Hoare, Charles

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 Charles Hoare calls it, made my good 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.