ABSTRACT
ELIZA AITKEN EUL Dc.4.94 Minto Manse, Hawick
[3 June 1842]
When shall I see you again? here I mean-for I do not think I shall ever have the heart to set foot in Scotland any
MARGARET WELSH Maryland St, Liverpool
NLS 601.85
... It was a good thought in you to send me the little purseand I feel very grateful to you for it-This last birthday was very sad for me as you may easily suppose-very unlike what it was last year and former years-and I needed all the heartening kind souls could give me-but by your kindness and that of others the day was got over with less of a foresaken feeling than could have been anticipated. Only think of my husband too having given me a little present! he who never attends to such nonsenses as birthdays-and who dislikes nothing in the world so much as going into a shop to buy anything-even his own trowsers and coats; so that to the consternation of Cockneytailors 1 am obliged to go about them-Well he actually risked himself in a Jewlers shop and bought me a very nice smellingbottle!- I cannot tell you how wae [sad] his little gift made me as well as glad-it was the first thing of the kind he ever gave me in his life-in great matters he is always kind and considerate, but these little attentions which we women attach so much importance to he was never in the habit of rendering to anyone-his up-bringing and the severe turn of mind he has from nature had alike indisposed him towards them-and now the desire to replace 1:0 me the irreplaceable makes him as good in little things as he used to be in great-... God bless you allEver your affectionate Cousin / Jane Carlyle
JEANNIE WELSH Maryland St, Liverpool
Dearest Babbie
NLS 1891.16,100
Another 'few lines' in expectancy of'a more convenient season' - My last note to you was like to have been my farewell speech, I felt so ill on laying down my pen-that I proceeded to lay myse(f down and was not out of bed for all that day-I was not missed till Mr Buller wanted me to play chess before dinner-Carlyle had gone to Thetford, as I told you-lost his way of course-and of course kept the dinner waiting an hour and arrived when it was finished-having walked innumerable miles-so I had the additional discomfort of feeling that we were a most detestable pair of visitors-the one taken to bedthe other lost at the dinner hour! - He came safe however and was very sorry for me-At night being still no better Mrs Buller asked if I would let her give me something-anything I said not excepting even prusic acid-for I could not well have been made worse-She poured me something into a glass out of two different vials-I swallowed it and-in one instant I was wel1!!- I winked-listened to find where the horrid pain was gone but could hear no more tell of it! ...
