John Dunkin, Woodham Mortimer Lodge, to Mary Hays, 3 Park Street, Islington, 23 March 1808.1
Woodham Mortimer Lodge Mar 23d, 1808
Accept my best thanks
my Dear Mary for your favor of the 8th Inst – to answer it
particularly, I must take it in the order it stands – my dear girls first claim
my regard – tell them how much I am pleas’d to hear of the improvements they
are making, & still expect they
will make under your kind, sisterly, & friendly attention – also of the
affectionate expressions in their Letters to me, which will always find a
return with Interest, and can only terminate with my existence – if Sarah finds
herself comfortable and happy, I am not determined in taking her back after the
year expires – I never yet dealt ungenerously by any, and I am sure I shall not
begin with you – at any rate you may be assured I shall give you a few months
notice – let them by all means continue daily to read the Scriptures, and I
sincerely wish they may be a “light to their feet and a Lamp to their paths[”]2 – early impressions are not soon erased – they may be of much service to them
hereafter in a world, to the most prosperous, full of snares and dangers and
which, by the apparent unequal dispensations of providence, must convince every
thinking Mind, that tis only a passage to a better; when “we shall see no more
through a glass darkly[”]3 – <-> all mysteries will be done away & we
shall join in saying “Righteous art thou O Lord in all thy ways, Holy in all
thy works[”]4 – altho’ at present we are surrounded by Clouds & darkness, we
shall at all times do well to remember, and it ought also to be our
Consolation, that “Justice & Judgment are the habitation of his Throne and
righteousness goeth before his face[”]5 – You misunderstood me of what I said of
J L6 – his prospects are quite equal to my expectation – his present
difficulties are from want of a larger Capital – if he can shift for another
year, & my life is spared, I doubt not, being able to assist him – his
prospects for this year are good, as the seasons were never more favorable for
heavy lands – one good Year would nearly relieve him – I have seen a full
Statement of his affairs, and all the money sunk has been, I am informd been
sunk, with judgment, and with the promise I hope of a tenfold return – in a
farm out of Condition, which was the Case with his when he took it, ^he^ has
every thing going out for 2 years at least, with little return – after that time
he may look forward for payment, and altho’ at present he may “sow in Tears[”]
I trust eventually he will reap with joy7 – his difficulties at first, may The Pork intended for you I find was sent to your Mother, with which I am perfectly satisfied, tho’ it might be a disappointment to you at the time – what I intend now to send you I hope will be more acceptable, as it will be much larger, and fit to salt down & own. Let me know in answer to this your every demand on me to Lady Day includg the Quarterly payment and I will immediately remit an order to Mr Lanfear10 for the amt. – have you seen 3 vols octavo, Letters from the Mountains by a lady beging at the age of 17 – if you have not, both you & some of your pupils will be much delighted with them.11 When will the present cold winds leave us – this winter especially since Xs has been the most unpleasant I remember Perhaps I have felt the Cold more than common from my usual Complaint in my Stomach – Thank God I am much better – Mary Lee12 is just recoverd from the meazles – I hear all the Children in Aldermanbury13 have them and fear that Betsys Strength14 will hardly be equal to her duty & love – If my Daughters knew I was writing they woud join in best wishes for your happiness and in kind remembrance to all your Circle – make my sincere & affectionate love to the Girls & be assured I am also sincerely & affy yrs
J Dunkin Jr
Address: Mrs Hays | N° 3 Park Street | Islington Postmark: 24 March 1808, Maldon
Post Paid to London 1 Misc. Ms. 2286, Pforzheimer Collection, NYPL; Brooks, Correspondence 492-94. 2 See Psalm 119:105. 3 I Corinthians 13:12. 4 Psalm 145:17. 5 Psalm 89:14. 6 John Lee, Dunkin's son-in-law (see previous letter by Dunkin). 7 Psalm 126:5. 8 Thomas Dunkin (see previous two letters). 9 William Frend. 10 Ambrose Lanfear, Sr, husband of Mary Hays’s sister, Elizabeth, who would die shortly by means of suicide. 11 Letters from the Mountains, being the Real Correspondence of a Lady, 3 vols (1803) by the Scottish writer, Anne Grant (1755-1838). 12 Mary Lee was one of John Dunkin’s most recent granddaughters and greatniece of Mary Hays; she was the child of Anne Dunkin and John Lee, who were married on 17 October 1805. 13 His grandchildren from the marriage of Joanna Dunkin and Nathaniel Palmer, living at that time in Aldermanbury. 14 Most likely Elizabeth Lanfear, living only a short distance away from Hays in Islington, who had two young boys of her own by this date.
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