Letter from Mary Fell, Belmont, Uxbridge, Middlesex, to Henry Pease, Darlington, apologising for not writing before because of an indisposition ‘more bilious than cold’; describing the health of Henry Fell Pease ‘our dear pet is pretty well perhaps not quite up to par but nothing more than a little more fretful and a few little spots, a white tongue and not quite comfortable with another tooth approaching’; referring to Henry’s description of the last Quarterly Meeting he attended and to the fact that ‘HLB is travelling as a preacher’; referring to her own discouragements in the life of faith and her own ‘unworthiness’ and her fear that she ‘should be called unprepared’; referring to the fact the day of writing is ‘monthly meeting day at Staines’ Middlesex; referring to the behaviour of ‘our dear John’ John Fell, son of Mary Fell; ‘the last letter from him was last first day week it is exceedingly trying we cannot understand it sometimes I think perhaps he really is married and yet I think you would know whether the young woman is at home or not or he may have got the information from them that his father had decided respecting providing for them if they did marry the post comes in day after day and we watch it unsuccessfully’ ‘dost thou know how lightly Wm. Backhouse has spoken of the young woman? do friends in your neighbourhood really approve of his taking such a step? if it be a right one far be it from me to oppose it’; referring to the writer’s ill health; the happiness of Henry Fell Pease and the fact that ‘cousin E. Smith is gone down to Elm Grove to stop a month or two with poor R. Lowther whose dear babe is to be interred today – it has appeared that the dear little innocent suffered much she had many strong screaming convulsions’, 15 January 1840 – From: Quaker families of Darlington,Pease family, Henry Pease (1807 – 1881), Correspondence