Sparrow, Millicent
To Lady Olivia Sparrow, 23 June [1819]
I am ashamed to have received such a kind and interesting letter from you, tho’ I had not put myself in the way to deserve it, by my delaying to thank dear Miss Sparrow for hers. I will account for my silence before I close. I must say that not any of your friends, warm and numerous as they are, took a deeper interest in your feelings on your first appearance in the world, after so long and sad a seclusion from it. And its being the first entrée of your beloved daughter added not a little to that interest. I cordially congratulate you both, your Ladyship on the end of your fatigue, and dearest Millicent on her passing through the fiery ordeal unhurt, and because unhurt, therefore brighter than she went in. I bless God that through his grace she is enabled to maintain such a steady consistency of conduct under circumstances so peculiarly trying, especially at her age. God has bestowed on her all that this world has to give, partly to shew her that all is nothing, but as it is connected with eternity, as it furnishes her with more and higher opportunities of glorifying her heavenly father, and enables her to shew that the Christian religion is a reality; that divine grace operates on the practice as well as /on/ the heart and is the same glorious principle which directs in difficulties, sustains in calamity, and sanctifies in prosperous circumstances.
To Lady Olivia Sparrow, November 30 1812
My best love to dear Millescent. Is that famil [sic] or ceremonious?
To Lady Olivia Sparrow, December 1812
My love to Miss Sparrow – I trust she is making the best use of those golden days of youth and health by laying /in/ stores of useful knowledge and elegant information; but more especially by laying a solid foundation for her future happiness in both worlds by the daily perusal of some work, which may teach her the wisdom which is from above. The holy Scriptures I know she is in the constant practice of studying
To Lady Olivia Sparrow, December 10 1812
Pray send me at your leisure my dear Young friend’s Essay. I am glad she begins to addict herself to this wholesome Exercise If you give the topics, I would advise not always to give very serious ones at the beginning but vary them with subjects of morality and taste, as well as serious piety
To Lady Olivia Sparrow, December 10 1812
I feel the benefit of this dry Air and have suffered less and Slept more since the frost, severe as it is, set in. My love to your fair Companion present best respects
To Lady Olivia Sparrow, December 29 1812
Tell dear Millicent, with my best love /I thank her/ for the honourable fidelity of her attachment to me But that the heart of a Christian is large, and his affections liberal, all his delight is in such as excel in Virtue and in this excellence I bow down before Entre nous he wants nothing but a little of that merry-ness or cheerfulness of which I have spoken, to captivate young people. I have failed in my introduction of some of them to him; as he does not present the exterior of that happiness of which however his heart is full. I never saw the power of generous Christianity more exemplified than in this Saint.
To Lady Olivia Sparrow, January 1813
Say a kind word for me to my young friend
To Lady Olivia Sparrow, January 7 1813
My most affectionate remembrances to your young companion. I desire her not to forget me. I do not know if she has ever read Baron Haller's letters to his daughter which I shall take the liberty to inclose when I return your Reviews.*
To Lady Olivia Sparrow, October 26 1813
Your tour indeed appears to have been abundant in delight, and the recital makes my mouth water – but as to the repose of it, I cannot exactly see where you found that article, of which you professed to go in search. – And so you not only saw the picturesque beauties of the Lakes, but the Poets also. Instead of the common stream, nothing but Helicon and Aganippe would do for you.* I suppose Millicent was in raptures with all this Etherial Society. I remember when I was of her age the sight of a live poet used to make me wild. Your travelling companions were more to my /present/ taste than the bards of the Lakes; for tho I really admire their talents, the taste of their compositions does not exactly fall in /with/ my old fashioned Notions. I was formed in another School.
To Lady Olivia Sparrow, August 1814
I long to know how your great day went off. passed thro Huntingdon at the time and heard of it far and near. I believe you can do everything but mollify certain hard hearts and open certain eyes judiciously blinded. Thank dear Millicent for the harmonious and very pleasant Way-Verses. So characteristic of the delightful writer! By the way – when [he] does he talk of accomplishing his plan at Bristol? – If you have any intercourse with him be sure put him in mind that he is pledged to Barley Wood for a night or two –
To Lady Olivia Sparrow, January 16 1815
joins me in every kind regard to dear Millicent, not forgetting our good .
To Lady Olivia Sparrow, February 17 1815
who is poorly desires her affectionate respects. – My kindest regards to your fair companion, never forgetting , of whom I rejoyce to hear such good report. May he go on unto perfection.
To Lady Olivia Sparrow, 16 March [1815]
I have just got a long letter from dear replete with sorrow, affection and the deepest piety. How stupid, in ’s prejudiced bigoted * to obstruct the very desirable plans of and to write a Memoir of the dear departed! I have written to to try to soften her brother Bartlett’s-Buildings heart.* Poor I hear looks sadly, has a pain in her chest and drinks Asses Milk. I tremble for her life. Her letters rather increase in sadness, but it is a sanctified sadness. – I forgot to say that Mr. H. and I agreed that nothing would so much contribute to give Mr. S. a habit of application as to give him a slight tincture of Fractions, and Algebra; not to make him a Mathematician but to tie down his attention – I know of no person likely to suit ’s friend as a Governess. You ask how I like W. Scott’s new Poem.* I have not seen it, but do not hear it thought equal to its predecessors. A friend has sent me Eustace’s Tour thro Italy.* It is classical & elegant in a high degree – but has too much Republicanism too little of the Manners of the people, and I think a disposition to overrate their Virtues – God be praised for the peace!* – but what Peace so long as the Witchcrafts of Bonaparte are so many. is in very poor health. We all join in kind remembrances to Yr. Ladyship and Miss S.
To Lady Olivia Sparrow, 25 March [1815]
Your dear spent the day with us on Wednesday. He came without , who had a cold, but not without a wise and pious Guide. Our friend was of the party, who by the way has never bestowed a single night on Barley Wood, tho so long in our neighbourhood with friends quite new compared to me. I am not jealous however but glad he spent his time so much more pleasantly. I was much pleased with your Son whom I drew out to take a little more share in the conversation, as far as related to the present state of the world, and he expressed himself well, and with accuracy and pleased me by taking a lively interest in what is going on. Dear Mr. Dunn did not give a very good account of your health and your letter does not mend that account, which grieves me much. I think you have judged very wisely, as you are not very stout, to abridge your London sejour. Dunn gave me great delight in the report he makes of the progress of mind and growth in piety of your dear daughter. You have laid an excellent foundation, of which I trust the superstructure will be altogether worthy. She will, I am persuaded make a strong character. You have now had time to form her to good habits which will be of incalculable importance to her future character and happiness.
To Lady Olivia Sparrow, 27 April [1815]
love to dear Millicent
To Lady Olivia Sparrow, 23 August [1815]
Best love to dear Miss Sparrow.
To Lady Olivia Sparrow, 23 April [1816]
We have lately had a visit from ,* a most sensible and I believe pious Man; he seems to have taken a deep interests in the improvement of Ireland, and to be thoroughly acquainted with the existing state of things. I am expecting him again before he returns. He speaks most highly, that is more justly, of our friend . I hope e’re this you have made your visit to Dublin and the Environs. I want you much to see my very interesting friends in that district. Pray my kindest remembrances to when you encounter him either by pen or person. My poor Sister we fear is far gone in a dropsy! the others poor invalids. I think I am rather the best of a bad bunch. Love to dear Millicent. I commend you to God and the word of his grace the Apostolic benediction.*
Hannah More to Marianne Thornton, November 1817
Dear ! She will I fear be a sacrifice to this hopeless case. I wish the Doctors would let poor suffering creatures, when hope is extinguished, die in their own beds, and not embitter their pains by the addition of wearisome journeys and inconvenient lodgings.* How fortunate, especially for poor Millicent, was your meeting. It must have cheered her heart.
To Lady Olivia Sparrow, 27 March [1817]
I hope you will write to me sooner than I deserve. My best love to dear Millicent. The Bishop told me he was not without hope that You would spend the Passion week* at the Deanery My Sisters desire their most affectionate respects is very proud of her Book,* both for the sake of the donor, and because it coincides so exactly with our own views of the Subject
To Lady Olivia Sparrow, 04 August [1817]
How my heart thanks you for your considerate kindness, (under such accumulated anxieties) in remembering me and causing me so frequently to hear of your goings on. I received ’s letter from Falmouth very soon after that from Miss Sparrow dated Gibraltar. But tho to hear of you was a great comfort to me, I lament that no account of comfort to yourself has reached me. Mr. Hodson’s report indeed of dearest Millicents Attack was a fresh source of regret and sorrow. Most heartily do I beseech our Merciful Father that the occasion of this additional affliction may be totally removed, /&/ that you may not as the Apostle says, have sorrow upon sorrow.* To the all Wise Dispenser of our sufferings as well as our blessings, I am however deeply thankful that ‘your Soul prospers and is in health.’* May the Holy Spirit the Blessed, indeed the only Substantial Comforter, continue to support, console, and strengthen you. These troubles tho not joyous but grievous, will I trust multiply upon you the peaceable fruits of Righteousness. In the mean time your health is the Object of my extreme solicitude. Be as careful of it as you can, for you have much more to do in this world. Did I mention in my last that our dear friend , with and two converted Jews spent a day here lately on their road to Petersburgh where this noble, romantic, heroic being is going on a Jewish Mission with the above named Companion* The Polish Jew had been ordained the day before by our beloved the other Jew a German, the next day sent me a very pretty English Sonnet, correct and rather elegant.* Way proposes shutting up these Converts for six Months to study the Russian and other Northern languages that they may preach in those frozen climates. generously consents to this Crusade. Before we parted Marsh concluded the visit with a very fine affecting prayer. May God bless them and their enterprize! The amiable Enthusiast has heard of some little /white/ stone Church in the Crimea in which he has set his heart on preaching.
To Lady Olivia Sparrow, 27 August [1817]
I was much grieved to hear that dear Miss Sparrow had had an Attack. I cannot forbear of asking you (because I promised I would do so) whether you have heard of a a Scotch Clergyman who is said to have done wonders in consumption cases,* and to whom patients are flocking from all quarters. I am told he quite restored a daughter of the late * who was supposed to be past cure. His Mode of treatment is quite new, and as it should seem, quite rash. Instead of starving he feeds his patients, allows them meat and all nourishing things. The reason he assigns for this is, that whatever increase of fever it promotes, is counterbalanced by food giving strength to resist the fever. Pray remember that I should be the last person to advise your going to Scotland to consult this Clerical Empyric, but a promise was extorted from me by some Scotch Women of fashion, that I woud mention it. Every one feels so much for you that if prayers and cordial good wishes could restore your dear invalid, his sufferings would be removed. But I am well aware that there is an Almighty, All merciful Being, who loves him better than any friends, or even than his fond Mother and who never willingly afflicts his children, but who sometimes manifests more love in afflicting them than in a dispensation which to our short sighted views woud seem more grievous. He can make sickness a blessing both to the sufferer and to his friends.
To Lady Olivia Sparrow, [23 March 1818]
I have delay’d answering dearest Millicents excellent letter, from a daily expectation of this final event, else what delightful matter /in her letter/ had I to write about! My dearest Lady you were Providentially sent to Nice for the purpose of converting that valuable Roman Catholic who I doubt not will be one of the many who will bless you in heaven either for temporal or spiritual benefits. The frame of mind visible in your daughter’s letter is admirable. For all our sakes, but especially for her sake, I exhort you, I beseech you take care of your health. There is yet a great deal for you to do in this world You know not to how many souls you may be the instrument of good. God has already honoured you in this /way/
To Lady Olivia Sparrow, 27 August [1816]
Not a word of dear Millicent all this time. My best love attends her. How glad we shall be to see you both here!
To Lady Olivia Sparrow, 11 August [1819]
I cannot express to you how much I was gratified with the long, interesting and very pleasant journal with which Miss Sparrow favoured me. But though the letter in itself was in high degree pleasing yet the circumstance of a very young lady situated as she is, and occupied as she was finding time and disposition, and will, and kindness to bestow so much attention on an old friend, merely because she knew it would give /pleasure,/ is a trait of character truly delightful; the kindness was not lost upon me, and if I could I would love her better than I did before. I will not keep back, as I had intended, my letter for a cover tho’ we are expecting within a few days, three frankers, and also dear friends in succession; for our small Accommodations do not extend to many guests at once – These are ,* the and , and the - I woud have waited to tell you about them, were I not desirous to answer the private part of your letter which indeed I ought not to have delayed so long.
To Lady Olivia Sparrow, [28? October 1819]
To my very dear Miss Sparrow say
every thing that is kind from me; and with my cordial prayers for
your health and comfort I remain
dearest lady ever yours
H More
To Lady Olivia Sparrow, [March 1820]
I am still at the end of two Months a close prisoner in my chamber. will not allow me to quit it till the weather changes. My most affectionate love to Miss S.
To Lady Olivia Sparrow, 29 October 1822
I wrote to the dear Viscountess* as soon as I saw by the papers the happy event* had taken /place./ but as I directed it to Brampton Park she may not yet have received it. My heart was with you too my dearest lady but a return of illness has put me back in my most interesting duties. It was an attack brought on by my being overdone with business, brot. on me by the distress of a relation, whom I have put myself to no small inconvenience to assist. – I am still very weak & feverish.
To Lady Olivia Sparrow, 28 May 1823
Poor !* what a chasm has he made! I hear his successor is very promising, but he united so many talents! What a strange match in his family! I inclose a little extemporaneous effusion for dear Lady Mandeville; not that she stands in need of a flapper on that Subject, but because I would recall myself to her recollection. I had many little things I wished to say, but must defer them. Adieu! my dearest Lady Olivia
To Lady Olivia Sparrow, 18 October 1825
I bless God for your favourable report of dear Lady Mandeville. How I should delight to see her sweet babes!* I pray God to bless them
To Lady Olivia Sparrow [incomplete]
Mr. S. and dined here not long since. I heartily hope that any little disagrémens may be got over. I hope to see them soon again, with a confirmation of the favourable appearance things then were which Mr. H. hoped would be permanent. May your prayers for this amiable young Man be heard!, and may he escape the pollutions of a World which will be throwing /out/ all it [sic] baits to allure him into the broad way. To his dear Sister I send my best love. (who desires all that is kind) and I mourn over poor ’s solitude How he must miss you!
To Lady Olivia Sparrow, September 1815
With love to dear Millicent I am
ever
my dearest Lady faithfully yours
H. More
To Lady Olivia Sparrow, [20? October 1816]
Love to dear Millicent
To Lady Olivia Sparrow, [No date, but likely March/April 1817]
I should like one line just to tell me of your health and dear Millicents and your goings on.
To Lady Olivia Sparrow from Mary Roberts on behalf of Hannah More, 14 April [1832]
I would therefore take the liberty of proposing a reciprocal exchange of your Ladyship’s & Ly. Mandeville’s letters to dear Mrs H More, & of her’s to you, all those passages in her’s which relate to any private or confidential matters being of course previously obliterated: our dear Friend has authorized us to make similar applications to some of her Friends which we have done in many instances successfully. It will very much add to the interest of her future Memoir, the materials for (which we propose to place in the hands of an able Editor) that it should be enriched by a selection of her letters & we candidly avow that it would be highly desirable & serviceable to us, to obtain thro’ the kindness of some of her intimate correspondents an early possession of as large a portion of her letters as is possible, in order that we may while we have leisure select a few from each parcel of those which are the most interesting & worthy of insertion –