Ryder, Mrs

To Lady Olivia Sparrow, 27 August [1816]

In reply to your kind enquiries after the health of our now reduced party, the best answer I can make to it seems to be that at our Bible Meeting in the Village last week /we/ not only attended, but after it was over entertained above 60 Gentlemen and ladies at dinner and about 120 at tea! Think of us poor creatures doing so dashing a thing!! But without such exertions we find it will not be kept up.^* The dear was with us to breakfast before Nine with Mrs. Ryder &c We had much good speaking, and I think in a good spirit, for there was neither acrimony nor adulation. We had twenty five Clergymen of the Establishment and but one Dissenter, so I think we at least shall not contribute much to overturn either Church or State.

To Lady Olivia Sparrow, 11 August [1819]

I cannot express to you how much I was gratified with the long, interesting and very pleasant journal with which favoured me. But though the letter in itself was in high degree pleasing yet the circumstance of a very young lady situated as she is, and occupied as she was finding time and disposition, and will, and kindness to bestow so much attention on an old friend, merely because she knew it would give /pleasure,/ is a trait of character truly delightful; the kindness was not lost upon me, and if I could I would love her better than I did before. I will not keep back, as I had intended, my letter for a cover tho’ we are expecting within a few days, three frankers, and also dear friends in succession; for our small Accommodations do not extend to many guests at once – These are ,^* the and Mrs. Ryder, and the - I woud have waited to tell you about them, were I not desirous to answer the private part of your letter which indeed I ought not to have delayed so long.

To Lady Olivia Sparrow, [20? October 1816]

I hope you have seen a little poem called ‘Emigration’.^* It is written by a young Clerical friend of mine, but is Anonymous. It is a Subject very important to the religious, moral, and patrio[tic] [tear] interests of this Country. The great and Opulent are flying from their own country to one which has brought our present miseries upon us. They have turned their numerous Servants upon the world to beg or to rob. They injure Government by escaping the Taxes, and starve the poor for want of labour. who draws £6000 a year from this Parish has never given it a guinea while we little people are drained.^* I have a large School in two adjoining parishes, the inhabitants are all /poor/ Miners, not one able to give a farthing and trade is so bad they cannot sell a single bag of Ore, they are near perishing.^* In the mean time our very Curates are living at Paris. It really makes my heart Ach. I have several Correspondents on the Continent, all describe our Ladies as notoriously violating the Sabbath, this is not ’s fault^* The Pope himself expressed his disappointment at the character of the English ladies at Florence Naples and Rome the gayest Sunday assemblies are held by our Country women. Is it not making Religion a Geographical distinction to do in France or Italy what they would not do in London? If still with you thank the Bishop for his kind letter. I greatly love and esteem Mrs. Ryder