Item 36: Letter from Thomas Campbell to Mrs. Marryatt, 1838 October 2

Item — Box: 8, Folder: 36

Staff Only

Dates

Created: 1838 October 2

Creator

Campbell, Thomas, 1777-1844 (Person)

Access:

All series and subseries within this collection are open for research, with the exception of a few files within the Academia series that are restricted. The Academia series contains financial and sensitive institutional records from Wilkes College, and financial report records from Princeton University that will remain restricted for 80 years upon creation.

Extent

1 items

Language of Materials

From the Collection: English

Additional Description

Type of Material:

Letter

Condition Note:

Good, no issues.

Condition Note:

7 9/16 in. x 9 in.

Description:

A letter from Thomas Campbell to Mrs. Marryatt where he is asking for her help to find a widowed woman who was once his ward many years ago a job as a housekeeper for a wealthy family. The widow (Nancy) has two daughters that she needs to care for and Campbell is the only person she knows in London so he feels obligated to help her.

Transcription:

Page 1:

(o) Lincolns Inn Fields 2 Oct” 1838 Dear Mrs Marryatt

When humanity is concerned I know you too well to fear you will be displeas’d with my applying to you - but before I go farther let me explain myself - I ask only for your good will towards the person in whom I wish to interest you & for your keeping her name & case in your memory in the event of your hearing of any rich or noble family wanting a housekeeper I can recommend with full knowledge & with a clear conscience one who would be a treasure to any family requiring such a person - As to any thing farther I took up this poor widow’s care with due deliberation on my own circumstance, which are much unlike what you once knew them - now easy & I may say of the afferent - If I cannot get a situation for this person - it will not ruin me should I be obliged to support her for an indefinite time - but never shall I trouble my friends about her in a pecuniary way - I hate those home-leecher of charity who go about taxing others for the objects of their protection - No but I wish the poor widow to get the means of supporting herself & her two daughters much more for her own sake than for mine - because I have remark’d that the acceptance of charity generally lowers the tone of human character & this in a

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person who is proud at present & whom I wish to remain so - Some 33 years ago - before I had the pleasure of knowing you my deaceased wife & I took some interest in a family - in which there was a little girl 7 years old who had remarkable beauty & for her years wonderful sense - in so much that we used to call her wise little Nancy - & she was a great pet with us both - she grew up & married a ship’s captain who traded to Egypt & there set up as a merchant - After 8 years he died & left wise little Nancy with two daughters & no means - The widow after 12 years absence came back to London thinking to find many friends - but she found none except my humble self - All were dead or absent - I assure you when she came into my chambers with her daughter a comely child of 12 years old she look’d like one saved from a shipwreck who has got ashore - Oh blest be god she said that I have found at least one friend - Well but who are you - for not having seen her for many years I knew her not (& the beauty of wise little Nancy is all gone away.). - She said I was once little Nancy Thomson - I look’d at her & through her skin & bone features & ugliness could still recognize her somewhat - She told me her history with more composure than I could bear it - I retired into another room to consider what I should do - & returned after some minutes full of this

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feeling that as God has prosper’d me & renewed my health I am bound to do all the good I Can to my fellow creatures as the smallest token I can give of my gratitude to Providence - I told her I should befriend her -& get her some means of welehood - the conversation continued & she showed so much sense in describing the Greek Island & Egypt & all the places she had seen that I could not help saying to myself why this is really miss little Nancy- Now dear Mrs Marryatt- if you should hear of any rich house hold wanting a housekeeper will you remember my protegee - I can warrant her honest - respectable - intelligent - & well acquainted with house keeping - She has had servants herself & I’ll answer for it (& so would you - if you saw her shrewd physiognomy-) will keep a good look out after them - I fear I must aim at getting a high salary for her - because she has two daughters one 12 the other 13 years old - whom she wishes to educate for governesses- & who must be on her hands for a few years - Our darling Mary Mayone has taken up the cause with her usual benevolence - Indeed.whether the cause success or not I am glad that it brings me among My friends of your sir, for Womens hearts are always kind - Do not think that I expect from you more than what you may be able to do by mere accident - but at all events believe me with the most friendly recollections Yours Thos Campbell

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Mrs Marryatt Wimbledon House, Wimbledon Common.