Grasmere
October 5^th

My dear Henry

Thanks for your letter with its interesting enclosure from Caroline – We were wondering whether you had heard of M^r Gaisford’s Marriage – & thought he should himself have announced it to you – Matilda heard it on Saturday at Drumlanrig & immediately wrote us the news – It is quite curious that three interesting events should have come through Dumfriesshire – We have been expecting to hear form Matilda some particulars of her visit to Drumlanrig – but she only wrote one short note while there, & deferred the rest till her return home – but although she expected to be at Speddoch on Monday, and we thought she would have written yesterday, there is nothing from her yet. All she said was that they were very kind to her, but that it was a trying thing to be among a party of eighteen, all strangers to her. – The Saturday on which she wrote was very wet: all the gentlemen were out shooting, and the Ladies trying to get through the morning – as best they might – Major Wake called on us just now on his way to Leamington, where he is to spend a week with poor M^rs Shakespear^<1> before she sails for India. He believes that Lady Grant holds her intention of going out at the same time – so that the Sisters will be together during the voyage. – He has promised to write to me from Leamington all particulars of M^rs Shakespear’s plan & whether she keeps the youngest child with her. – Poor thing! how heavy are the trails of Indian Mothers. – I understood Major Wake to say that she sets out on Tuesday next. – I am writing a few lines to Caroline by today’s post to tell her that she conjectures rightly that her correspondent is the same Miss Emily Ford that she remembers in old times – I am glad to know the fact that she has written to Caroline about poor M^rs Wilkes – for I was thinking of mentioning her state of distress – having received a similar statement myself from Miss E. Ford: and I knew Caroline would feel an interest in her – though not equal to mine – for I have a lively sense of her kind nursing of myself through many tedious days of illness – I have answered Miss Ford that I am desirous of assisting in this case according to my ability – but that I can do nothing without first consulting with you – I have said that I shall soon be on my return home, & that if the case admits of delay will wait till I have seen you. I have also asked her for a few additional particulars – as to why the whole charge of supporting her insane husband rests on M^rs Wilkes – this is her present statement. “She lived happily & most comfortable with her 3 sons, who supported her & her insane husband. – He still lives – She lost her 2 youngest sons in Consumption & the oldest drowned himself in the Serpentine, last year – She was very ill at the time of this heavy affliction & the awfulness of the event encreased her illness; – she bore it with Xtian fortitude but her nerves were much shaken – Her son left a will in her favor & she resided with some of his friends until the last six months of increased illness obliged her to go to the ‘Ladies Sick House’ in Harley Street. – from where she is to go to an establishment connected with it at Brighton, for the warm sea baths. During this time she is obliged to support her poor Husband. She has got into pecuniary difficulties which my Family have relieved – Should you kindly attend to this appeal my Brother will be most happy to see my remittance app properly applied.” – I have asked Miss Ford what is the object of the present appeal – whether it is being made generally to the ladies whom M^rs Wilkes used to nurse – and what sum she is endeavouring to raise in order to relieve her from these difficulties – I want to know if there is any plan for setting her afloat again – for it appears that she cannot be wholly destitute since her son made a will in her favor. –

M^lle Amélina begins to leave her room a little – and I hope this wearing face-ache is beginning to diminish – but it returns sadly at night –

Your affectionate
Constance –

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Notes:

1. A relative of Mary Ann Thackeray, née Shakespear (1793-1850); WHFT's cousin. Several of her brothers were employed by the East India Company - see Sir William Wilson Hunter, The Thackerays in India, and Some Calcutta Graves (London: Henry Frowde, 1897).