Letter from Miss Eliza Derby to Hannah Greaves Austerlands 10-Sep-1827
Derby Sep 10th 1827
My dear Miss Greaves,
Having an opportunity of sending
to Manchester I thought I would just write a few
lines to one with whom I have spent many an
happy hour and though it is very unlikely that
we will ever see each other again, yet we may desire
pleasure in our correspondence, I suppose nothing
will excite mote pleasure than your _
of Sherston, I was there about three weeks ago
to see them as Mr Shaw said when he called
(on his return from Manchester) that I was
very much altered and he wished I would come
and spend a month with them as he thought
the country air might be of use. I went and
stayed nearly a fortnight and found most of our
friends were well excepting poor Mrs Mason who
I am afraid is in a very dangerous state.
The complaint is an inflammation on the lungs
and is very ahead. I am afraid she
will never perfectly recover from it; you will
be sorry to hear that Mary Taylor was gone
from Mr Shaws very poorly but before I came
back I called upon her, and they expected she would
come in a few days, I rather expect Mary Harrison
next Thursday to spend a week or two at Derby.
I found Maria well and as lively as ever but
Mrs Harrison I thought look rather ill but
perhaps she may be in the family way. I
went to see Miss Abbott and unfortunately
she was at Derby and called same afternoon
as ever happy to se me but she came to Ilkeston to
tea with Mrs Thomas Harrison, and I had therefore
the pleasure of seeing her. She was
to come and spend a week with her and
cruelly I had so many engagements that
I could not call again, but she wrote to
me very frequently. When I was there
I could not but see she was ageing,
there was a for Miss Knighton,
the oldest in the school. They have
but five and ten young gentlemen,
I believe, so that you will be sure there.
I was quite surprised to hear that Miss
Bunby had not given your _ the _
which I stayed she would and what
could be her _ for keeping is I
cannot imagine for it was nothing _
as to endure her to do so
but I have really quite forgotten what it
was, it is so long since I _
I thank you for your kind remembrance of me.
I shall keep ...