Amelia Opie to Robert Alderson: (1822-25?)

[Scan]

Third day Morning[1]

My dear Robert[2],

Canst thou drink tea with my father[3] today?

I should be quite satisfied to leave him in thy company and both Tom[4] & J Sparshall are forced to disappoint him of theirs, or rather, disappoint me. I am going to Earlham today for the 1st time of six weeks, to meet Daniel[5] & Lady Harriet[6] – but shall return in the evening- Still – I wish to be sure of father’s being assured in my absence – Canst thou come?

Or my uncle[7] & aunt[8]?

It is long since they were here- Perhaps they would call after their tea-

Send me a line in answer

And believe me

Thy affecte cousin

A Opie—

 

Source: King and Pierce

Address: R J.C –Alderson, Helen’s Place

Postmark: None.

 

[1] James Alderson is ill but alive, therefore before October 1825; Also Thomas Sparshall who used to help with James is alive, therefore before 15 August 1825. After 12 December 1822 when Daniel Gurney and Harriet Hay were married.

[2] Robert Jervis Coke Alderson (b.1802)

[3] James Alderson (1744-1825). See Gary Kelly. “Opie, Amelia (1769-1853).” Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Oxford University Press, 2004.

[4] Thomas and Joseph Sparshall. Thomas Sparshall (1805-1825) often sat with Opie’s invalid father when she accepted social invitations away from home. Opie will later address a poem In Memory of Our Beloved and Lamented Young Friend, in her volume Lays for the Dead. See King and Pierce, Collected Poems of Amelia Alderson Opie, p. 583.

[5] Daniel Gurney (lives in North Runcton), brother of Joseph John Gurney and husband of Lady Harriet Gurney. . See M. W. Kirby. “Gurney, Daniel (1791-1880).” Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004. Web. 2 Aug. 2013.

[6] Lady Harriet Gurney née Hay (d. 1837). See M. W. Kirby. “Gurney, Daniel (1791-1880).” Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004. Web. 2 Aug. 2013.

[7] Sir Edward Hall Alderson (1787-1857). See Steve Hedley. “Alderson, Sir Edward Hall (bap. 1787, d. 1857).” Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Oxford University Press, 2004. Web. 25 July 2013.

[8]  Lady Elizabeth Hurry Milman née Alderson. Charles Mosley et al ed. “Milman.” Burke’s Peerage and Baronetage. 106th ed. 1999. 1936-1938. Print.