1725

__ Letters from Anna to Her Sister Mary, 1725 __ January 1st, 1725 Mary, My dear sister, I want to thank you for visiting us for Christmas this year. The festivities could not have been as wonderful as they were without your presence. The paper says that on Christmas day the Prince and Princess of Wales received Holy Communion and ordered money to be given to the poor of St. Anne’s Parish. That is so sweet of them, don’t you think? I’ve heard that our thoughts about Tom’s hospital were mistaken and that they will only be accepting ill patients that may possibly be cured, but not those poor incurable souls that are under the care of the Parishes. So know we must more fully discuss this with this new information! The Merry Wives of Windsor was playing today. We were going to attend, but Thomas is feeling under the weather. My girls have just been feelings so down since you left us, you know how much they love to have you around. They are constantly bothering me about when you will be visiting us again. I’m not sure if you’ve heard yet but they charged that man Atkins with murdering that innocent child. I just simply cannot image what would bring someone to take someone else’s life with a fire poker. It’s quite disgusting even to think about. I’m just glad that something has been done, though nothing will bring that poor girl back to her family. Life is full of such dreadful things, is it not? On the Brightside, our cousin has been released from prison for those debts that he owed pursuant to the legacy left by the late Thomas Guy. His parents will be so pleased; they were just in shambles when he was put away for nearly nothing. You must come up to see us again soon. Elizabeth would be so delighted if you came for her birthday. That’s all for now. With all of my love, Anna *     February 13th, 1725 Mary, I hope all is well with you in the country. It has been awfully cold here recently. I’m sitting in the study wrapped in what seems like all of the blankets in the house. Twice my children have walked by and taken no notice of me for I look just like a pile of fabric! Elizabeth’s birthday was quite a success as I’m sure you would agree. She could not have been more pleased with your traveling here especially for her. Thomas is off somewhere with his cousin Henry. He was explaining to me what it was that they were doing, but I was away in my own mind, which keeps me from having to listen to him go on about such things. They are playing the Man of Mode at Drury Lane. I don’t particularly like the play, but Thomas and I attended for the company. We’ve been inside recently because of the cold. I wanted to speak with you about the number of churches that they are building. It seems like an extraordinary amount of work has been done, the paper says that there will be 50 built! Seems like quite a lot. Though our church has been rather packed lately, so maybe it is necessary. It seems as though everyday there are more people appearing out of nowhere. Do you feel that way in the country? It seems like there is so much more room there. They found the two men that robbed the Chester Mail. Some William Rowe who was committed to New Gate and a Jackson that turned out to be a quack doctor. Men are just such silly creatures it seems. I also read about the unfortunate Ensign Tattle who suffered a wound in the groin from street dueling that ended up killing him. It is quite sad, but also foolish. I guess a man simply cannot live without his manhood. Oh, I must really keep that kind of humor to myself, but as my sister I hope you will appreciate it. He was dueling with Captain Wilson, a brigadier in the Life-Guards. Ensign was of the third regiment of Foot-Guards. They were at a tavern in Chandois Street near Covent Garden. It erupted from a simple quarrel and now one of them is under ground. They’re silly, as I have said so many times before. Good day dear sister, please write soon. Blessings, Anna *     March 1st, 1725 Mary, We have just been to Lincoln’s Inn Fields Theatre to see “The Bath Unmask’d” by Mr. Odingsells. It was quite a scandalous play, with the most scandalous characters being Mr. Pander and Mr. Sprightly, two men whose lives are seeped in immorality. These men are played by Mr. Egleton and Mr. Ryan, respectivel y. The fop of the play was the Count, with quite a ridiculous accent and sense of character. He is played by Mr. Walker. The play told the story of finding the right love. Such as was the story of Lord Wiseman, played by Mr. Boheme, who believed to be in love with Liberia, played by Mr    While the beginning of the play led me to believe that the playwright was advocating the life of a rake, the end had me quite delighted. Sprightly, while presented as a devious sinner, reformed himself with his love Cleora. Lord Wiseman and Honoria found mutual affection for each other. The Count turned out to be just a French rogue, after he married Liberia and therefore left her with nothing. Pander attempted to run away with Sir Whiffle’s daughter, but they were caught and he might have been hanged though the play ended before that was revealed. I’m sure he would have gotten away. It turned out to be quite sentimental of a play, and I was very pleased with the results. You know how I feel about justified relationships. I just love it when people end up together that really seem to be happy. I hope that if you come to town soon, it will be playing and you will be able to understand more fully what I mean. The family misses you. s. Vincent, but it was quite obvious from the start that he was meant for Honoria, playe d by Mrs. Bullock, for they were very much alike. There also was the plot of Sprightly to play with Cleora, played by Mrs. Parker, despite her repeated denial of his advances. Liberia, instead of having feelings for Lord Wiseman, seemed to have feelings, at least in friendship, with the foolish Count. It was quite disturbing for he was such an unlikeable creature. Sincerely yours, Anna *   Lincoln's Inn Fields in 1889 (red areas are middle class, blue areas are casual earnings, and back are lowest class) April 3rd, 1725 Dearest Mary,

It has warmed up, but only slightly. The girls and I are looking forward to the spring. This winter has been dreadful and I don’t think I can take one more day of it. Those poor sailors out at sea, I don’t know how they live that way in this weather. I mention the sailors because they published a letter from March 25th that was written on his Majesty’s ship the Greyhound about how they captured the pirates that had attacked a ship, killing the captain, mate, surgeon and supercargo. They are bringing them back for their trial, though I think we know what will become of them. It’s quite scary to think about life on the ocean even without the threat of pirates. The wind, the water, the storms, any of them could take hold of the ship and empty it into the sea. There was even a small mention of another boat that had been overset in shooting the bridge and a man drowned. It’s dangerous out there. Apparently two weeks ago, the king’s pheasantry was broken into and some thieves killed and stole some of the pheasants. It seems mad to attempt to steal anything from the King and all that just for birds? I can’t imagine the other birds were very happy about it either. I bet they could just find the thieves by following the trail of feathers that I’m sure was leading away from the place. The news is just so fascinating. A man fell into the mote at Tatnum Court and drowned. What he was doing that close to the mote is a mystery to all of us it seems. Perhaps he fancied a swim. Another man was executed for murdering his wife. What a horrible act that is, to murder your own wife. If Thomas ever tried to murder me, I don’t think he’d be very successful. He’s not very devious or quick-witted. It gives me peace of mind. Don’t get married dear, unless you know for sure he’s not smart enough to kill you. We had the choice between Julius Caesar at Drury Lane and The Amorous Widow at Lincoln’s Inn Fields today. I almost had Thomas convinced to see The Amorous Widow, but he insisted on Julius Caesar so that he could attend with his sister. I know that it is supposed to be a great play, but I just don’t have the stomach for it. Happy wishes, Anna The interior of the third and largest theatre to stand at Drury Lane, c. 1808 May 15th, 1725 Sweet Mary, Dear sister, it has been too long since your last visit. Our neighbor Mr. Callaghan has been chosen to be the new apothecary to Mr. Guy’s hospital in Southwark. We are all very proud of him and wish him the best. We worried for quite a while that he was not going to do anything with himself, but it seems that he has taken it upon himself to find an occupation. I heard the Mr. Browne has developed an engine for beating hemp that is much easier than the methods that we have had to use before. It’s supposed to be a very successful machine that will help the workhouses and will bring in new jobs for the poor. The paper says it will even be cheaper than the ways it is done now, which is always desirable if you ask me. We spoke of the man Blind Cooper who was creating false money and today’s paper says that a messenger was sent to capture her, it seems, and she attempted to throw herself out a window instead of to go with him! Quite scandalous! He prevented her of course, and I assume she was then taken back to his Majesty. I cannot imagine making the choice to throw myself from a window to my imminent death below. But, I guess she was in such a desperate place. Poor thing, though it is the fault of her family, she probably just got caught up in the demands of her husband. I feel sorry for the poor thing. Speaking of poor things, Mr. Newnham passed this week. He was a sergeant who attended his Majesty. He was an acquaintance of our cousin Elisa’s husband. Good man I hear. Do you remember how we attended that play in Lincoln’s Inn Fields? Well, I saw that there was a death in that area, Dr. Robert Kelway. The paper said he was an eminent surgeon. Sad news. My dear, you must visit again soon! The girls are just as rambunctious as ever. Hope all is well in the country! With all my heart, Anna *     June 12th, 1752 Mary, It is quite strange my dear sister that neither Drury Lane nor Lincoln’s Inn Fields are holding a summer repertory this year. It has been common practice for this to occur, but it seems there is something different about this year’s theater season. I read in the paper that Thomas Seawen of Carshalton was recently married to the Honorable Mrs. Russel’s only daughter and heiress of the late Lord James Russel. What a lucky man. She is quite beautiful, as we’ve discussed. She’ll make a wonderful wife. The paper is particularly filled with politics today. Many men were appointed to new positions. The king has ordered more money for the building of the Church at Birmingham at Warwickshire. The paper says they raised a lot of the money themselves, which is splendid work. I do so like it when people have their work printed in the paper. Between the news for today there is a poem in which the author exhibited clear skill with rhyme. He wrote about the fine ladies that dance sweetly. Dancing is such fun isn’t it dear? We must do more of it when we are together. There was a fire in Edinburgh. I wonder if you heard about it? Apparently it consumed 30 or 40 houses in three hours. I cannot imagine such destructive force. It’s terribly sad. It will take much time to rebuild. And to lose all one’s things! I couldn’t live if I lost the family possessions that I keep stored away for safekeeping. I would never have time to collect them all if there were to be a fire. I will pray that God never sets a fire near me. They have also written today about the floods that have destroyed so much in the country. It is quite lucky that you had no trouble. Well, only a little trouble. I am so happy that it did not affect you like so many others. They are advertising for the new water engine in the paper is well. It seems to be something quite magnificent! Give my love to the family! With all my love, Anna

Works Cited Avery, E. L., ed. //The London Stage//. Vol. 2. Southern Illinois University Press: Carbondale, 1960-1968. Print. Odingsells. //The Bath Unmask'd//. Ed. George Grierson. London: George Grierson, 1725. Print. Read, James. “News.” //Weekly Journal or British Gazetteer.// Jan – June. 1725: n. pag. Print.