Carrick, Dr
Hannah More to Marianne Thornton, October 11th 1819
I have received about a hundred letters full of kindness and condolence, and many of them, of piety – but I have felt myself utterly unable to answer them – You will be so kind as make this true apology to any friends who may think themselves neglected. My health has been very bad, and neither body or mind has yet made much progress, the former I hope is most in fault, for I bless God my mind is I trust unrepining and submissive, but it is still very weak. I am forbid by my Doctor to see company, for which I am thankful as I have no heart to see any but two or three particular friends in my own room – for talking brings back the complaint in my chest. Your excellent kindly promises to come to see me from Bath – I hope it will not be till I am much better, as I should be sorry to see him only for an hour in my chamber which is all I can yet do. It is grievous too that and should be at Clifton at this time – It is many years that we both looked forward to seeing those dear friends for a few days, and [deletion] now I can so little profit by their neighbourhood is painful to me.
To Lady Olivia Sparrow, [March 1820]
I am still at the end of two Months a close prisoner in my chamber. My Medical friend will not allow me to quit it till the weather changes. My most affectionate love to .
Hannah More to Sarah Horne Hole, August 3rd 1821
Many thanks for your very kind affectionate letter. It is not, I assure from want of regard that you do not hear from me oftener, but from causes not under my controul. You know perhaps that I have been confined to my room, with one fever succeeding another for more than a year and half, and these few last Months, in which I have been so much better, have yet been so unlike Summer weather that I have not yet been allowed by my Doctor to take an airing in the carriage. I have however I am thankful to say been able to receive a great many kind friends in succession in my room, and indeed I have had almost too many affectionate guests, as much exertion is bad for my chest. The great loss to me with respect to my particular friends is that I have such an overwhelming correspondence, applications &c from strangers or slight acquaintance that those I best love are most neglected by me. You among many others have come in for a share of this neglect, which however by no means includes forgetfulness.
Hannah More to Marianne Thornton, November 5th 1823
What is become of you? Where are you? What are you doing? It would indeed be more ‘germain to the Matter’ to put these interrogations to me, as I have long been in your debt for a delightful letter. There is another reason for your not asking where I am, as I am sure to be found in the bow window in my bed chamber. It is now about two years since I have been down stairs, and I think four years and a quarter since I have been in any house besides my own. It is not at present that my locomotive powers are not equal to travel down stairs, but that this unmannerly summer – as calls it, made my good Dr. Carrick order me to run no risque. I have however a pleasant prison, and am not anxious for a jail delivery. My health is much /better/ , thro the great mercy of God, than there was any human probability would ever be the case; with frequent solitary interruptions of bad nights. This is necessary to remind me that this is not my rest, and that this short reprieve is granted me for the great work of repentance and preparation. I see a good deal of company in the middle of the day, too much my Doctor thinks, but have yet had no one to sleep but the ,* and another friend. But the Post occupies and fatigues me much /more/ than my guests. If you saw my table most days, you would think, if I were not a Minister of State, I was at least a Clerk in a public Office and these pretty businesses it is, that so often prevent my writing to those dear friends with whom it would be my delight to have more intercourse I find however a good deal of time to work with my hands, while reads for the entertainment of my head. The learned labours of my knitting Needle are now amassing to be sent to America to the Missionary Society* who sell them there, and send the produce to the Barley Wood School at Ceylon.* So you see I am still /good/ for something.
Hannah More to Thomas Cadell Junior, November 1823
I am thankful to say that my health is greatly improved. If I were a disciple of * it would be called a Miracle. I do not go out, but am able to see my friends. Indeed my excellent Physician finds fault that I see too much company, but I cannot well avoid it, tho I suffer upon it. I hope you will recommend my friend ‘Plymouth Antinomians’*. It ably exposes the worst heresy that ever infected the Church.
Hannah More to Marianne Thornton, August 5th 1824
You are become a good creature, to be so considerate as not to wait for an answer, which my heart is more ready to make than my hand. Thank God I am just now tolerably well, but I have been much otherwise on the whole. I have however had some occasional good days, on which I have seen, what my kind Doctor thinks too much company
Hannah More to Thomas Dyke Ackand, after 1828
I return you a hundred thanks for your nice benison to me, and a thousand thanks for your kind present to my dear kind Physician. He was so delighted and so proud, and got together a grand party who dined most luxurious. You really conferred a great obligation on me by /it./ He has been attending me daily Six weeks sometimes /twice/, and he will never take a Fee