Thornton, Lucy
Hannah More to Marianne Thornton, written between 1815 and 1817
We are to have our little Anniversary Bible Meeting on tuesday next. We shall not I fear make such a figure as we did last year, either in company or Orators. It is a fine piece of primitive simplicity which I wish you would be present at, in a Waggon House at Wrington, the greater portion of the party dine here after on cold provisions and the White robes Nymphs and black Clericals make a pretty motley mixture on the Hill. We should have been gladly excused this year on the Score of health and age but it helps to keep up the spirit of the thing. Love to Lucy and the young troop. Ever yours affectly.
Hannah More to Marianne Thornton, 28 January 1819
Two mornings successively I have set aside for answering your letter with one or two others, but from breakfast till now when the dinner is almost ready, I have had a number of visitors one after another till I lost my patience as well as my time. However tho I have lost a few minutes (for an inflammation in my eyes prevents my doing any thing by candle light) I snatch up my pen, as perhaps you may be waiting for an answer respecting , thus he spells his name.* I am however not well qualified to give an opinion as I do not know him at all. I believe him to be a very pious young /man/ of the Calvinistic School. But he is an Irishman with all the warmth and impetuosity of his country. I should be grieved to say any thing that might be injurious to a deserving Man but it /is/ my private opinion that he would not be well calculated for the temperate zone of Clapham. He has got himself into two or three little scrapes and tho I really am inclined to think he was not the aggressor yet the habit of getting into scrapes generally indicates the want of a cool temper. If Clapham was an obscure Village I should not have said a word of this, as few villages are perhaps better supplied but he does not stay long in a place I observe. I should /think him/ not fit for so enlightened – would say critical congregation as Clapham. Pray present my best regards to * and tell him I begin to fear I must wait till we meet in a better world before I shall /enjoy/ that long indulged wish of making his acquaintance I entertain better hopes as to seeing you and your admirable friends if it please God to spare me till the Summer I beg my most affectionate respects to them and love to dear Lucy who is to be of the Barley Wood party.
Hannah More to Marianne Thornton, October 11th 1819
Your extreme true kindness in writing me so affectionate a letter, when dear Lucy 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 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
She has left the chief part of her property to charities and small legacies to a few friends, All to be paid after my death among the latter little expressions of affection, she has left you fifty pounds and her Go[dau]ghter [tear] Lucy twenty –
Hannah More to Marianne Thornton, December 4th 1819
I expect your friend this day; from him I expect to hear a great deal about you all. I hope dear Lucy has quite recovered her strength. My love to the [sic] all, and to the when you see him. I hope she continues staunch. Do let me hear from you sometimes – a letter costs you little or nothing and it is great pleasure to me – I owe some expression of love and gratitude to almost every Grant. I do love them all cordially.*
Hannah More to Marianne Thornton, November 5th 1823
I hope dear Lucy is grown stout and well. I have not heard of her progress lately.
Hannah More to Marianne Thornton, 3 July 1826
We had yesterday a most interesting party among whom was The very learned Missionary from Serampore he writes I think in 13 Dialects of the East, besides the Shanscrit, their ancient and Sacred language. It was quite delight[ful] [tear] to hear him tell the glorious works [tear] Country in that distant one [tear] are proud of being English. [tear] that the excellent Sir Robert [tear] [p]arliament; not merely for the [tear] and More, but as he is the [tear] of Protestantism [tear] best regards to him and Lady [tear] You and the dear [deletion] // have [tear] your intention of coming to see [tear] before Summer is over. I shall re[tear] to see you as I dare say [tear] when the Tropical weather is over [tear] the mean do let me know /how/ affairs are settled, and if all terminated favourably as your last letter gave me reason to hope. Love to all the dear girls – When you come I shall hope to see Lucy if you can sleep together.