Dated "Saturday evening"
Date guessed based on the table of contents from Dr. Lenore Anne Beaky's dissertation.
Forms part of a collection of letters written by Anna Mary Howitt to Barbara Leigh Smith Bodichon (1827-1891); see MA 14350.
Writing to share that Maggie and Charlton delighted over their shells, which have been arranged along a shelf in their house; describing how the pink work-bag has excited Maggie's "little school-fellows"; remarking that Mary Giles (?-1870) is unwell and dealing with an attack of inflammation of the lungs, but she is recovering; sending her mother's thanks to Ben and Willie; sharing that she had a delightful journey home from the country, though her fellow travelers were not agreeable; sharing that her companions on the coach were a husband and wife who drank liquor; describing other elements of her journey; sharing that her mother is pleased with the sketches; describing her own health and how, though her family thinks she looks better, Dr. Smith thinks her constitution is weak and has instructed her to eat all sorts of strong things and completely rest when she is not at the Academy; asking Barbara to send word if she is going to France; sending love to Barbara's circle. Postscript at bottom of page asks Barbara to call her Anna Mary instead of Miss Howitt, because Miss is so formal.