Amelia Opie to Samuel Gurney: n.d (1851-05-01-)

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[1]My dear kind friend[2]

I am very glad that it is in thy power to return thy <polling> paper, as I was obliged at another person’s expenses and thou wouldst otherwise have been placed in a painful situation —

I must thank thee however, truly, for thy good intentions —

When I heard of poor

Henry Barclay’s[3] illness from dear Jane B[4]; a few days ago, I feared for the <insult> & thy information confirms all my fears –

I hope Lady Buxton[5] Junior is now quite well again & will be able to enjoy their projected tour –

I was disappointed in not seeing thee – when though wast last here

But I saw thy dear Ellen[6] and was much pleased to see her looking so perfectly well.

Poor Mrs. Redgrave[7] feels deeply her sister’s death —

Dear Anna Gurney[8] is at Thisworth, &much amended in health —

She ^is> radiant with delight while she described the wonders of the Chrystal Palace, & her enjoyment of it.

I shall direct this & the polling paper to Lombard Street where I suppose thee to be  Thy good father is I believe in Yorkshire

 

With kind love to Madame,

I am,

thy obliged friend

 

Amelia Opie

[1] mentions Anna Gurney’s delight at “Chrystal Palace” therefore after 1 May 1851 (which is consonant with small notepaper and ink from this period).

[2] Samuel Gurney (1816-1882). See Richard Kirby. “Gurney, Samuel (1816-1882).” Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Oxford University Press, 2004. Web. 27 July 2018.

[3] Henry Barclay (1826-1891) married to Richenda Barclay (née Gurney) See Genealogical and Heraldic Dictionary of the Landed Gentry, Bernard Burke.

[4] Possibly Jane Backhouse, whose family was quite connected with the Gurneys. See page 200 of Cecilia Lucy Brightwell. Memoir of Amelia Opie. London: Religious Tract Society, 1855. Web. Internet Archive. 7 Aug. 2013.  

[5] Hannah Buxton née Gurney, wife of Sir Thomas Fowell Buxton. See Olwyn Mary Blouet. “Buxton, Sir Thomas Fowell, first baronet (1786-1845).” Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Oxford University Press, 2004.

[6] Ellen Gurney, née Foster (1814-1892) See Richard Kirby. “Gurney, Samuel (1816-1882).” Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Oxford University Press, 2004. Web. 27 July 2018.

[7] Possibly Rose Margaret Redgrave, née Bacon, wife of Robert Redgrave RA, who were prominent in the Norfolk community. However, no death of a sister can be found in the likely date range.  See Kathryn Moore Heleniak, “Redgrave, Richard (1804-1888), Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Oxford UP, 2004.

[8] Anna Gurney, daughter of Joseph John Gurney. See page 219 of Menzies-Wilson and Lloyd.