Vertical Tabs Reader Choose Stylesheet TAPAS GenericTEI BoilerplateXML ViewToggle Soft WrapToggle Invisibles<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?> <?xml-model href="http://www.tei-c.org/release/xml/tei/custom/schema/relaxng/tei_ms.rng" type="application/xml" schematypens="http://relaxng.org/ns/structure/1.0" ?> <?xml-model href="http://www.tei-c.org/release/xml/tei/custom/schema/relaxng/tei_ms.rng" type="application/xml" schematypens="http://purl.oclc.org/dsdl/schematron" ?> <!-- <?xml-model href="file:/Users/kaileyfukushima/Desktop/Schematron/CraikValidate.sch" type="application/xml" schematypens="http://purl.oclc.org/dsdl/schematron"?> --> <!-- <?xml-model href="../../Desktop/CraikSiteIndex/CraikValidate.sch" type="application/xml" schematypens="http://purl.oclc.org/dsdl/schematron"?> --> <?xml-model href="file:/Users/Me/Desktop/Schematron/CraikValidate.sch" type="application/xml" schematypens="http://purl.oclc.org/dsdl/schematron"?> <TEI xmlns="http://www.tei-c.org/ns/1.0"> <teiHeader> <fileDesc> <titleStmt> <title> Letter from <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#DMC">Dinah Mulock Craik</persName> to <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MulockBen">Benjamin Mulock</persName>, <date when="1855">1855</date> </title> <author ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#DMC">Dinah Mulock Craik</author> <editor ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#BourrierKaren">Karen Bourrier</editor> <sponsor> <orgName>Dinah Mulock Craik: A Digital Archive</orgName> </sponsor> <sponsor>University of Calgary</sponsor> <principal>Karen Bourrier</principal> <respStmt> <resp>Transcription <date when="2020-08">August 2020</date> by</resp> <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#WongKiana">Kiana Wong</persName> </respStmt> <respStmt> <resp>Proofing of transcription <date when="2020-08">August 2020</date> by </resp> <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#JarmulaSonia">Sonia Jarmula</persName> </respStmt> <respStmt> <resp>TEI encoding <date when="2020-08">August 2020</date> by</resp> <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#WongKiana">Kiana Wong</persName> </respStmt> <respStmt> <resp>Proofing of TEI encoding <date when="2020-08">August 2020</date> by</resp> <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#JarmulaSonia">Sonia Jarmula</persName> </respStmt> </titleStmt> <editionStmt> <edition> First digital edition in TEI, date: <date when="2020-08">August 2020.</date> P5. </edition> </editionStmt> <publicationStmt> <authority>Dinah Mulock Craik: A Digital Archive</authority> <pubPlace>Calgary, Alberta, Canada</pubPlace> <date>2020</date> <availability> <p>Reproduced by courtesy of the <placeName>University of California at Los Angeles </placeName>.</p> <licence>Distributed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License</licence> </availability> </publicationStmt> <seriesStmt> <title>Dinah Mulock Craik: A Digital Archive</title> </seriesStmt> <sourceDesc> <msDesc> <msIdentifier> <institution>University of California at Los Angeles</institution> <repository>Charles E. Young Research Library</repository> <collection>Mulock Family Papers</collection> <idno>846</idno> </msIdentifier> <head> Letter from <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#DMC">Dinah Mulock Craik</persName> to <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MulockBen">Benjamin Mulock</persName>, <date when="1855">1855</date> </head> <additional> <adminInfo> <note>Box 1, Folder 8</note> </adminInfo> </additional> </msDesc> </sourceDesc> </fileDesc> <encodingDesc> <editorialDecl> <p> Our aim in this edition has been to transcribe the content of the letters as accurately as possible without reproducing the physical appearance of the manuscript. Craik’s spelling, punctuation, underlining, superscripts, abbreviations, additions and deletions are retained, except for words which are hyphenated at the end of a line, which we have silently emended. Where Craik uses a non-standard spelling, we have encoded both her spelling and the standard Oxford English Dictionary spelling to facilitate searching. The long s is not encoded. </p> </editorialDecl> </encodingDesc> </teiHeader> <text> <body> <div type="letter"> <opener> <dateline> <placeName/> Tuesday Afternoon <date when="1855">[1855?]</date> </dateline> <salute>My dearest Ben</salute> </opener> <p>I got your first – & hear there is a second come to <placeName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#KensalGreen">Kensal Green</placeName> – which I can’t get till tomorrow – so I begin this without knowing any news – On the night you left I met <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MiersJulia">Julia</persName> (& got the money all right that day <unclear>week</unclear> – & I owe you <measure type="currency">18.0</measure> – for interest – She looked not right – but rather vexed than unhappy – asked me if I knew you were not to write? said “as you never wrote the sort of letters she wanted to get – such as you used to write from <placeName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#Australia">Australia</placeName> – Perhaps it was just as well you didn’t write at all” – I said it was no business of mine you must soon settle it between you & then the conversation dropped. She said she should come & see me – & would I let her know when I heard from you! Which wish she said was “natural.” – I believe this is word for word what passed – She wrote a line yesterday to ask if you had written – & I posted your first to her this morning. The first day after you left <placeName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#Fisciano">Fisciano</placeName> was very wretched indeed. – On Wednesday I went to <placeName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#KensalGreen">Kensal Green</placeName> – & <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MissJames" >Marian</persName> & I helped one another. – On Thursday we walked to <placeName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#HartesanGreen">Hartesan Green</placeName> – where we went in to see <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#BrownAlice">Alice Brown</persName> – now <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#TailorSalmon">Mr Salmon Tailor</persName>’s wife – with 3 babies – She embraced me & wept – in a way that was quite touching – was most anxious to hear about <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MulockBen">Ben</persName> – told me all the news of all the family. It was a strange digging up of old times – Next day we went to see <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MrsBrown">Mrs Brown</persName> – that is, Bellamour – who gave us cake & ale – & made such a fuss over us – And we promised to go over to <placeName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#Kingsbury" >Kingsbury</placeName> to see <persName>Mary</persName> – whose husband is a farmer there. Then we went to <placeName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#Willesden" >Willesden</placeName> – & spent a long morning about there – We walked about 8 miles per <unclear>diem</unclear> – & it has done me good – <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MissJames">Marian</persName> has set her heart after my going to live about <placeName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#Neasden">Neasden</placeName> <placeName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#Wembley"><choice> <sic>Wembly</sic> <reg resp="CraikSiteIndex.xml#WongKiana">Wembley</reg> </choice></placeName> in <placeName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#Kingsbury" >Kingsbury</placeName> – & we are to keep an eye on cottages in general. I paid my rent yesterday – & the landlord will put up a “To Let” at <rs type="event" ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#Christmas"><choice> <abbr>Xmas</abbr> <expan>Christmas</expan> </choice></rs> – & set me free at <rs type="event" ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#LadyDay">Lady day</rs>, if a tenant appears – I should have gone to <placeName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#KensalGreen">Kensal Green</placeName> again today – </p> <p>but for a most amazing thing. Do you remember telling me of a dreadful <hi rend="underdoubleline">capital</hi> discovery you made on board ship? – I made the same – on Sunday morning – I have had to take to white precipitate <unclear>omsinent</unclear>, & I don’t know what – & make myself a complete Pariah. Isn’t it <unclear>seeking</unclear>: How it <unclear>were</unclear> – I have no idea – I fairly sat me down & I cried – but <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#Bessy">Bessy</persName> consoled & looked after me. – Now I tell you this fact – because if it befell at <placeName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#Prittlewell">Prittlewell</placeName> you are just as liable as I – so take care. Things are mending. So I hope to be all right before long. You may imagine the state of mind I have been in. – I had a letter from <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#ParkerJohnWilliam">Parker</persName> today accepting his First Wife - for <choice> <abbr>Jan</abbr> <expan>January</expan> </choice> & <choice> <abbr>Feb</abbr> <expan>February</expan> </choice> of Frazer – the others still pending. <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#ChapmanEdward">Chapman</persName> says if Olive & Head go off well he will give me a little tin. – <title corresp="CraikSiteIndex.xml#LittleLychetts">The Little Lychetts</title> is to come out next month in a <choice> <abbr>vol</abbr> <expan>volume</expan> </choice> – which though useless will be agreeable. I can’t get on with <rs type="title" ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#JohnHalifaxGentleman">John</rs> all that <unclear>was</unclear> I can do – which is hard – as I begin to feel pretty well now. <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#Bessy">Bessy</persName> is also better. The house is awful quiet & dreary – & the piano is hardly ever heard – <placeName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#Detmore">Detmore</placeName> letters come as usual – they have been in great trouble about <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#DobellEdmund" >Edmund</persName> – whose creditors are very hard upon him. – Tuesday day – <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#LovellMinna">Minna</persName> & <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MissJames">Marian</persName> have been here – they went to <unclear>Hervie’s</unclear> play last night – which they say was literally “killing” – as everybody was killed – including the audience (with laughter) They gave me a few dramatic extracts – at which you would have gone into fits – <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MissJames">Marian</persName> is much better – & her hand is free now – only sore – & she can use it but little. – There is no news of the war at all – no <placeName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#Sebastopol" >Sebastopol</placeName> as yet. – But yesterday there was in <title corresp="CraikSiteIndex.xml#Times">the Times</title> an authentic account of poor <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#FranklinJohn">Franklin</persName> & the rest – their remains have at last been found – & various clothes – silver forks &c marked with their initials – sent to the Admiralty. Their ships were broken up – & they must have died such by such on land – of starvation – in <date when="1850" >1850</date>. – Several of the bodies were mutilated – & it is believed they actually ate one another – dead or living. What a horrible end. I will send you the <unclear>forrold</unclear> paper as you said – as soon as I know where to send to – <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MissJames">Marian</persName> will send on your letter as soon as she gets home. – So I shall say all about yourself when I get it. Goodnight <rs type="person" ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MulockBen">my dearest boy</rs> – </p> <p> – Wednesday – I got your letter – & am very content with it indeed – I do believe that everything done is the right thing & that “with the blessing &c” – all will go well – & you will be quite cured – You must tell me exactly how your health goes on & your eyes – If you are not satisfied about them – go to that wonderful man the <orgName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#Marston">Marston’s</orgName> are going to with <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MarstonPhilipBourke" >Philip</persName> – Everybody agrees he is the first oculist in the world – he lives 3 miles from <placeName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#Dusseldorf" >Dusseldorf</placeName> – I don’t know his surname – but you might at once find him – everybody calls him “the Hofrath.” – I believe he is a most generous man – & doctors half his patients free – & anyhow his fee is only a thaler – Mr <unclear>Montalba</unclear> told me this on Sunday night. I think, if there is the slightest doubt you ought to go. – I am quite well – thank you <rs type="person" ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MulockBen">my boy</rs> - & the capital trouble is vanishing fast – Of course you needn’t notice it – only mind yourself – which is the reason I told you. I suppose there is no objection to my sending your letter to <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MiersJulia">Julia</persName> if she asks? – Your account of <unclear>Mariabery</unclear> is very nice. – but I’d rather you were there than me – Agh! <unclear>Wetsheets</unclear> at 5.A.M –. I am venturing so far out of my <choice> <sic>Paria</sic> <reg resp="CraikSiteIndex.xml#JarmulaSonia">Pariah</reg> </choice> state as to dine at <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#LovellMinna" >Minna</persName>’s today – She will be so happy at your letter – & <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MissJames">Marian</persName> too. – Everybody talks of you in the fondest way – & nobody “pities” you but considers you a brave noble fellow – & believes you will get through all your ill-health as I truly believe you will. There must come an <hi rend="underline">up</hi> after such terrible <hi rend="underline">downs</hi>. Things can’t go on for ever. – <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MrsLownsend">Mrs Lownsend</persName> & <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MissPlace">Miss Place</persName> have both been hoping to see you – & were lugubrious at missing you. – I have absolutely nothing more to tell you of any kind except that it is a pouring wet day & the little ghost is singing in the corner, & I wish <persName ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MulockBen" >Ben</persName> was here – & yet I don’t – for you are a great deal better where you are. Only you must mind & write regularly & fully – under every possible circumstances – & be sure & tell me <hi rend="underline">all</hi> – likewise – for anything known is better the <unclear>me</unclear> Terrible Unknown. – Now goodbye - & God bless you. – <rs type="person" ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#DMC" >Sister's</rs> <rs type="person" ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#MulockBen">dearest boy</rs> – I often think what a many nice happy talks we had which will remain long after the troubles are quite forgotten – Don’t you feel so too? – </p> <closer> <salute>Ever your affectionate</salute> <lb/> <lb/> <signed> <persName><rs type="person" ref="CraikSiteIndex.xml#DMC">Sister</rs> – </persName> </signed> <lb/> </closer> <postscript> <p/> </postscript> </div> </body> </text> </TEI> Hide page breaks Views diplomatic normalized Letter from Dinah Mulock Craik to Benjamin Mulock, 1855 Dinah Mulock Craik Karen Bourrier Dinah Mulock Craik: A Digital Archive University of Calgary Karen Bourrier Transcription August 2020 by Kiana Wong Proofing of transcription August 2020 by Sonia Jarmula TEI encoding August 2020 by Kiana Wong Proofing of TEI encoding August 2020 by Sonia Jarmula First digital edition in TEI, date: August 2020. P5. Dinah Mulock Craik: A Digital Archive Calgary, Alberta, Canada 2020 Reproduced by courtesy of the University of California at Los Angeles . Distributed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License Dinah Mulock Craik: A Digital Archive University of California at Los Angeles Charles E. Young Research Library Mulock Family Papers 846 Letter from Dinah Mulock Craik to Benjamin Mulock, 1855 Box 1, Folder 8 Our aim in this edition has been to transcribe the content of the letters as accurately as possible without reproducing the physical appearance of the manuscript. Craik’s spelling, punctuation, underlining, superscripts, abbreviations, additions and deletions are retained, except for words which are hyphenated at the end of a line, which we have silently emended. Where Craik uses a non-standard spelling, we have encoded both her spelling and the standard Oxford English Dictionary spelling to facilitate searching. The long s is not encoded. Tuesday Afternoon [1855?] My dearest Ben I got your first – & hear there is a second come to Kensal Green – which I can’t get till tomorrow – so I begin this without knowing any news – On the night you left I met Julia (& got the money all right that day week – & I owe you 18.0 – for interest – She looked not right – but rather vexed than unhappy – asked me if I knew you were not to write? said “as you never wrote the sort of letters she wanted to get – such as you used to write from Australia – Perhaps it was just as well you didn’t write at all” – I said it was no business of mine you must soon settle it between you & then the conversation dropped. She said she should come & see me – & would I let her know when I heard from you! Which wish she said was “natural.” – I believe this is word for word what passed – She wrote a line yesterday to ask if you had written – & I posted your first to her this morning. The first day after you left Fisciano was very wretched indeed. – On Wednesday I went to Kensal Green – & Marian & I helped one another. – On Thursday we walked to Hartesan Green – where we went in to see Alice Brown – now Mr Salmon Tailor’s wife – with 3 babies – She embraced me & wept – in a way that was quite touching – was most anxious to hear about Ben – told me all the news of all the family. It was a strange digging up of old times – Next day we went to see Mrs Brown – that is, Bellamour – who gave us cake & ale – & made such a fuss over us – And we promised to go over to Kingsbury to see Mary – whose husband is a farmer there. Then we went to Willesden – & spent a long morning about there – We walked about 8 miles per diem – & it has done me good – Marian has set her heart after my going to live about Neasden Wembly Wembley in Kingsbury – & we are to keep an eye on cottages in general. I paid my rent yesterday – & the landlord will put up a “To Let” at Xmas Christmas – & set me free at Lady day, if a tenant appears – I should have gone to Kensal Green again today – but for a most amazing thing. Do you remember telling me of a dreadful capital discovery you made on board ship? – I made the same – on Sunday morning – I have had to take to white precipitate omsinent, & I don’t know what – & make myself a complete Pariah. Isn’t it seeking: How it were – I have no idea – I fairly sat me down & I cried – but Bessy consoled & looked after me. – Now I tell you this fact – because if it befell at Prittlewell you are just as liable as I – so take care. Things are mending. So I hope to be all right before long. You may imagine the state of mind I have been in. – I had a letter from Parker today accepting his First Wife - for Jan January & Feb February of Frazer – the others still pending. Chapman says if Olive & Head go off well he will give me a little tin. – The Little Lychetts is to come out next month in a vol volume – which though useless will be agreeable. I can’t get on with John all that was I can do – which is hard – as I begin to feel pretty well now. Bessy is also better. The house is awful quiet & dreary – & the piano is hardly ever heard – Detmore letters come as usual – they have been in great trouble about Edmund – whose creditors are very hard upon him. – Tuesday day – Minna & Marian have been here – they went to Hervie’s play last night – which they say was literally “killing” – as everybody was killed – including the audience (with laughter) They gave me a few dramatic extracts – at which you would have gone into fits – Marian is much better – & her hand is free now – only sore – & she can use it but little. – There is no news of the war at all – no Sebastopol as yet. – But yesterday there was in the Times an authentic account of poor Franklin & the rest – their remains have at last been found – & various clothes – silver forks &c marked with their initials – sent to the Admiralty. Their ships were broken up – & they must have died such by such on land – of starvation – in 1850. – Several of the bodies were mutilated – & it is believed they actually ate one another – dead or living. What a horrible end. I will send you the forrold paper as you said – as soon as I know where to send to – Marian will send on your letter as soon as she gets home. – So I shall say all about yourself when I get it. Goodnight my dearest boy – – Wednesday – I got your letter – & am very content with it indeed – I do believe that everything done is the right thing & that “with the blessing &c” – all will go well – & you will be quite cured – You must tell me exactly how your health goes on & your eyes – If you are not satisfied about them – go to that wonderful man the Marston’s are going to with Philip – Everybody agrees he is the first oculist in the world – he lives 3 miles from Dusseldorf – I don’t know his surname – but you might at once find him – everybody calls him “the Hofrath.” – I believe he is a most generous man – & doctors half his patients free – & anyhow his fee is only a thaler – Mr Montalba told me this on Sunday night. I think, if there is the slightest doubt you ought to go. – I am quite well – thank you my boy - & the capital trouble is vanishing fast – Of course you needn’t notice it – only mind yourself – which is the reason I told you. I suppose there is no objection to my sending your letter to Julia if she asks? – Your account of Mariabery is very nice. – but I’d rather you were there than me – Agh! Wetsheets at 5.A.M –. I am venturing so far out of my Paria Pariah state as to dine at Minna’s today – She will be so happy at your letter – & Marian too. – Everybody talks of you in the fondest way – & nobody “pities” you but considers you a brave noble fellow – & believes you will get through all your ill-health as I truly believe you will. There must come an up after such terrible downs. Things can’t go on for ever. – Mrs Lownsend & Miss Place have both been hoping to see you – & were lugubrious at missing you. – I have absolutely nothing more to tell you of any kind except that it is a pouring wet day & the little ghost is singing in the corner, & I wish Ben was here – & yet I don’t – for you are a great deal better where you are. Only you must mind & write regularly & fully – under every possible circumstances – & be sure & tell me all – likewise – for anything known is better the me Terrible Unknown. – Now goodbye - & God bless you. – Sister's dearest boy – I often think what a many nice happy talks we had which will remain long after the troubles are quite forgotten – Don’t you feel so too? – Ever your affectionate Sister – ToolboxHide page breaks Themes: Default Sleepy Time Terminal Letter from Dinah Mulock Craik to Benjamin Mulock, 1855 Dinah Mulock Craik Karen Bourrier Dinah Mulock Craik: A Digital Archive University of Calgary Karen Bourrier Transcription August 2020 by Kiana Wong Proofing of transcription August 2020 by Sonia Jarmula TEI encoding August 2020 by Kiana Wong Proofing of TEI encoding August 2020 by Sonia Jarmula First digital edition in TEI, date: August 2020. P5. Dinah Mulock Craik: A Digital Archive Calgary, Alberta, Canada 2020 Reproduced by courtesy of the University of California at Los Angeles . Distributed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License Dinah Mulock Craik: A Digital Archive University of California at Los Angeles Charles E. Young Research Library Mulock Family Papers 846 Letter from Dinah Mulock Craik to Benjamin Mulock, 1855 Box 1, Folder 8 Our aim in this edition has been to transcribe the content of the letters as accurately as possible without reproducing the physical appearance of the manuscript. Craik’s spelling, punctuation, underlining, superscripts, abbreviations, additions and deletions are retained, except for words which are hyphenated at the end of a line, which we have silently emended. Where Craik uses a non-standard spelling, we have encoded both her spelling and the standard Oxford English Dictionary spelling to facilitate searching. The long s is not encoded. Tuesday Afternoon [1855?] My dearest Ben I got your first – & hear there is a second come to Kensal Green – which I can’t get till tomorrow – so I begin this without knowing any news – On the night you left I met Julia (& got the money all right that day week – & I owe you 18.0 – for interest – She looked not right – but rather vexed than unhappy – asked me if I knew you were not to write? said “as you never wrote the sort of letters she wanted to get – such as you used to write from Australia – Perhaps it was just as well you didn’t write at all” – I said it was no business of mine you must soon settle it between you & then the conversation dropped. She said she should come & see me – & would I let her know when I heard from you! Which wish she said was “natural.” – I believe this is word for word what passed – She wrote a line yesterday to ask if you had written – & I posted your first to her this morning. The first day after you left Fisciano was very wretched indeed. – On Wednesday I went to Kensal Green – & Marian & I helped one another. – On Thursday we walked to Hartesan Green – where we went in to see Alice Brown – now Mr Salmon Tailor’s wife – with 3 babies – She embraced me & wept – in a way that was quite touching – was most anxious to hear about Ben – told me all the news of all the family. It was a strange digging up of old times – Next day we went to see Mrs Brown – that is, Bellamour – who gave us cake & ale – & made such a fuss over us – And we promised to go over to Kingsbury to see Mary – whose husband is a farmer there. Then we went to Willesden – & spent a long morning about there – We walked about 8 miles per diem – & it has done me good – Marian has set her heart after my going to live about Neasden Wembly Wembley in Kingsbury – & we are to keep an eye on cottages in general. I paid my rent yesterday – & the landlord will put up a “To Let” at Xmas Christmas – & set me free at Lady day, if a tenant appears – I should have gone to Kensal Green again today – but for a most amazing thing. Do you remember telling me of a dreadful capital discovery you made on board ship? – I made the same – on Sunday morning – I have had to take to white precipitate omsinent, & I don’t know what – & make myself a complete Pariah. Isn’t it seeking: How it were – I have no idea – I fairly sat me down & I cried – but Bessy consoled & looked after me. – Now I tell you this fact – because if it befell at Prittlewell you are just as liable as I – so take care. Things are mending. So I hope to be all right before long. You may imagine the state of mind I have been in. – I had a letter from Parker today accepting his First Wife - for Jan January & Feb February of Frazer – the others still pending. Chapman says if Olive & Head go off well he will give me a little tin. – The Little Lychetts is to come out next month in a vol volume – which though useless will be agreeable. I can’t get on with John all that was I can do – which is hard – as I begin to feel pretty well now. Bessy is also better. The house is awful quiet & dreary – & the piano is hardly ever heard – Detmore letters come as usual – they have been in great trouble about Edmund – whose creditors are very hard upon him. – Tuesday day – Minna & Marian have been here – they went to Hervie’s play last night – which they say was literally “killing” – as everybody was killed – including the audience (with laughter) They gave me a few dramatic extracts – at which you would have gone into fits – Marian is much better – & her hand is free now – only sore – & she can use it but little. – There is no news of the war at all – no Sebastopol as yet. – But yesterday there was in the Times an authentic account of poor Franklin & the rest – their remains have at last been found – & various clothes – silver forks &c marked with their initials – sent to the Admiralty. Their ships were broken up – & they must have died such by such on land – of starvation – in 1850. – Several of the bodies were mutilated – & it is believed they actually ate one another – dead or living. What a horrible end. I will send you the forrold paper as you said – as soon as I know where to send to – Marian will send on your letter as soon as she gets home. – So I shall say all about yourself when I get it. Goodnight my dearest boy – – Wednesday – I got your letter – & am very content with it indeed – I do believe that everything done is the right thing & that “with the blessing &c” – all will go well – & you will be quite cured – You must tell me exactly how your health goes on & your eyes – If you are not satisfied about them – go to that wonderful man the Marston’s are going to with Philip – Everybody agrees he is the first oculist in the world – he lives 3 miles from Dusseldorf – I don’t know his surname – but you might at once find him – everybody calls him “the Hofrath.” – I believe he is a most generous man – & doctors half his patients free – & anyhow his fee is only a thaler – Mr Montalba told me this on Sunday night. I think, if there is the slightest doubt you ought to go. – I am quite well – thank you my boy - & the capital trouble is vanishing fast – Of course you needn’t notice it – only mind yourself – which is the reason I told you. I suppose there is no objection to my sending your letter to Julia if she asks? – Your account of Mariabery is very nice. – but I’d rather you were there than me – Agh! Wetsheets at 5.A.M –. I am venturing so far out of my Paria Pariah state as to dine at Minna’s today – She will be so happy at your letter – & Marian too. – Everybody talks of you in the fondest way – & nobody “pities” you but considers you a brave noble fellow – & believes you will get through all your ill-health as I truly believe you will. There must come an up after such terrible downs. Things can’t go on for ever. – Mrs Lownsend & Miss Place have both been hoping to see you – & were lugubrious at missing you. – I have absolutely nothing more to tell you of any kind except that it is a pouring wet day & the little ghost is singing in the corner, & I wish Ben was here – & yet I don’t – for you are a great deal better where you are. Only you must mind & write regularly & fully – under every possible circumstances – & be sure & tell me all – likewise – for anything known is better the me Terrible Unknown. – Now goodbye - & God bless you. – Sister's dearest boy – I often think what a many nice happy talks we had which will remain long after the troubles are quite forgotten – Don’t you feel so too? – Ever your affectionate Sister – Metadata TAPAS Title:Letter from Dinah Mulock Craik to Benjamin Mulock, c. 1855Title:Letter from Dinah Mulock Craik to Benjamin Mulock, 1855Author/Creator:Dinah Mulock Craik (Author)Contributor:Karen Bourrier (Editor)Dinah Mulock Craik: A Digital Archive (Sponsor)University of Calgary (Sponsor)Karen Bourrier (Research team head)Kiana Wong (Transcription August 2020 by)Sonia Jarmula (Proofing of transcription August 2020 by)Kiana Wong (TEI encoding August 2020 by)Sonia Jarmula (Proofing of TEI encoding August 2020 by)Imprint:First digital edition in TEI, date: August 2020. P5. - Calgary, Alberta, Canada : Dinah Mulock Craik: A Digital Archive, 2020Type of resource:TextGenre:Texts (document genres) Files TEI File: UCLADM31.xml Project Details Project: Digital Dinah CraikCollection: Mulock Family Papers at the University of California at Los Angeles
