Letter from an unknown sender, Monkwearmouth to Timothy Hackworth, New Shildon

Monkwearmouth 3 Dec 1832

My Dear Sir
I draft a line to inform you of my safe and comfortable arrival at home. The pony carried me delightfully, but I felt at having to ride it harder than I ought to have done. I had a sweet melting season on the way. My mind was much affected with what constituted the substance of our parting prayer; the thought of yourself Mrs H and lovely children all getting safe to that sweet home of which we were singing last evening. Oh may this glorious country be the future residence of every one May it! Me thinks it must be the case! Can it be that children so circumstanced so amiable in themselves, and already so well affected towards the things of God should offer all neglect the one thing needful and fall short of that triumphant end. I was deeply affected with a recollection of the concluding moments of our own dear little ones already their [sic]. The partition between appeared to be so thin and so dear near that I seemed to enjoy with them the fellowship of fonner [sic?] days. The subject so affected me that I could not refrain from sobbing and weeping aloud on the public roads. The following lines of Cecil addressed to his deeply affected partner, when one of their little ones was struggling in the agonies of death were brought most feelingly to my rememberance [sic].

Cease here longer to obtain me
Fondest mother drowned in use [?]
How thy kind caresses [sic] pain me,
Morn advances let me go!

See you [?...] streak appearing
Harbinger of endless day
Hark! A voice the darkness cheering [?]
Calls my newborn son away

Lately [?...] a trembling stranger
On the world’s wide boisterous flood
Peirced [sic] with sorrow, tossed [?] with danger
Gladly I returned to God

Keep not over eyes that languish
Upward burned [?] towards their home
Raptured they’ll forget all anguish
While they wait to see the comes

There my mother’s pleasures centre
Keeping, sighing, care or woe
As [?] er our father’s house can enter
Morn advances, let me go!


As thro’ this calm holy dawning
Silent glides my parting breath
To an everlasting morning
Gently close my eyes in death!

I had not an opportunity of speaking with Mr K but was informed at Houghton that he had been very happy among the people, and the people with him. I proposed giving him money for the pony at Durham, but counts not as we had no interview. He must consider me his debter [sic] to that amount. I have been reconsidering the subject of your intended [?] [?]; the result is that I feel myself your debter [sic] so far as to be under an obligation to do what I can to be able to assist you, and that partly free of charge too. If then the second or third week in January will do. I will endeavor [sic] to give you either a Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday; If too late, a Sunday [?] night in either the last week or last but one in Decr. Regretting that my late visit was not more effect, & wishing you much peace

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