Cross-written letter from Eliza Greenhalgh and Cecile Margin, Vilvorde to Jane Young (nee Hackworth)

Vilvorde 6th of October / 52

Dear Miss Hackworth
I now take the present opportunity of answering your letter for which I am very much obliged. I received your letter on Thursday last. Dear Miss Hackworth, I am very happy now for I have got a companion, my cousin the one I have talked so much about. She came last Friday but one with her papa and my Father. I went the day to Antwerp the day before they came with Mademoiselle Victoire and Anna Muller. We spent the day very pleasantly. We went to the cathedral and St Pauls. After that we went to Janet de Ploey and we spent the rest of the day with her. She took us to the Museum and the Zoological Gardens, the Bolamreal Gardens and St James’ Church. At about 6 o’clock they left me at Binge’s Hotel to wait till the boat came which it did at about nine o’clock. My Cousin and I talked nearly all night, we had such a deal to say. She is settled here and likes very well. On the Friday we came here from Antwerp. The Saturday we spent at Brussels, we saw through the Museum and School of Industry. We then went to see a large balloon go off opposite the Theatre and returned to Vilvorde in the morning. We went to Brussels on the Sunday we went again to Brussels [sic] and walked about the Park and in the afternoon went to Church, we stopped all night in Brussels and on the Monday went to Waterloo, we enjoyed the day very. In the evening we returned to Vilvorde and stopped all Tuesday. There because it rained so on the Wednesday Polly’s Papa and mine came to Vilvorde and from there we went to Malines. We went into the Cathedral and another Church but I did not know the name of it, we then went to a lace manufactory but we made a mistake and went to a lace warehouse instead of a manufactory but we were late, it was one, but we saw how it was made. In the evening, Father went to Antwerp intending to go to Rotterdam the following morning. The Young Ladies have not yet all returned. There are six new ones.

Cecile Magin wished to write a line to you on the remainder of the other side so I have left it for her. Eliza Muskelier had returned before your letter arrived or I would have given your message to her. Emma Silberrad’s little sister, Amy, has returned with Arthur. She is a little intelligent thing and very merry. I have found a piece of music of yours, Pestal, which I beg leave to keep if you will be so kind as to allow me for a keepsake. I have also a small linen collar of yours which I intend to send to you the next time I have a chance. Martha has not written according to promise, she has not yet returned but we expect her with one of her sisters, also Elizabeth. Dear friend, I will strive to follow the advice you gave me in your letter. Mr Bradshaw came about ten days before dear Father and he brought me my Bible which is a great consolation, he also brought me some other nice books and Father brought me some also. Dear Miss Hackworth, I must now conclude with dear love, I remain

Eliza Greenhalgh

PS Since writing the above these blots have got on my paper which I hope you will excuse for I have written a long one to my uncle in the French writing and I have one yet to write home. Caroline Cleredon wishes to be remembered to you and she hopes the next time you write you will address a few lines for her. So again bidding you Adieu I still remain your affectionate friend. Eliza Weinstock has had to go home on account of the illness of her mother.
Eliza.

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On the last page is a letter to Jenny (Jane) Hackworth from Cecile Magin.

Ma bien chére Miss Jenny,
Eliza m’a fait part de toute l’amitié que vous me témoignez dans votre letter. Croyez bien que je vous aime toujours, et fut il me se passe pas une heure, sans que me pensée se reporte vers vois à qui depuis longtemps. J’ai voué toute mon affection, et de qui j’espère me jamais être oubliée.
J’ai passe tout le temps des vacances prés de mes parents. À maintenant, je suis de retour a la pension ou nous avons passé ensemble des heures si agréables ; tout y est encore sur le même pied que lorsque vous chez ici, sauf quelques nouvelles figures de plus, et queques anciennes de mois. Toutes ont appris avec beaucoup de peine que leur chère Miss Hackworth était partie, car toutes vous chérissaient et aucune de Mes n’a cessé de vous regretter.
J’esperè me bien-amiée Jenny que vous me prouverez que vois m’aime toujours en m’écrivant quelques lignes dans votre prochaine lettre á Eliza.
Adieu, chère et bonne amie, je termine ma lettre, car le temps me manque en attendant, je vous embrasse mille fois et reste votre dévouée aime.
Cecile.

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Translation

Dearest Miss Jenny,

Eliza has told me of all the affection you express for me in your letter. Be quite sure that I still love you and that there is never an hour without my thoughts returning to you, towards whom I have long devoted all my affection and by whom I hope never to be forgotten.

I have spent all my holidays close to my parents. Now I am on my way back to the lodgings where we spent such pleasant times together; Everything is still exactly as it was when you were here except for some more new faces and a one or two fewer old ones. All the girls learnt with much sorrow that their dear Miss Hackworth had left because they all loved you and none of them has stopped missing you.

I hope, beloved Jenny, that you will prove to me that you still love me by writing a few lines to me in your next letter to Eliza.

Goodbye, good and dear friend, I am finishing my letter here because I have run out of time.
As I wait, I kiss you a thousand times and remain your devoted friend.

Cecile