Letter from John Dent Goodman from his Grandmother

Monsieur J.D.Goodman
Poste Restante
Paris
Oct 7th – 41

My dear John

Your affectionate attention in writing to me from such an interesting Place where there was every inducement to occupy your time in what was most gratifying to yourself, was a most agreeable surprise for which I return my best thanks and only lament that I cannot send anything half so well worth your attention in response. Cath- and I are very much amused with your accounts and earnestly hope the fine air will not only benefit your health for the present, but establish it for a length of time – it would indeed do us great good. I am sorry to say though we have occasional fine days, the weather has been recently so damp your Aunt is far from well, so easily affected with slight sore throat, a coldness in the Stomach, and symptoms that makes early care extremely necessary; and she has just engaged to undertake collecting for the Church Missionary Society, it is newly raised here, the Revd – Fox of Woodstone has persuaded her to take a District which she was to make the first choice of to collect in, and she chose the Minster Yard, which appeared the most difficult as some of the high Church did not very readily acquiesce in it yet when Mr Fox found what was given and set down to be, by quarterly monthly and different payments, he was quite pleased, and thought Cath- had been as successful as could be expected and the other collectors pretty well. They were so fortunate as to induce the Bishop to be President, that probably induced several to subscribe for he and his Family are all so amiable and worthy of imitation they cannot fail being highly respected. Cath- had a letter from your Mamma and we are very sorry to hear your Fathers sight has been weaker since the attack of inflamation in one Eye, she wants your Aunt to attend the Infirmary to read &c to the Patients, if she was a healthy Person she would do her best, for the good of her fellow Creatures and has visited some and relieved their Minds as well as Bodies, but her own system is so weak that I cannot consent for her to undertake any more than she now has in hand, it takes up most of her time, and her Friends think they see very little of her, she does not intend to visit anywhere of an evening this Winter being so easily made ill by it, which would prevent her performing the duties she has engaged in. Yesterday was the anniversary of dear Mary’s Wedding day. We earnestly hope her blessings will all long be continued to her and all that are dear to her; what pleasing accounts we have of the sweet Babe.

Before I forget will you allow me to commission you to purchase for me a pr of bracelet snaps of anything that will not break by a fall, and place to my account. You kindly asked me how my journeys proved; very dull from extreme wet weather, and being shut up in warm rooms oftener than able to get out, I have had an Airing or two since I got home and feel rather cheered by it; I joined Miss [?Farside] in a Fly to take Tea with Mrs Edwards who has a Son in the Farm at Water Newton and wish[es] to visit us in a friendly way. They are a most agreeable Family who were occasionally at your Fathers to stay. Mrs Whitsed has been to spend a few days at the Crescent and with us, and I am sorry to say is considered in very bad health – many Doctors have examined her throat and the general state of her system and think seriously of the symptoms. I am glad to say all the Crescent Family are well, I favoured Mary with a sight of your letter, she was much amused and pleased and, sent all kind regards from the Family – Parsons continues well too , and will return to College. I will thank you to purchase any trifling curiosity for Cath and charge to me if not inconvenient to you.

Mr & Mrs Frederic Sutton enquired after you much; they have been as far as Liverpool with their Brother Evans who lives in America. They tried to find out Mr Woods Residence, but not taking the address previously they were disappointed, it was not to be found.

I will not intrude much longer on your precious time but I hope & beg My dear John you will burn this bad specimen of my abilities as soon as it is read, for I perceive my sight unequal, and my ideas not collected enough to do more than endeavour to convince you how much I have your health and happiness at heart, and that anything you communicate tending to it, will ever give me pleasure to read, or hear: have you made any new arrangements with the Scho – s Family more advantageous to yourself? When you return take care to clothe for the difference of Air, otherwise you would be very liable to take cold though you feel proof against it at present: what you have to convey to us, if you please may be given into the care of your Brother George when he returns to Cambridge, as he might easily forward it – what a happy Group there are at Liverpool, they will be sorry to part.

Your Aunt joins me in kindest love to you and best wishes for your safe arrival at home, and a happy meeting with all your Family.

God bless you my dear John and believe me

Your affectionate

Grandmother

When you are choosing me a Pr of bracelet snaps, Cath– would be much obliged by your purchasing a Pr of Gold Ear-rings for her a little modern but very neat and simple. Then they shall be my present, therefore you need not look for anything else for her.