Inglis, Sir Robert
To Lady Olivia Sparrow, 23 June [1819]
spent a day with us last week and was delightful. Our present guests are Mr. Inglis and the 4 elder Thorntons. Our comfort in their company is lessened by poor ’s being seized with the Measles.* She has already been in bed two days, and very ill; but things look more favourably to day. The night was very bad.
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 Mr. Inglis 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 .
To Lady Olivia Sparrow, [20? October 1815] [incomplete]
I have delayed writing from day to day till it should please our gracious father to determine the fate of our beloved . That afflicting event has now taken place near a week, and yet I have not had the heart to write.* You doubtless have been informed by with myself, of the fatal progress and final termination! God’s will be done! This we must not only say but submissively assent to under dispensations the most trying. And surely the removal of our dear friend is a very trying as well as Mysterious dispensation. To herself the charge is most blessed. To her children the loss is most irreparable. Poor dear Orphans! little did we think a year ago of this double bereavement! but let us bless the God and father of our Lord Jesus Christ that he enabled this suffering friend to bear her dying testimony to his faithfulness and truth. Never was a sweeter death than that so feelingly painted by Mr. Wilberforce How strong must have been that faith which not only lifted her so much above all worldly considerations /but/ which enabled /her/ to commit her beloved children, about whom her anxiety had been so excessive, to the father of the fatherless. It has pleased God to raise them, among many friends, Mr. and to whose care she consigned, and who have generously accepted the charge. They are peculiarly fitted for the purpose, sensible, pious, amiable, strongly attached to the Thorntons and without children of their own. Thus is the saying illustrated that the Seed of the Righteous shall never be forsaken.* My opinion is that Mrs. T is dead of suppressed grief. She reminds me of part of an Epitaph I have seen, only changing the word day for Year
Hannah More to Marianne Thornton, 9 October 1815
Your letter affords so little hope of the continuance of earthly existence that I think there is more true kindness in writing to you, as are without any expectation as to this world, than to labour to administer false comfort; to do this would not be doing justice to your strength of character and to the lessons of wisdom you have been so long imbibing. Who knows but your obvious submission to the Divine hand which has inflicted these heavy strokes may not help to confirm these principles of Christian piety /with/ which * mind seems penetrated. God grant that the convictions of this estimable Man may end in a sound conversion! What joy would this give, not only to the Angels in heaven but to the two happy Spirits who may soon be united to that blessed Society. I do love this Penington. I cannot say what a gratification it would be to me to be with you. It is for my own sake I wish it, that I might learn how to die. But my own infirm health, and still more that of would make us a burthen instead of a comfort. With such comforts indeed you are far more richly provided. I cordially rejoyce that you are inclosed with such a circle of such friends, and that those amiable and excellent Inglis’s are about to be added. My affectionate love to the patient Sufferer. I am more disposed to ask comfort from her than to offer it to her.
Hannah More to Marianne Thornton, November 1817
Time tho it has somewhat tranquilized our spirits, has not lightened the feeling of our irreparable loss. Whether we consider the bereaved , or the Country, the calamity is unspeakably great.* An exquisitely fond and happy, as well as a virtuous and pious and sounded like a Romance, but the woeful catastrophe has brought us back to /the sadness of/ real history. Notwithstanding the delightful and truly Christian letter with which Mr. Inglis favoured /me/ I cannot help considering the Event as a frowning Providence. Why do we slide so much, nationally, from our daily and hourly dependence upon God? Why were no public prayers offered up for this sweet ? Why was the abundant harvest, a blessing as unexpected as underserved, never acknowledged at least in our Churches? Why are our Rulers in the Church so much less vigilant and active than those of the State? /Yet/ Why are our public recognitions of divine Mercy, so much less frequent as well as less fervent than those of the [firstborn?] States? I sometimes lay this flattering oration to my Soul, that perhaps we feel more than we say, and they say more than they feel.
Hannah More to Marianne Thornton, November 1817
I have obeyed Mr. Inglis’ commands in writing to the on the Subject of the Bristol Review, I shall see them soon when I shall be more explicit. I wished, when I read it that some of those horrid quotation from that Wretch * had been omitted, for tho they were doubtless inserted with a view to inspire horror, yet religion is more honoured by their exclusion than by their condemnation. I believe did not write it, yet as Editor* he might have prevented. As to Llalla Rooks* (I don’t know how to spell it) and other mischiefs of the School they are so nauseous to me that I rarely look at them. I find the Review of was by *. I think it a Masterly criticism. I fancy too by the style that he reviewed French Literature*. I cannot agree with you in the condemnation of this Article. There was a passage or two I think I did not like, but I cant recollect what. I think it a very able Review. I know few persons who could have written it, because few possess such a knowledge of the French Writers. I do not agree him in his censures of [sic] or but that is more matter of taste. I was afforded [letter ends abruptly]
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 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 his adopted family 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
Assure Mr. and of my most cordial esteem and attachment. –
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 Mr. Inglis 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. 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 Mr. Inglis.*
To Lady Olivia Sparrow, 29 October 1822
The ’s ‘Charge’* must have delighted you. It is a kind of Vademecum for Clergymen. I have seen him [tear] I quitted my bed and his new born infant whom he calls his Duodecimo.* I have also had in my sick room lately, Sir R. Inglis, , the learned * with many other distant friends whom I never thought to see in this world.
Hannah More to Marianne Thornton, November 5th 1823
My most affectionate respects to Sir Robert and , and my love to all the Thornton’s in the world, not forgetting who I hope goes on with tolerable health.
Hannah More to Marianne Thornton, August 5th 1824
We have had our Bible Anniversary at Wrington. It was held under a tent. There were some good men and good speakers. The élite of the assembly were invited to dine at Barley Wood to the number of 18. did the honours, poor I having my usual scrap sent up to my room. To this room the greater part came up in the afternoon. Among others were the Pakenhams from Ireland /excellent persons/ Sister and brother to the * (by the way she was here once and all the Langford family)* , dear and and * &c &c For T. would not let us part without desiring this good Arminian to perform the family devotions, and it was really a very edifying Scene. The day before this, I had a visit from another dear friend the , and the day after a very agreeable one from the again, to introduce our .* Of the latter I was a little afraid at first, lest he should consider me a little unsound in point of orthodoxy as he is particularly strict and high Church. But I think I never met with so kind, I may say so warm and even affectionate reception from a total stranger. We are the best friends imaginable and he is coming again. I have not done with my Episcopal-ism yet. – For yesterday who should make his appearance but my and his .* Forster we had a sweetly comfortable day and these kind Souls were so full of feeling, thinking it likely that we should never meet again, that both of them actually shed tears at parting, after keeping their horses two hours at the door, God bless them! I think we are come a little nearer in sentiment, at least we agreed to differ. They were late in the evening to Wells to that . I cannot press my friends to stay all night, as I cannot see them late at night, nor before noon next day – But this exclusion will not extend to you and dear Sir R. and when your Western excursion takes place. I shall rejoyce to receive /you/ for a night or two and shall turn you over to for supper and breakfast &c. – we talkd you over pretty well with the Limerick’s* yesterday. I believe they miss you full as much as you do them.
Hannah More to Marianne Thornton, 21st November [in or after 1817]
We both write in kindest respects to Mr. and [superscript needs to be checked here] Inglis and in love to dear and all the young things. Pray tell that goes to school by day, and talks of Articles and Pronouns, and [unclear] and [unclear], and [unclear] and [unclear], with much of her profound learning Your kind present of History* she can nearly repeat all the Stories, and if she could help it woud read no other book, except indeed Black Giles and Tawney Rachel*