SD39. Elizabeth Plummer to Elizabeth Barrett Williams
Published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 1, 305 (in part).
Goodin Park St James’s
16 May 1803.–
My beloved Mama
In what words shall I convey to you the bitterness of the disappointment I suffer in having our voyage to England delayed till next year or perhaps longer– All the visionary schemes of happiness I had pictured to myself are now vanished for a time that will appear an age– Walker’s house refusing payment to Tom’s bills is the obstacle, for we have changed our consignments to Birch & we owe Walker between 4 & £5000 & he may out of revenge distress us, & we have recd no answer from Birch to know, if he will receive the consignments & take us up & pay off Walker. Therefore if we go to England now, from whom are we to receive cash, not from Walker you may be sure, & if Birch refuses, to whom can we apply– I admit the inconveniency of going to England now, but my heart refuses to be satisfied, after making so sure of going– If Birch returns a favorable answer & Tom could get the bills paid, I should see no obstacle to our going if it be not too late in the year not that I should mind that, but I hear every body say it is very improper to sail in the winter months. … We dont mention publicly our having consigned to Birch, but how can a thing so publicly done, be expected not to Reach Walker’s ears or more properly speaking the knowledge of the house– I have fretted myself almost sick– I was sorry to hear that Martin & Sarah had both colds & fever & hope that you have escaped them & that they soon recovered.– This country has been very sickly lately. The putrid sorethroat has been some time at the bay– Euphemia Kerr & Mrs Johnston[’]s (her sister) two daughters have fallen victims to it– Dr James Kerr their Brother died of a fever in Westmorland. So that Mrs Kerr lost the best of her sons & daughter, & two grand children all in the space of three weeks. Mary Bowen of Salt spring died a fortnight ago of a decline– Wm Houghton Tharpe of Reading is dead. Jno Tharpe of Green pond has been very ill indeed but is now recovering & the great Jno Tharpe of the Good Hope is ill with the gout. Old Robert Minto died last Friday & Ralph Parkinson is her Trustee, his son has not got the estate. Aunt Lee has been at the Point a week, waiting for a fair wind to sail in the Elizabeth– Captn Lee has recd orders from the governor not to go, expecting war, but he means to send home to purchase a majority in a regiment not likely to be sent to the West Indies,—he has been absent from England 7 years.—It now appears that Sam Jackson atty at the Bay, in drawing up articles of marriage between them & without any such directions from Captn Lee as some people have imagined, made over to him every thing but the rent of Mrs Lee’s negroes—about £500 & at her death every thing was to be at his disposal; but as soon as he understood it, he had settled it otherwise, & now instead of every thing going to his heirs at his death as it was to have been, they all revert to hers– Mrs Bernard & her daughter are going to England directly on account of her daughter’s having the liver complaint, little Betsy Fan, Aunt L—& Sarah have seen her at the balls– She has grown very much & is very much like Miss De las Heras, the spanish consul’s daughter.– I do not know <on> what ship Tom sails, I have not seen him <for quite> some time, he grieves much for Miss Kerr. I shall send my dear Mama some pickled peppers, & cayenne & Tamarinds—& I am drying some others, which I shall pound & send likewise, if it is properly done.—I have not been able to get any yams, the negroes wont sell them now till after crop as they will then be very dear, & I dont grow any thing here,—but I hope Tom will carry some over as Seven Rivers always has plenty.– I have endeavor’d to persuade HWP to let me go with Tom if he cant, but he wont hear of parting with the children– They are all pretty well– William is always thin. I fancy full of worms, & altho’ I have tried every sort of worm medicine, he never passes any,—perhaps Evan’s’s powder wo’d have better effect & would you believe it, he cant talk yet, & he is upwards of 3 years old. Caroline speaks much plainer than him & she is backward too. Henry is the only one of the four that can talk.
My love to all with you. I cannot write to Sarah as I am out of all patience to think I am to stay longer in this nasty country. Only tell her I have begun with my head ach[e]s again– I guess what construction she will put upon them.
Believe my dearest Mama
Your dutiful & affte Daughter
Eliza Plummer–
Address, on integral page: Mrs Williams / Sparsholt House / near Wantage / Berks.
Publication: None traced.
Manuscript: Eton College Library.
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