Cross-written letter and envelope from Prudence Nightingale (nee Hackworth), Albion House, Penrith to Jane Young (nee Hackworth), Vilvorde, Belgium

My precious girl,

I was delighted to recieve your kind communication last night (by the nine o’clock post) and quite charmed to learn that Mr. Newton had surprised you with a visit. Pray where were you and how occupied when the dear visitors arrived. I am glad you have been to Waterloo and shall long for your next letter when I hope to hear of your various outings etc. etc. We have been full of company for nearly a month, today I am [?] engaged and I feel very sorry for it since in consequence I shall have to forgo the pleasure I intended myself in writing to Madame. Therefore, she will not hear from me for a fortnight to come. I am pleased to find the note I sent on my last reached you in safety. On referring (this moment) to Madame’s receipt I find that seven pounds fifteen shillings will be due to her for your board etc. etc. etc. on Thursday the fifteenth instant, the day on which I expect this will reach you. I shall enclose a bank of England note (which is payable in any part of the continent) in preference to a bankers’ bill as it will not involve any journeying expenses to Brussels and more there will not be any commission to pay upon it. I shall carefully copy down the no. etc. before I send it off and take such precautionary measures as will I doubt not give us traces to the offending party should it miscarry. You must my sweet girl pay the money to Madame with many apologies for its being handed over without a note, also be pleased to present our kind regards to her and warmest thanks for her attentions to you. All being well I shall certainly not fail to write to her in the course of a fortnight.

The young ladies are spending the day at the Giants’ Caves. I was invited to Broad Ing, but have been too much engaged to go, besides I have an invitation to take tea at Mrs Shearman’s but have determined to decline it and go over to Broad Ing if possible tho’ I fear I cannot start before tea as it is now late in the afternoon and I have several things to attend to besides finishing this for the post. I enclose you two patterns of dresses, the one like our dresses and the other like Miss Holmes’s which cost 8d per yard but is much narrower in width than the other. Ann has just returned from the bank and most provoking to say has only been able to get one five pounds bank of England note instead of a ten pounds one. She cannot even procure another five pounds one except local ones which will not pass beyond the district. Very few Bank of England notes are kept at the bank and this being the market day a greater demand for them than usual has been made. I am in a complete dilemma, If you my dear have not brought your dress could you advance two pounds fifteen shillings and pay it over to Madame with the note herewith sent. It would greatly oblige me if you can as I do not like to be behind the proper day in paying Madame. If it be not perfectly convenient for you to do as I suggest it will not signify much as I shall send to the bank tomorrow and request them to procure me a note immediately. Let me know my darling as soon as you are in receipt of this scrawl and if Madame has not recieved her money I shall send the remainder by the next post, and in case she has I will forward the balance to you when I next write.

With kind regards to Mrs and Miss Newton, likewise to Mr and Miss Reynolds and most affectionate love for your own precious self.
I remain
Your devotedly attached Sister
Pru

Albion House, April 13th/52

By the by had Mr. B to pay any duty for your parcel and if so what amount, and be sure you do not settle with Madame until I write again if it will in the slightest degree straiten you for money, a day or two later cannot signify to Madame
PH
A dress like Miss Holmes’s would not require a lining but would not be pretty with tucks.