Macaulay, Selina Mills
Hannah More to Marianne Thornton, November 23rd 1816
It was so long since I had heard any thing of you that it gave me particular pleasure to receive your letter, and to hear such pleasant Accounts of yourself and friends. What a delightful Society to have so many kind Aunts Uncles and Cousins within a ring fence. you know was always a favourite with me. I know less of the others. You have drawn an interesting portrait of .* She must be a fine creature. I have answered her letter which is what I cannot always do. The keen Northern air* is I trust bracing your body, while so many affectionate friends cheer your mind. I too have suffered most truly for ,* and am still not without anxiety for him. Mrs. M. and we had invited to spend a fortnight with /us,/ and it did her good after the fatigue of nursing her .* met them half way back and by that means confirmed his cold and cough into a fever. I sent by Mrs. M. a certain pacquet of letters which are waiting your return in a little box.
Hannah More to Marianne Thornton, October 11th 1819
Your extreme true kindness in writing me so affectionate a letter, when dear was so ill was gratifying to me. I have now heard from Mrs. Macaulay that she is doing well, but that you are under some anxiety for the valuable health of . This gives me great concern which I am sure you will remove, if you can, by informing me that she is better. Her life is so important not only to the more intimate companion of her joys and sorrows, but to all that I cannot think of any serious illness befalling her without taking the deepest interest in it. I have frequently lamented that one of the worst effects of sickness or sorrow is, that it is apt to induce selfishness, but on this occasion I have not realized my own idea.
Hannah More to Marianne Thornton, October 11th 1819
I hope to hear from you at your leisure especially till Mrs. I. is better. Mrs. Macaulay and kindly promise to come to relieve my Solitude soon – My complaint in my eyes must apologize for this scrawl – This complaint is doubtless sent as a fresh weaning and warning. The sight is not affected, thank God. – We can pray for each other, and prayer is one of the last Offices of friendship – Dear had long been much in prayer, and thought (tho she never owned it to me) that her summons was at no great distance. May we all be united to her and your beloved parents in God’s own time
Hannah More to Marianne Thornton, December 4th 1819
Take notice I write upon your information for I have not yet seen the Sermon in question. I have had much anxiety on the subject of . Her life is so valuable that one cannot think without deep concern of any thing likely to affect it. I beg my kind regards to them both, and tell how much I felt the sympathizing kindness of his affectionate letter. I am now beginning to answer with my own pen a few of the overflowing number I have received. I have deeply felt the affectionate kindness of many though I have not been able to acknowledge it. My eyes are better, but I am not yet able to use them by candle light, which now fills a large portion of ones time. Mrs. Macaulay and her daughter* who have been with me near a Month have most kindly supplied my lack of sight. Alas! it is Newspapers that now fill too much of ones time and thoughts. I tremble for our country politically and morally. I do not know my own nation we certainly are not that England I once knew, and must always love. I look to the death of the king as the completion of our calamities. has asked leave to collect into a [tear]le cheap book the Tracts and ballads agai[nst] [tear] Se[dition] [tear] and blasphemy I wrote in the last year or two, as they will now come from the Organ of Orthodoxy, I hope they may make their way, you must recommend the dispersion of them to all who come in your way I shall order one to be sent to .*
To Lady Olivia Sparrow, 29 October 1822
I will not touch on the many painful topics which have lately occurred – I rejoyce to find however that tho his loss can never be supplied, dear ’s family are left in comfortable circumstances. I had feared the contrary. – has lent me his valuable Wife for a short time in the absence of . She leaves me to morrow. I have always some inmate to receive my company below, write my letters and carry on the family devotions, and read to me