Cross-written letter from Timothy Hackworth (Jn) to Jane Young (nee Hackworth)

March 7th 1852
My dear Jenny,

I really do not know how to begin to write to you as I am such a stupid block and to apologise for not doing so before seems absurd the fact of the case is that laziness & the antipathy I have to letter writing have prevented me doing so on paper although I have often written in mind.

I have just had a walk on the spoil-bank for a few minutes it is becoming quite a place of attraction the men are now getting their gardens put into order and besides the Company have commenced making a reservoir on the top of the hill just opposite our works we hope they do not mean to drown us out of our place.

It is such a splendid afternoon there are hundreds of people walking in the fields round our City, it quite reminds me of the London parks on Sunday. I felt rather lonely when out my self (Mr James being in the dales) so I determined to try and scribble a few lines to you.
We are going on pretty comfortably at present having two engines in hand & expect to get another shortly. You would be astonished at the number of people that come to see the eng that is nearly finished for Mr Stobart, it is a tidy little thing.

You will perhaps have heard us talking about Geo. Thompson putting down a little engine for Mr. S. for thrashing we expected to have got the job we gave them a price for erecting one for that purpose but Thompson got to Mr Stobart & persuaded him to have his – now they have got it put up and find it is too light for the work therefore they ordered one of ours to be made immediately we have nearly double the price for our Engine than we offered him in the first instance ain’t that stunning! There is quite a mania for our patent engines. Mr. Fletcher is wild about his he tells nearly everybody he meets with that it is the best engine in the world. I quite believe if we have a few more put down that we shall have plenty of work and go on charmingly. Lizzy this morning has recd. a letter from dear Pru. in which she says she wrote Mrs Boyle a fortnight ago, a note enclosed from Mrs Simpson informs us that Miss S. is engaged to Mr. J.G. Horton. Lizzy seems quite affected with the information.

I can scarcely write a word for Jane Elizabeth & her Mama are hanging over me snuffing out of my box (which is on the table by me) & sneezing immoderately. The three younger ones are running about the garden all alive & kicking. I am just writing the copy of my letter on a piece of paper where Sam has been making his first attempts to copy a hymn out of the youth’s instructor which is quite alarming.

Monday evening I have just come in to try to finish my note after doing some work for Messrs. Dunkett & Steads Loco Engine that their man was waiting for. I understand the young man at West Cottage has to be named after his papa what do you think to that.
It strikes me all things are going on right up west the girl said last night that Mrs John had been downstairs but it is a bit of buisness I hardly understand. Fearing you will be tired of reading a note about nothing at all I must come to a conclusion but before doing so I must give you Sam’s message. I asked what message he had to send. He said I was to give you his best love and kind wishes. I was also to send a kiss from him. Our people are all very well with the exception of Mrs A who is as much as usual they all join me in warmest love to you and believe me,

So remain

Your most affectionate Bro.

Timothy Hackworth.

P.S Love and kisses to all your young friends of H.