Caroline [Mrs. Charles] Bray to Rufa [Mrs. Charles Christian] Hennell, Coventry , [28 July 1844]
Title
Caroline [Mrs. Charles] Bray to Rufa [Mrs. Charles Christian] Hennell, Coventry , [28 July 1844]
Title
Caroline [Mrs. Charles] Bray to Rufa [Mrs. Charles Christian] Hennell, Coventry , [28 July 1844]
Sender
Caroline [Mrs. Charles] Bray
Recipient
Rufa [Mrs. Charles Christian] Hennell
Date(s)
- 1844-07-28
Place
Coventry
Letter Content
Caroline [Mrs. Charles] Bray to Rufa [Mrs. Charles Christian] Hennell, Coventry , [28 July 1844]
Text: Bray-Hennell Extracts, Tinker Collection, Yale. Hitherto unpublished.
Coventry | Sunday.
My dear Rufa,
I had so reckoned upon Charles seeing you at Clapton that I was quite disappointed to find that all the communication had been a short talk with Charles at the office; but it seems he and M.A. 522 had no minute to spare and glad they were to leave the hot city as soon as possible. He said Charles looked not well: but perhaps it was the extreme heat, which always used to make him look ill. We are glad he could give good accounts of Mamma and you. Had not you and Charles better come and ruralise a little with us? do -- it would be so nice, and we will pic-nic in Kenilworth grove.
Charles was to have told you all about our pleasant visit at Manchester and Liverpool etc. 523 Edward Hawkes came to Bowness the last day we were there, and the next morning met us at Kendal. Such a stout portly cousin I was not prepared to see; but we rather liked him, he sent all sorts of kind messages, -- had been much surprised to see CC's marriage in the paper. At Manchester Philip and Frank Holland 524 received us, with such cordial hospitality as one longs for after a tire-some journey. All their womenkind were in Derbyshire with the
Clennells, but these 2 young bachelors did the honours so well and made us so thoroughly at home, that we felt no want of anything or anybody. They said they had a very pleasing impression of Mrs. C. C. Hennell through their Aunt, -- they understood she was a very stylish lady. After tea we made them take us to all the very worst places about the town that we might convince ourselves that the stati[sti]cians do not make a case: indeed they do not -- the streets and houses where humans do actually live and breathe there are worse than a book can tell. Horrid place! we were rather glad to leave it the next day, though we had only seen one factory, and there were others to be seen.
At Liverpool Mr. R. Rathbone 525 received us with kind formality -- so like a Sir Peter Teazle in manner, appearance, and costume that we felt surprised not to see a sword and pigtail when he turned round. Here again the hostess was away, but nothing could be wanting in such a perfect, well-ordered establishment. His daughters interested us very much; the eldest an invalid on the sofa with a sweet pale face, in the prettiest white dress and cap with white roses; the second a thoroughly nice girl, whom we have invited to come here, as she too is out of health and wants change. We shall have their decision in the course of the year we suppose, but the father and mother have not done consulting about it yet. The next morning we went to see the launch of the "Cobden" and gloriously she burst her cradle and "away and away and away went she" and then we went in search of cousins.
All the Martineaus 526 were at home and Isabella. Edward 527 had left them only an hour before. Extremely cordial and cousinly. I think I should have known Helen, though she was quite sure we had never met before. So many loves and messages she sent to all, to Mamma in particular, and so glad to hear of CC's happiness and better health; they were sure he must be happy from what they saw of you at Liverpool. I leave it to the imagination to conceive how many loves Isabella sent to you all -- they would reach from here to Clapton. Poor thing -- she looks so thin and old, and so like Harriet, 528 a Higginsonian edition. She came, by herself to have a last look at us at the Station the next morning. James Martineau looks more interesting in the midst of his family than in the pulpit. Enough for one man to do, to provide for all those little bodies and souls and be a spirit of the age as well! We could hardly keep our gravity to see them all file in -- an infinite series -- and they all stood in a row to be spoken to with such Martineau gravity. Plain, sensible looking children, but one amongst them, Herbert, like a star of light. I never saw a more beautiful countenance; as M.A. said, like Mr. Martineau seen at a great distance, transfigured. We regretted that we missed seeing Alfred but we had no time to find him out. Mr. Rathbone invited 2 agreeable gentlemen to dine with us: both firm believers in mesmerism and clairvoyance, though one of them 529 seemed much too shrewd to believe in anything else: he nearly succeeded in mesmerising M.A. to the degree that she could not open her eyes, and begged him most piteously to do it for her, which he did immediately by passes. We left Mr. R's with the pleasant impression of having made a most agreeable acquaintance, and perchance friendship. Mr. R. gave me a handsome book, "The Diary of Lady Willoughby," 530 did you ever hear of it?
I want much to write to Sara, but fear "Kissingen" would not find her, as it is not important enough to be in the map. I do not forget that I owe you for arrowroot. Love to you all,
Your affectionate
Cara.
Text: Bray-Hennell Extracts, Tinker Collection, Yale. Hitherto unpublished.
Coventry | Sunday.
My dear Rufa,
I had so reckoned upon Charles seeing you at Clapton that I was quite disappointed to find that all the communication had been a short talk with Charles at the office; but it seems he and M.A. 522 had no minute to spare and glad they were to leave the hot city as soon as possible. He said Charles looked not well: but perhaps it was the extreme heat, which always used to make him look ill. We are glad he could give good accounts of Mamma and you. Had not you and Charles better come and ruralise a little with us? do -- it would be so nice, and we will pic-nic in Kenilworth grove.
Charles was to have told you all about our pleasant visit at Manchester and Liverpool etc. 523 Edward Hawkes came to Bowness the last day we were there, and the next morning met us at Kendal. Such a stout portly cousin I was not prepared to see; but we rather liked him, he sent all sorts of kind messages, -- had been much surprised to see CC's marriage in the paper. At Manchester Philip and Frank Holland 524 received us, with such cordial hospitality as one longs for after a tire-some journey. All their womenkind were in Derbyshire with the
Clennells, but these 2 young bachelors did the honours so well and made us so thoroughly at home, that we felt no want of anything or anybody. They said they had a very pleasing impression of Mrs. C. C. Hennell through their Aunt, -- they understood she was a very stylish lady. After tea we made them take us to all the very worst places about the town that we might convince ourselves that the stati[sti]cians do not make a case: indeed they do not -- the streets and houses where humans do actually live and breathe there are worse than a book can tell. Horrid place! we were rather glad to leave it the next day, though we had only seen one factory, and there were others to be seen.
At Liverpool Mr. R. Rathbone 525 received us with kind formality -- so like a Sir Peter Teazle in manner, appearance, and costume that we felt surprised not to see a sword and pigtail when he turned round. Here again the hostess was away, but nothing could be wanting in such a perfect, well-ordered establishment. His daughters interested us very much; the eldest an invalid on the sofa with a sweet pale face, in the prettiest white dress and cap with white roses; the second a thoroughly nice girl, whom we have invited to come here, as she too is out of health and wants change. We shall have their decision in the course of the year we suppose, but the father and mother have not done consulting about it yet. The next morning we went to see the launch of the "Cobden" and gloriously she burst her cradle and "away and away and away went she" and then we went in search of cousins.
All the Martineaus 526 were at home and Isabella. Edward 527 had left them only an hour before. Extremely cordial and cousinly. I think I should have known Helen, though she was quite sure we had never met before. So many loves and messages she sent to all, to Mamma in particular, and so glad to hear of CC's happiness and better health; they were sure he must be happy from what they saw of you at Liverpool. I leave it to the imagination to conceive how many loves Isabella sent to you all -- they would reach from here to Clapton. Poor thing -- she looks so thin and old, and so like Harriet, 528 a Higginsonian edition. She came, by herself to have a last look at us at the Station the next morning. James Martineau looks more interesting in the midst of his family than in the pulpit. Enough for one man to do, to provide for all those little bodies and souls and be a spirit of the age as well! We could hardly keep our gravity to see them all file in -- an infinite series -- and they all stood in a row to be spoken to with such Martineau gravity. Plain, sensible looking children, but one amongst them, Herbert, like a star of light. I never saw a more beautiful countenance; as M.A. said, like Mr. Martineau seen at a great distance, transfigured. We regretted that we missed seeing Alfred but we had no time to find him out. Mr. Rathbone invited 2 agreeable gentlemen to dine with us: both firm believers in mesmerism and clairvoyance, though one of them 529 seemed much too shrewd to believe in anything else: he nearly succeeded in mesmerising M.A. to the degree that she could not open her eyes, and begged him most piteously to do it for her, which he did immediately by passes. We left Mr. R's with the pleasant impression of having made a most agreeable acquaintance, and perchance friendship. Mr. R. gave me a handsome book, "The Diary of Lady Willoughby," 530 did you ever hear of it?
I want much to write to Sara, but fear "Kissingen" would not find her, as it is not important enough to be in the map. I do not forget that I owe you for arrowroot. Love to you all,
Your affectionate
Cara.
Signature
Cara.
Citation
Caroline [Mrs. Charles] Bray, Caroline [Mrs. Charles] Bray to Rufa [Mrs. Charles Christian] Hennell, Coventry , [28 July 1844], Complete George Eliot Letters(2026), George Eliot Archive, edited by Beverley Park Rilett. https://GeorgeEliotArchive.org, Accessed September 7, 2026. https://www.georgeeliotarchive.org/items/show/95549