ES_letter_1840-08-24

A dutiful letter from a 15 yr old school girl to Mother

This charming letter demonstrates the levels of deference and respect that reflect the expected courtesies between young people and their parents at the time. It is worth a read just to remind us of how much times have changed over the past 160 years

Ashbourne August 12, 1840

My dear Mother,

I have now been at Ashbourne three weeks and you will no doubt be expecting to hear from me. I have great pleasure in writing, and being able to tell you that I’m quite well. I thought of my dear father on the 12th and wished him many happy returns of his birthday I trust he will be spared to us for many years, and that his children will also prove a comfort to him in his declining years, and your health my dear mother

page 2

I hope continues good, you must take great care and not exert yourself too much. How does my brother John go on at school? I sure much like to hear from him, if he can spare time to write me a letter. And he must not forget to mention, if my cousin Bess has recovered from the Hooping (sic) cough.

Perhaps my father would tell you a Confirmation is to be held here on the 23rd of next month, those of us who are to be confirmed have been examined by Mr. Shipley once and we expect him to come again some day this week, he explained the Catechism to us and shewed us the importance of the vow we were going to take upon ourselves. The work I have fixed upon is a

Page 3

wreath of flowers for a stool which I think you would like very much. The Miss Pidcocks send their kind regards to you and, my dear father give my best love to him, my brothers, and sisters and accept it yourself and believe me to be, my dear Mother

Your very affectionate Daughter

Elizabeth Slater

MORE ON REVERSE OF THIS SHEET

panel with the address simply says

Mrs. Slater

Eastwood

Nottinghamshire

Prepaid

and has a prepaid post office stamp

and a faint postmark which says (Ashbo)URN(e)

AU 25 1840

It was expected that a child living away from its parents (here at a boarding school) would writer regularly to its parents. This was not only a way to keep in touch and share progress but also an opportunity to demonstrate the skills of penmanship and style.

Here the obsequious role of the child is made almost comic by phrases asking after the health of family members. Eg “I thought of my dear father on the 12th and wished him many happy returns of his birthday I trust he will be spared to us for many years,”

Also this young woman is to be confirmed in the Christian religion and it seems that it is tradition for a young woman to produce some piece of handwork to associate with the occasion.