grammar,,Greek
Delectus and Latin Delectus, printed and published by
his son A. J. Valpy, were all much
used as school texts throughout the nineteenth century. Valpy’s students
performed his own adaptations of Greek, Latin, and English plays for the
triennial visitations and the play receipts went to charitable
organizations. Valpy enlisted Mitford to write reviews of the productions
for the Reading Mercury. In 1803, his
adaptation of Shakespeare’s King John was performed at Covent Garden
Theatre.
Richard Valpy was married twice and had twelve children, eleven of whom
lived to adulthood. His first wife was Martha
Cornelia de Cartaret; Richard and Martha were married about
1778 and they had one daughter, Martha Cartaretta Cornelia, born 1779.
His first wife Martha died about 1780 and he
married Mary Benwell of Caversham, Oxfordshire on May 30, 1782. Together they had six sons and
five daughters and ten of their eleven children survived to adulthood.
Richard Valpy and Mary Benwell’s sons were Richard Valpy (the
fifth of that name), Abraham John
Valpy, called John; Gabriel Valpy,
Anthony Blagrove Valpy; and Francis Edward
Jackson Valpy. His daughters were Mary Ann Catherine Valpy; Sarah
Frances Valpy, called "Frances" or "Fanny"; Catherine Elizabeth Blanch Valpy;
Penelope Arabella Valpy; and
Elizabeth Charlotte Valpy, who died as an
infant. Richard Valpy died on March 28,
1836 in Reading,
Berkshire, and is buried in All Souls cemetery, Kensal
Green, London. Dr. Valpy’s students placed a marble bust of him
in St. Lawrence’s church, Reading, Berkshire, after his
death. John Opie painted Dr. Valpy’s portrait. See .
--#ebb #lmw's she spends most of her time here. I think I love her better than I used to do when you used to laugh at me about her--we have ha[Gap: 1 chars, reason: torn.][d]a quarrel--in which I scolded & she sulked--& as [Gap: 1 word, reason: torn.][her] only fault before was being faultless the discovery of this little imperfection has only made her the more charming--besides we are more upon an equality--she knew plenty of my little imperfections before--for my faults I thank them poor things lie visibly enough upon the surface--you may run & read--whilst her one sin lay buried like a tulip root at Christmas. I should like you to know her. 〰 Was not I very pooly when I wrote to you last? Yes. I am quite well again--& quite ready for a letter from you as soon as ever you may condescend to write one--This is my second remember. Pray write soon & long. God bless you my dear friend--Kindest regards from PapaGeorge Mitford, Esq., or: George Midford | Born: . Died: .
George Mitford was born on November 15, 1760 in Hexham,
Northumberland, the son of Francis
Midford, surgeon, and Jane Graham. He was
related to the Mitfords of Mitford Castle, Northumberland. In 1784, he was living in Alresford and is listed in a
Hampshire directory as "surgeon (medicine)." Although later sources would
claim that he was a graduate of the University of Edinburgh medical school,
there is no evidence that he obtained a medical degree; his father and
grandfather worked as surgeon-apothecaries and it seems likely that he
served a medical apprenticeship with family members. He married Mary Russell on October 17, 1785 at New Alresford,
Hampshire. On the marriage allegation papers, both gave their
addresses as Old Alresford; they later came to live
at Broad Street in New Alresford. Their only child to live to adulthood,
Mary Russell Mitford, was born two years
later on December 16, 1787 at New
Alresford, Hampshire. George
Mitford died on December 11,
1842 at Three Mile
Cross in the parish of Shinfield,
Berkshire.
--#lmw & MamaMary Russell Mitford, or: Mrs. Mitford | Born: 1750 in Ashe, Hampshire, England. Died: 1830-01-02 in Three Mile Cross, parish of Shinfield, Berkshire,
England.
Mary Russell was the youngest child of
the Rev. Dr. Richard Russell and
his second wife, Mary Dicker; she was born about 1750 in Ashe, Hampshire. (Her
birth date is as yet unverified; period sources indicate that she was ten years
older than her husband George, born in 1760.) Through the Russells, she was a
distant relation of the Dukes of Bedford (sixth creation, 1694). She had two
siblings, Charles William and Frances; both predeceased her and their parents,
which resulted in Mary Russell inheriting
her family’s entire estate upon her mother’s death in 1785. Her father’s rectory in Ashe was only a
short distance from Steventon, and so she was acquainted
with the young Jane Austen. She married
George Mitford or Midford on October 17, 1785 at New Alresford,
Hampshire. On the marriage allegation papers, both gave their
addresses as Old Alresford. Their only daughter,
Mary Russell Mitford, was born two years
later on December 16, 1787 at New
Alresford, Hampshire. Mary
Russell died on January 2, 1830 at
Three Mile Cross in the parish of Shinfield,
Berkshire. Her obituary in the 1830 New
Monthly Magazine gives the "New Year’s day" as the date of her death.
--#ajc #lmw--.