Transcript:

Letter from Sarah Elisabeth Smith in Wales to her friend Margaret Bolland

The letter describes in detail the delights of North Wales, with comments on the society, entertainments and places enjoyed. It is typical of the letters received by Margaret from her friends and family.


Transcript – with added punctuation

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                              Bangor, North Wales, Sepr 28 1829

My dear Margaret
In compliance with my promise to Mr and Mrs B. to write to you when on our tour on a rainy day, I sit down with much pleasure, wishing it were in my power to make them, and you all participators of all the delights I have experienced since I left home. We were all sorry to hear of the misbehaviour of the favourite poney, but hope your Mama and Papa were able to make their visits as they intended; the weather was so bad at York after they left us and I had such a very bad cold that we could not get off till the last day in Augt, when we got to Leeds in time to secure the mail on to Liverpool where we arrived the same evening; it was a long day and we were all much tired, but got to comfortable lodgings next day and staid ten days, when we saw everything that was possible to see through the kindness of two gents to whom we had introductions. Liverpool is quite a second London, so fine a town and the public institutions are magnificent, the Exchange the handsomest anywhere. We went to the top where there is a most beautiful view of the docks, shipping, Cheshire coast, etc. The public rooms in the Town Hall will accommodate 3000 people and are the finest I ever saw, so splendidly fitted up. We made excursions into Cheshire and in the neighbourhood and were delighted with all we saw. We went to the Theatre and saw seven London performers. Mr Horner, one of the gents we knew, is a clergyman and has a very clever family. His eldest son had 4 pictures in the exhibition which was a very good one and a treat to me to go. I saw many pictures there I had seen in Edin[burgh]’. Mr Horner is a distant relation of my Aunt Thomas’s at Huntington but like us in the clouds. We were fortunate enough to see Mr Muir from Scotland my Uncle’s partner in Liverpool and he was very useful to us in shewing us about. We left with much regret and proceeded in the steam packet to Bangor, a distance of 60 miles when unfortunately it rained in torrents all day and we were obliged to remain in the cabin, all very ill with sea sickness. We were much disappointed at not being able to go on deck as we missed all the view, but however next morning we were all quite well and perfectly enchanted with the beautiful scenery of Carnarvonshire. We were landed at a place......

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After we arrived at Liverpool there was a letter sent after us from Mr D. in Scotland saying they were on their way to visit us with a man & maid. They were going to London & then to South of France. We were sorry to miss seeing them but should not have ?liked being detained at home for them as it is very late in the year to travel, dark at 6 and the evenings are long. Mama says we shall be at home in a week and therefore you may send the cheeses any time that is convenient now. You must excuse this scrale as materials are so bad
and with best love from all here to all your ?sircle, believe me ever you sincere and affectionate friend
Sarah Elisabeth Smith
Oct 5

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You see I have no room for remarks about any of you, but I hope you are all well and you, my dear Margaret, in better health than when you came to York. You would see poor Lucy Smyth is dead, also a brother of Mrs S. at Huntingdon. She has been very poorly, also Mrs King, but I have not heard since Lucy’s death. I expect she would be buried at Kirby Knowle. Do you remember hearing of Mr Furbank being in a consumption? He set off to Ireland hoping a sea voyage wd do him good and died on the road. Mrs F. was a Miss Browne & she is left with 2 children, the youngest died 6 weeks ago, only married three years – it is very melancholy to think of, so many deaths.
We had intended going home by Derbyshire but must postpone that pleasure to another time for the weather is still far from good. It is 5 weeks today since we left home. Kind regards to Miss ?. Miss J. has gone to a situation. We called at Leeds but she was gone.

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