Broom Hall

Friday, 12th May, 1848

Your letter arrived on Wednesday. I was glad indeed to receive it & though we were sorry to see New Orleans at the head of it we were rejoiced to find that you were well. It is a very great drawback having news a month old & in these days of quick communication, one does not feel it at all natural. The servants are very much interested in your proceedings.

We are going to have a wedding from this house. Ann and her lover have at last made up their minds to marry. Her intended is my Brother Omerod's Gardners, and they are to live in a very nice cottage at the bottom of the Chesham gardens. We are all very sorry to part with Ann for she is a good servant. Mamma is very well. She & I have just returned from Manchester, our chief errand was to purchase a set of tea things for Ann - Sarah's & my wedding present. We have just given them & Ann was quite pleased & overcome. Mama has given her a pair of blankets. Ann is to be married on Thursday next, I assure you this wedding caused quite a sensation in our house. The new maiden is engaged, so when you return you will find our Alice installed.

All at the Dales seem better again yesterday we went to sketch there & spent a very pleasant after noon. Elizabeth was not at home, but the children did the honors very nicely - & when natural, as they were yesterday, they are very fine children & affectionate. The boys are most knowing about the cows, lambs &c & were constantly giving information of that kind. We have had a beautiful week, warm & sunny like July.

Minnie was here this morning, looking very well. She & her husband drank tea here the other evening, to meet Mr Mrs S Walker & 2 Worthington Cousins - they appear to be nice girls you know Scholes & his wife have been due a long time & I was glad when we had had them. The evening went off very well considering, though we were not indebted to our two gentlemen for much entertainment. Scholes, who considers himself a perfect gentleman, when I proposed a game at whist, said he intended to go out & take a walk & a smoke - which he accordingly did &we never saw him again. W.W. was very dull, he amused himself by looking at books but we did not very often hear his voice.

Mamma is having a pool party this evening in honor of Mrs Hodgson. The Steamer is not yet in, but I hope she will bring a letter from you when she does arrive -

Mama & Sarah join me in dear love to you my dear John
I am your ever truly attached sister
Joanna