Thornton, Robert

To Lady Olivia Sparrow, October 26 1813

Our poor dear Thorntons have suffered intensely on account of their unhappy brother. never was so deeply afflicted at any event. I am glad they change the Scene a little by going to Brighton. has been totally absorbed by Abolition business the whole Summer. He had projected a Visit to Barley Wood. The disappointment to me was great. I have a letter from which says their hopes are revived respecting the Slaves, but he is not sanguine nor am I.

To Lady Olivia Sparrow, January 16 1815

Tho I have nothing /to say,/ and am not well enough to say it if I had, I cannot forbear writing a line to unite in sympathy with you, on the, I fear hopeless, state of our dear invaluable ^*, a letter from ^* and another from the last night, leaves us little or nothing to hope. Oh! what a chasm will his death make in the world! It will not only be irreparable to , and poor children^*, but to multitudes of the poor and the pious. May God comfort us all, especially his own family, and sanctify to us this heavy loss, by quickening us in our preparation for our own great change! For my own part, my hopes have been long very faint, tho in opposition to the declaration of his eminent Medical Attendants^* I shall always think /entre nous/ that corroding grief for his unfortunate brother preyed on his vitals, and laid his weak constitution open to any disease which might attack it: I dread that every post may bring us the final issue of this long disease!