SD1158. Mary Russell Mitford to Lucy Olivia Anderdon
Published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 5, 378–379 (in part).
[Three Mile Cross]
[3 October 1841]
I cannot sufficiently thank you all my dear young friend for your most kind & acceptable present– How acceptable you will imagine When I tell you that this & last evening are the only two during which my dear father has taken no liquid since his tea—having enjoyed that most grateful beverage in a manner the most delightful to me to witness– Hitherto for many weeks he has drunk tea just as one form of liquid, pouring a full cup into a large tumbler half full of cold water, & swallowing it as a draught– This he has done cup after cup—& then within half an hour he has called for water, lemonade, ginger beer,—any thing, every thing—untill [sic] I have been more distressed than I can tell from the certainty that he was injuring his stomach—irreparably injuring it—without ever the momentary gratification of quenching the thirst from which he suffers so much– Since the arrival of your most liberal supply however he has sipped it in real enjoyment of the flavour (enhanced I think by appreciation of the kindness) & it has accordingly relieved him more than I could have believed possible. Certainly it does not look like the same leaf as we have been buying from the Country grocery who since the war with China have ventured [to] bring back under that much abused name. Once again accept & offer for us to Mr & Mrs Oliver Anderdon our sweet thanks– It is strange that I guessed you to be the donors—your often experienced attention has authorized me in laying any stray kindness to your door—& this I was convinced came from your ever gracious hands. My father is most thankful for it– The tears came into his eyes when I told him that Mr Oliver Anderdon had had the goodness to select the teas himself.
I only saw Mr Marston for a moment– He seemed very courteous—& Mr Anderdon’s manner convinced me that he was pleased with him—but the disparity astonished me prepared as I had been for a man not young– I do assure you that seeing him side by side with Mr Anderdon the grandson looked the older of the two– I ought to add that your grandfather is looking remarkably well—wonderful man as he always is—& we must not forget that your fair cousin chose her helpmate—a great point so far as her happiness is concerned– I was very sorry when calling at Farley Hall a few days after to find that they were gone– I would have liked to have seen her & to have heard her account of her own family– Does the youngest Miss Claxton still continue to write? Her father shewed me some verses of considerable fancy & fluency.
Yes! I do hope that you & my beloved Miss Barrett will still know each other personally! She travelled at the rate of 25 miles a day—her bed being drawn out of the carriage like a drawer out of a table, & deposited (with a shawl over her face) in a bedroom at the different Inns. But she certainly seems to have suffered less from the journey than I had feared—& has enjoyed her return home with no more partings to fear or meetings sometimes worse than partings as entirely as I expected from her affectionate spirit. She writes to me now almost every day, & I cannot resist the Temptation of going by train to see her—returning the same evening– How I wish you were in Town that I might see you too!– But our time will come—there or here.– Once again all thanks and good wishes–
Ever most affectionately
& gratefully yours
MRM
Address: Miss Anderdon / 2 West Terrace / Worthing / Sussex.
Docket, in unidentified hand: “My beloved Miss Barrett.”
Publication: None traced.
Manuscript: Yale University.
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