SD112. John Cook to Elizabeth Surtees
Published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 1, 309 (in part).
Buston
22 June 1808
My dearest Elizabeth
Before this I hope you have received the letter from me, I must beg of you not to be uneasy, I can assure you, you are not more anxious to see me than I am to see you, your last dear letter gave me the greatest pleasure to hear you was recovered, they say many Men would have no objection to have a dumb wife, but I am sure if you was deaf dumb & blind I shou[l]d love you[.] I am going to mention a subject, which I should have done before but I thought it might make you unhappy, on account of your thinking it might lead me into too great expence, which will not be the case[.] On the contrary,—I [illegible word] some London Bankers have given me this Hond & |obsemption| of Eleven Hundred Guineas to be paid half yearly to manage them, as you know my partiality for that diversion, and it was the only means I cou[l]d have han[d]led at present without any expence[.] I was induced to accept of their liberal offers, but if I thought it would make you unhappy I would have declined it– I can not make the expense more than 1050 including everything, I then have a hundred or more for casualties—before you answer this read the last page to your Father to prevent His being alarmed about the expence, I am sorry to know your Parents are about loosing so good neighbours[.] If Mr & Mrs Walton take Mr |Malcolm| with them such a trio never was seen before. Pray my love, what difference will it make if I come down by the Newcastle Coach as I shall go from Wratting, in my Rig to Cambridge. I get into the North Road, as I might not get a place in the Mail, how can I get from Newcastle to |Barnaby| or is Newcastle out of the road?– I have been all over Europe except in the North—from Italy[,] Germany[,] Switzerland[,] Portugal, I am going for a few days into Dorsetshire to morrow– I remain with kind remembrance to all
Your affectionate,
J Cook
When in Wratting we shall only be thirty yards from the Church, I wish your good Mother had no greater distance to walk, [illegible words] has had a fine time for His Hay[.] He has I dare say his good spirits, you mind when you write to your Sister to remember me kindly to them, I have no other Channel but through you, Adieu
JC
Address, on integral page: Miss Surtees / at Aubone Surtees Esqr / Hauxley Hall / Alnwick / Northumberland.
Publication: None traced.
Manuscript: Armstrong Browning Library, Altham Archive.
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