BIB_ID
421530
Accession number
MA 1352.635
Creator
Bourchill, Ann, active 19th century.
Display Date
London, England, 1848 June 21.
Credit line
Purchased with the assistance of the Fellows, 1951.
Description
1 item (2 pages) ; 20.9 x 13.3 cm
Notes
Written from "Magdalen Hospital," which was located in London. In The Letters of Charles Dickens, Storey and Fielding identify the author of the letter as Ann Bourchill, matron of the Magdalen Hospital.
On stationery blind-embossed with initials "A. C. B."
The letter is part of a collection, MA 1352, which consists of letters from Charles Dickens to the Baroness, to her companion Hannah (Meredith) Brown, or the latter's husband, William Brown; with 70 letters written by others to Miss Coutts or to Dickens in his capacity as her unofficial almoner; and a few others. See the collection-level record for more information.
On stationery blind-embossed with initials "A. C. B."
The letter is part of a collection, MA 1352, which consists of letters from Charles Dickens to the Baroness, to her companion Hannah (Meredith) Brown, or the latter's husband, William Brown; with 70 letters written by others to Miss Coutts or to Dickens in his capacity as her unofficial almoner; and a few others. See the collection-level record for more information.
Provenance
The letters formed part of the Burdett-Coutts sale (Sotheby, 17 May 1922); they were purchased for Oliver W. Barrett in whose collection they remained until it was sold by his son (Parke-Bernet, 31 October 1951).
Summary
Recommending Martha Goldsmith to "Miss Coutts' kind consideration" as a candidate for Urania Cottage; writing "I was not so much influenced by any superiority of character in the young Woman -- as her apparent fitness for a Colonial life -- & the great anxiety she evinced for Emigration;" adding "While here she conducted herself in a civil & amiable manner, tidy in her person -- & a very industrious needlewoman -- & I think would have made a tolerable good Lady's maid in any of the Colonys, where Servants of that description are not easily procured. -- I am very fearful that being placed out in Town -- she will not have strength of mind to withstand the temptations of her old companions -- this she herself dreaded much."
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