BIB_ID
408075
Accession number
MA 35.31
Creator
Burney, Fanny, 1752-1840.
Display Date
[1818 July 14].
Credit line
Purchased by Pierpont Morgan, 1905.
Description
1 item (2 pages, with address) ; 23 x 18.4 cm
Notes
The date of writing has been taken from the postmarks.
There is no place of writing given, but based on biographical evidence, it is most likely that this letter was written in Bath. See the published correspondence, cited below, for additional information.
On mourning stationery.
Address panel with black seal and postmarks: "Captain Burney / James Street / Westminster."
There are mostly illegible pencil notes in an unknown hand (possibly FBA's) on the third page of the letter.
There is no place of writing given, but based on biographical evidence, it is most likely that this letter was written in Bath. See the published correspondence, cited below, for additional information.
On mourning stationery.
Address panel with black seal and postmarks: "Captain Burney / James Street / Westminster."
There are mostly illegible pencil notes in an unknown hand (possibly FBA's) on the third page of the letter.
Provenance
Purchased by Pierpont Morgan from the London dealer Quaritch in July 1905 as part of a collection of Burney's correspondence and fragments of manuscripts, bound in three volumes. Disbound in 1925.
Summary
Telling James that she has not yet decided where to move following the death of her husband Monsieur d'Arblay, though she intends to leave Bath; writing that she will be led by her son Alex's desires in the decision and Alex has declared he would like to move to London; expressing her concerns about London: "I fear however for both our healths that or any other capital -- but mean to fix as near it as we can assure good walks -- which to me are requisite"; writing that she and Alex look forward to seeing more of her sisters Charlotte and Sarah, as well as other family members, "& to be near You again, my dear Brother, will be a comfort to me"; adding that it will be a "true grief" to be separated from her sister Esther: "Though since the cruel 3rd of May -- I have seen Her -- & every one joylessly."
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