Scope and Contents

Has not written since before he went up to see John Myers in Crosby; John's Tory notions have moderated; he sees the benefit of the Parliamentary Reform of 1832; spoke to Rutson, but he did not tell him that he was married; John and his wife did not go to the church on Sunday, but John did have family prayers that day; his step-son and step-daughter were staying with him; walked to Septon Church with Mr. Birkett, which is next to the inn where he attended a ball years ago; looks at the monuments and tombstones in the chuch' Roman Catholics still use part of the interior of the church for burials; the weather is bad the day he and Mary Bold went to Sedgwick; there was no carriage waiting for them at the train station because Mary Wakefield assumed they would be coming by a later train; Mary Wakefield's brother invited them to come to Coniston with him, but he declined; his son William mentioned that his wife and children were at home and would like to see him; Augusta, William's wife, has gained weight; all of the children share Wakefield features; August told him the Caradises are still poachers; remembers fishing with William Wakefield when they were boys; found everything on the walk back from William's house to be beautiful; went to Oxenholme with John Wakefield that afternoon; went into the church in Kendas; found their great-grandfather's gravestone which, although broken and held together by iron clamps, has yet to be replaced; copied the inscription; the man who le thim in the church told him someone else had come to copy the inscription; thinks it was WilliamRutson; met Mr. and Mrs. Weston in Oxenholme; was not sure whether he would recognixe Caroline James [Mrs. Weston?], but he did because she looked so much like William Rutson; she sends regards; Mary Wakefield received a letter from Caroline saying she was very happy in her home; MArgaret Wakefiedl came to visit Sedgwick on Wednesday; she looks completely different paralyzed; he, Mr. Barclay and John Wakefield went to see John Wakefield's gunpowder works;O 23 October saw how gunpowder is made; John Wakefeild said that making gunposerd is not very profitable; went to Mr. Keightly's house, which is very large and comfortable; Mrs. Keightley was sorry that Ann could not come to visit the house the last time she visited Sedgwick; sat with Mary Wakefield for about twenty minutes when he returned; she is not as different as he expected her to be, although she is very thin; she asked about the family; she has not forgiven Cousin Lewis for marrying Nan, as she did not get a good impression of him; told her that Lewis is a good man; Mary Bold received a letter from Mary Wakefield this morning saying she was better; Mary Bold went to Ellerton to see Margaret Wakefield again, and they had a good talk; Mary Bold walked all the way back from Ellerton; had planned to stay till Friday afternoon, but Mary Bold told him that they should leave by 10 AM; was sad to see Mary and Margaret Wakefield in such poor conditions; John Wakefield's health is good; he urged him to sell cotton; sold 450 bales for £5 a bale; paid for Mary Bold's expenses; visted Mary Dilworth in Lancaster after giong to Sedgwick; had a good visit; she would like Matthew and his family to come to Liverpool until the war ends (Matthew's wife is a relative of hers]; does not think the war will end soon; told her that none of them were in physical danger from the war, but that her sister's income might be affected; she was to send her sister [Elizabeth Maury?] some money; did not tell him about Maury Bro[ther]s cotton interests; read to her from Ann's letter; she hasked him to tell her when he leaves for New York; thinks that the visit went well and hopes Miss Dilworth was pleased; Dr. Vose came to look at Laura Bold; he said that her pulse was too weak and that she needed stimulants; prescribed Quinine, Iron, and bitter ale or beer; bought pears for lunch when two of the bridesmaids from New Brighton came to lunch; William Healing died and, since he could not go to the funeral, wore mouring at Tom Bold's church on Sunday; Tom has sold all of his cotton except for the 730 bales he [RM] gave him a £500 guarantee for; if he sold those, he could repay T&H Littledale; is not sure what he will do; saw the steamer G.B. leaving with passengers for Australia; walked to Seacombe on Sunday; the Reverend Mr. Chapman, his old master, died; is glad to have news of Rutson and the 3 other boys; hopes they can help pull James out of debt. 30pp. ALS