Lanely
Novr 29
My dear Henry
You could not have received a greater shock in hearing of poor Mary Annes <1> death than we had, for she wrote me a letter on the 14th only two days before she was taken ill, all I have heard was that it was a low fever she was seized with a shivering on the Saturday and gradually sunk for ten days when she expired. Henrietta Shakespear was there having been sent for so poor Mary had her Aunt to comfort her. they were on a visit to an old friend Mr Hood (who is also one of the executors) and it is singular that it is in sight of Broxbourne Church where she so much wished to be buried, by her Husband. Mr Llewelyn<2> has most kindly paid for the education of the Eldest boy St John<3> at Eton for some years past, he is a most studious boy and of a very amiable disposition, the Youngest Edward<4> is preparing for Addiscombe<5> & had the promise of a Cadetship so he will go to India when he is old enough. <6> I think he must be now 14 or 15 but I am not sure. I cannot think where Mary will live she is twenty & wants some one to guide her of course never having been used to manage for herself. –
I am sorry to say little Elinor Llewelyn has had the Scarletina but no one else ails any thing & I hope the precautions they have taken will answer, the little dear is now regaining her strength Emma writes me word.
you will be sorry to hear Isabella’s Eldest son is come home invalided from Malta he is in such a bad state of health the Surgeon of the Ship does not think he can recover this is indeed bad news. he is a most amiable dear fellow & very affect to all of us his Father is gone to Portsmouth to fetch him down here.
Mamma has had a bilious attack but is getting better now.
Notes:
1. Mary Ann Thackeray, née Shakespear (1793-1850); WHFT's cousin.
2. John Dillwyn Llewelyn (1810-1882), Welsh photographer, JP & High Sheriff.
3. Rev St John Thackeray (1832-1907).
4. Col Sir Edward Talbot Thackeray (1836-1927).
5. Addiscombe, in Croydon, outer London, was a military academy established by the the Honorable East India Company.
6. This would follow in a family tradition, for several of Mary Anne's 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).