Frances Elizabeth DOWNING [7079]

  General Notes:

In the Books section of this website is a long sermon (31 pages) preached by Rev Charles Jerram at France's funeral.
Also a record of Jerrams meetings with her prior to her death. (Rather confusingly Frances is addressed as Mrs Frances Downing on the sermon?)
Ref: Liveing Archive - Folder Downing Frances E Funeral

Frances was given a copy of Atlas Minimus 1758 by her brother George.
http://www.miniaturemaps.net/_webedit/uploaded-files/All%20Files/1701-1800/1758%20Gibson%20%26%20Bowen.pdf

  Research Notes:

Charles Jerram
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Charles Jerram (1770\endash 1853) was an English evangelical priest of the Church of England.

Life
Born 17 January 1770, in the parish of Blidworth, Nottinghamshire, he was son of Charles Jerram, a farmer; his mother, Mary Knutton, a religious woman of presbyterian descent, was the daughter of a farmer of the same parish. He was placed under the tuition of the Rev. T. Cursham, the curate of Blidworth, of evangelical views, with whom he remained many years, first as pupil and then as assistant teacher.[1]

Rev Charles Jerram
Who coducted a lengthy interview with Frances and preached a long sermon at her funeral (both items in the Books section of this website).
About 1790 Jerram became assistant at a Unitarian school in Highgate, London. There Alexander Crombie supported his classical studies, but Richard Cecil had more influence on his religious views. His friend Cursham recommended him to the Elland Society of Yorkshire, and he was able in 1793 to enter Magdalene College, Cambridge, where he attended the ministry of Charles Simeon and undergraduate societies. He obtained the Norrisian prize in 1796, graduated B.A. in 1797, and proceeded M.A. in 1800.[1][2]
In 1797 Jerram took holy orders, and served his first curacy at Long Sutton, Lincolnshire; the parish had had a succession of non-resident vicar. The neighbouring clergy included John Pugh, vicar of Rauceby, at whose house Jerram took part in the discussion which led to the foundation of the Church Missionary Society.[1]
In October 1805 ill-health led Jerram to move to Chobham in Surrey, where Cecil was vicar, and he acted as his curate till Cecil's death in 1810, when he succeeded to the benefice. At Chobham, as at Long Sutton, he prepared private pupils for university, and acquired a reputation as a tutor. He gave up tuition in 1822. Accepted after a while at Chobham, Jerram became a magistrate and became involved in the administration of the Poor Laws, about which he had concerns as leading to pauperism.
About 1824 Jerram left Chobham for St John's Chapel, Bedford Row, though retaining the living. Disliking pew rents, after two years, he returned to Chobham in 1826. Charles Richard Sumner as incoming Bishop of Winchester made him a rural dean, and in April 1834 presented him to the rectory of Witney, Oxfordshire; he held it for the rest of his life and his son succeeded him at Chobham. His predecessor at Witney had been non-resident, and nonconformists flourished in the parish. During Jerram's incumbency the parish church was restored; district churches and schools were erected in two hamlets; Sunday trading was put down, and the parish was divided into districts for systematic visitation.[1]
Jerram's health began to fail in 1844, and on Good Friday 1848 he preached his last sermon in Witney Church. He died 20 June 1853, and was buried at Witney.
Ref: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Jerram

  Other Records

1. Frances Elizabeth Downing: Her Atlas Minimus - pocket maps, 1758.
"Pocket maps by J Gibson, published Jan 2nd 1758" an early portable atlas and used for education.

2. Frances Elizabeth Downing: To her Sister Catherine Downing at her birthday, 26 Nov 1780, Hedingham.
Liveing Archive 163a-c LT13 Letter noted H1

Miss C Downing.
Revd Mr Downing Ovington.

Hedingham Nov 26, 1780 (Date altered, uncertain perhaps 1788 or 1784 ?)

1
Guardian of Lambs, behold
This tender one of thy dear Fold;
Take her in thy peculiar care
Secure her Soul from every share.
2
Let nothing in her Mind take place
But what comes from thy blood and grace;
May that sink deep into her heart,
And let naught else have any part.
3
Extend thy Wings around her head,
And let thy Blood which thou didst shed,
Wash every part & make it clean
From every spot and stain of sin.
4
Set on her breast they Spirits seal,
And in her heart thy love reveal,
That love which brought thee down to die
For all mankind on Calvary
5
Let none around her, do her harm
But guard her with thy outstretched arm
And her dear Soul securely keep,
Among thy little Flock of sheep

.......................

Maria 1784 ( this is written verticly in a different hand and ink, uncertain what it might mean)

accept my very dear sister the little simple hymn I have transcribed for you, it is expressive of tender heartfelt wishes I bear towards you & all that is realy (sic) desirable is comprehended in it.
May He whose heart is made of tenderness & whose bowels melt with love, give my dear Sister to experience it in her inmost Soul, then shall she be truly Blessed indeed.
And now my dear Love let me welcome you to the return of another birthday & again wish you every Blessing in the ensuing year, may health & peace & length of days be added to you, & above all may the Lord be your portion your God and your all, time will not now admit of my inlarging (sic) be assured my dear sister that my heart feels full of love towards you, accept it, it is all I can offer you, & believe with tenderest affection your ever faithful sister F.E.D.

accept the enclosed as a token of very insignificant token of love, it is not in my power to procure anything better at present, adieu my dear and beloved sister.

P.S. My aunt is sure [?] well desires her kind love, I most sincerely wish our dear Father a good Journey tomorrow pray when you have the pleasure to see him present my affectionate duty, our dear mother will I hope accept the same. Much tender love attends dear Bro: & Sis:

3. Frances Elizabeth Downing: To Miss (Catherine ?) Bowles about the death of her brother Geo Downing, 10 Oct 1800, Hatton Garden London.
Liveing Archive 148b-c LT13. Letter noted E (1)

Miss Bowles
Rev Mr Downing
Ely
Cambridge.

Hatton Garden
Oct 10 1800
My very dear Cousin
I know the tenderness of your heart too well to need an apology for addressing my letter to you there are some few subjects which I want to speak upon as necessary points to my beloved parents which are yet but far too tender to enter upon immediately with them. Oh my dear Cousin none but God can support in this time of trial, but I Look to him & and there I rest all my hope he can, I know he can preserve my precious parents. My mind this morning is so agitated with the thoughts of what is passing at Ely that you must bear with my manner of writing just as it is for I can idea myself writing to a friend [?]. To the praise & Glory of God I will in the first place say that he supports & sustains us my dearest Mother need not be anxious about her child, for the comfort I have had in my dearest Beloved Brothers departure, takes away the keen edge of sorrow. I may be hold him escaped from every snare [?] & I am without doubt convinced he is taken from the evil to come & our dear Lord made him fit I trust for his heavenly Kingdom I am very apt to think much passed in his mind, his patience was exemplary & his behaviour to us all very precious indeed. I have the highest satisfaction in having been with him & in the satisfaction he took in it himself & which is expressed at several different times. I long to communicate everything that passed. On Wednesday that sad day after I had written by the Dⁿ desire a good account (though at the same time I spoke of his lowness & weakness) he was sitting up to eat his rice pudding my Sister only was with him for I was called out to Mr Deane & Miss Johnson, he suddenly grave a great scream my Sister called in Prissy [?] & I ran in at the same time, we too plainly
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saw how it was, Prissy [?] (whose attention & and care & good management of this dearest creature in his last hour is never to be forgotten) got him she & I together upon the bed, & there so admirably managed as he himself said to bring him completely round, we got him between blankets & the pressiration [?] returned, he was then perfectly collected & himself took hold of us by hand & said my Sister kneel down & let us have a word of prayer together Prissy & I knelt down & in earnest supplication my heart was led to commit this dear object of my affections to my merciful Lord and Saviour in much confidence. Now said he bring the prayerbook & and lead the recommendatory prayer. You can better guess my feelings than I can write them, but I did it, & he told Crissy after he felt the comfort of it, & and felt it inwardly answered & accepted, he then took leave of us all, turning to me he said you will take care of my Child "Prissy when you need it I wish you to send for Mr Greenwood," & and to me said you will do by me as you did by my aunt, after I am gone, his directions were to Prissy as follows. A list of gentlemen he wished to attend his dear remains. Mr Shadwell Mr Neyle Mr Grimwood Mr Bereins Mr Legge the two Mr Wilson's Mr Birch and his sisters he should like it if they would, & could bear it, as for my wife I had rather she would not, but if she has any particular desire I wish her to do it. As to the place of my interment, I had no idea that I should have gone first, but as I do, I wish my dear parents to choose for me if they like it to be at Ovington, if they do not make an object of it, I should wish it to be at St Paul's Covent Garden by Mr Baldwin but I leave it to them. Oh my love this then is a heavy question to ask of my beloved parents as also if they have any particular wish or order to give in any way, my sister requests them to do it, & will you my love be so kind to return an answer by return of the post. I have already had the four Executors. Mr Shadwell is only in town & from him Mr Grimwood has had his instructions, but Mr Shadwell particularly desired he might be
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informed by my dear Parents if they had any particular wish in any way whatever respecting my beloved Brother, the will was opened by Mr Shadwell on the same morning that he might know how to proceed & he immediately sent it to Mr Commons he sent to know if my sister or I wished to be present at reading it but indeed my love it was much too tender & we both declined so that as to those particulars we are ignorant, help came taking charge of all matters of business & everything. Oh my love I must still go on with particulars but I know not what I write I return to the Wednesday when my precious Brother was seized [?], we directly sent off a coach to Dr Myers, & another to Dr Gaskin, the former was not at home so he could not come till after the latter, all that relates to him I need not repeat he has already done. Dr Myers wrote a prescription & told us he won't call again Mr Gaskin also came & they both agreed it was similar to an hyterical fit in a woman and trusted all would do well. I asked if I might send the letter I had wrote, by all means said he don't alarm them. I trust tomorrow we shall go again, when he came in the evening he told us that in case he did not spend a sanguine night he would advise to send in the morning to Dr Reynolds, he got but little sleep in the night & was quite rambling I was so affected in my feelings and what I had seen of his sorrow[?] that I could not be with him any more till next morning I believe he asked for me & I went in and he took hold of my hand & said dear sister let us repeat Bless God from whom all Blessings flow & the last line Praise Father Son & Holy Ghost he repeated with such an emphasis that it was plain it added strength to his mind.

He was quite rambling & of course what he said was morose [?] but there were some choice expressions which I hope to collect from Prissy such as what a mystery it is all mystery, hid in the bosom of God & revealed to a man, oh Salvation! That he should pass by angels & take on him the nature of men. It was an error [?], that I once thought it a vanity to believe in Christ, but my dear father's sermon, O what did he tell me, it is now clear & plain I see it quite clear. Just after I came in he seemed rejoiced & said what my Father, & My Mother too here did & in the night told Prissy he would give anything that they could know what was passing in his mind, my dear Mother said he always had a hope for me, & once with a heavenly smile, he said oh I always loved God though I seemed not to do it, taking Prissy by the hand he said I remember [?] you, I love you for all you have done for me, you have been very kind to me [?] never leave my dear wife don't forsake her you can't know her worth she is a good woman I knew her years before I married her I know her worth but I have given her up to God & my child too, she is a nice little girl but I feel nothing at leaving her for I have given her up to God & I have done with all below I have given everything up, almost the last words he said, were farewell my Father farewell my Mother but indeed love it was too much for me to be in the room I can't but not be in the dear dear soul [?] had not I trust but little pain, my poor sister oh the sorrows of her heart we took ourselves into the nursery & there we kept even since she & I & the small child slept altogether there last night. Mr Birch had called on Wednesday evening & finding our situation
Address page
of distress and anxiety most kindly came in & stayed with us all night for none of us went to bed & he was with us nearly all day yesterday & been with us again this morning it is not to be expressed [?] how welcome a friend is also Mr Deane & Miss Johnson have been several times in the most friendly manner & quite a comfort they providentially came in during our first alarm on Wednesday & were such a support as I cannot describe God is very gracious to us indeed he is it is impossible to describe it, but oh my love I can write no more at present oh my parents my dear parents had I but for them to let me hear how they are, & my poor dear sisters also oh it is worse for them than me communicate a part or all on at different times of this letter just as your judgement shall guide, but do let me have an answer dear love to the deeply painful queries. I know not dear to do about my beloved Parents I turned in my mind & applied to Dr Gaskin who had been with that dearest creature & I thought he of course the best to commit [?] my sorrowful communication to him. But oh how glad am I to find Mrs Gaskin [?] next with him oh my love I am sure it was a sad thing it adds to my sorrow he cannot help it. The best of blessings be on you dear dear very dear Relations at Ely. My poor sister is supported in calmness thank God but her sorrow runs deep. She prefers dearest brother being interred at Ovington
The transcriber has done his best with this difficult letter and writing, please refer to the original letter where you might have doubt as to the transcription.

4. Frances Elizabeth Downing: To her Sister Catherine Downing, 2 Jan 1813, Keevil (Steeple Ashton WIL).
Liveing Archive 164a-d LT13 Letter noted H.2. Postmark 5 January 1813.

To Mrs Downing
Miss Alstons¹
Stoke by Nayland
Suffolk.
Single)

Theevil January 2, 1813
The first letter written by Francis in 1813 shall be dedicated to her beloved sisters at Stoke, & in the first place she returns her affection thanks to her dear Sister Downing wore a very kind & welcome Letter which she received this week, it was indeed very acceptable to her heart & she blesses God for the account which it contained. As we are now entered upon a new period of time she wishes to express some of those feelings which have occupied her mind & in which her precious Relations have born so considerable a part. May health of body, peace of mind, & every other blessing which their heavenly Father may see expedient for them be their portion in the New Year. May our Lord Jesus Christ who gave himself a ransom for our Souls, whose birth we have been so lately celebrating, send down his holy Spirit into each of their hearts to quicken & stir them up to walk with more earnestness in the path
Page 2
that leadeth to everlasting Life, Time is Short, Eternity is at hand, To be more fitted for the latter is my earnest desire, That when our Lord shall come I may be found among the Wise Virgins who are waiting for his arrival. What may be in the Womb of Providence in regard to public affairs we know not. God grants that we may be prepared that hath prepared for us & then in respect to ourselves all will be well \endash I could dwell longer upon the subjects which appear to me (the longer I live) to become more & more important, as also upon the great mercies which I received at the hands of God last year it was marked to me in many instances, one in particular was the Journey which I took with dear Maria the recollection of it was pleasant because it was plainly the Gift of God & entirely unexpected it is also a matter of great encouragement to look back upon the care of Providence over me in all my different movements & supplying all my needs, Just at the time I required it, pardon my dear site love for saying so much of self but I feel it a Just Tribute of gratitude to the gracious God from whom I have received all my blessings \endash It is also a mercy to me to
Page 3
be with my good Friends here during the winter & I apprise you that I feel your love to me my dear sister in expressing your pleasure in it. Mrs Spencer desires me to tell you that she had a sincere regard both for you & your dear daughter & wishes you many blessings \endash You are indeed esteemed by all your beloved Husband's relations who know you & by none more tenderly than your Frances who has often been thankful to God for giving her such a Sister could my precious Brother look down upon us, he would rejoice to see so much harmony subsisting, may it continue & increase while we remain here below, & hereafter may we all live together to praise & adore that Gracious Saviour who has purchased the Grace by which alone we can become partakers of that heavenly Inheritance.
Though I have not written to my sweet niece on account of my eyes, yet I very often think of her, sincerely hoping that every year which is added to her life will find her improving in duty to her dear mother, & in every amiable quality of mind towards all she is connected with, & above all may she pray constantly grace that she may devote the Prime of her life to her Saviour God, From my own experience I can tell her that she will never repent of so doing \endash I do not now grudge any sacrifice which I made in my youth to him, it is made up to me an hundredfold, & all my grief is that I did not serve him better but was an undutiful child, I can now bless God that both my dear Parents and Aunt Broughton checked the vanity of my mind in dress & other things & taught me to give my heart to God, & I can remember when as young as dear Cath Mary is, what sweet times I had in prayer to God
Address Page
and appeared better satisfied with that state of the dear Invalid than for a long time before both with respect of appetite & the decrease of her cough" The beginning of this week (Miss Symes goes on to say) I received a most affectionate letter from your dear sister & if I had not been going to write to you I should have scribbled a few lines of information to her but this being the case I will beg you when you write to send the above account & say with my tenderest love & thanks that I hope e'en long to send her a further one" \endash I have not heard from Bridget before for an age this poor dear love she has been very ill with a rheumatic complaint. I have hardly left space to conclude my letter pray give my love to your dear sisters my best wishes attend them for a New Year's blessing & coming [?] with kindness love to Maria ever your most affectionate and obedient sister F E Downing

If you think proper tell her I this with my kindest love, & beg her from me to make use of prayers which I have found so useful to use in former life to bring out vain & foolish thoughts so troublesome & so pernicious to young People for my own part I have tender compassion for young people well knowing what I was myself at that age, & that nothing would do to keep me steady but frequent & ernest prayers to our Saviour I had no intention to speak on this subject when I first dear friend began my letter but somehow my mind was led onto it & I am sure my precious niece will receive it as a mark of her Aunt's tender affection \endash I will beg you my dear sister to tell dear Maria that we continue to hear better accounts of Mrs James Fripp \endash I will just copy a little part of a letter received from Miss Symes dated Dec 26 "on Tuesday night Mama drank tea with her
Top of Page 1
I thank God my eyes are better but still subject to contraction in the evening & night, am also pretty well in health [?] & comfortable \endash the weather has been so dirty as to keep me from much walking & I was prevented from going to the prayers at Steeple Ashton church on New Year's Day which was a grief to me. I need not tell you how anxious I shall be to hear often while Mrs J is at Stoke oh that you would appreciatively preserve
my dear sister from every distress fear and alarm

Footnote
1. Probably Anna Maria Alston [93] and or her sister Sarah [92] and sister Harriot [94]

5. Frances Elizabeth Downing: To her Niece Catherine Downing Part 1, 13 Mar 1819, Colchester.
Liveing Archive 168a-b-h LT13 The letter is noted H6 Miss Downing and is the front of the next long letter.

The same page unfolded reads:
will you my love be so kind to get the stockings washed for me as before. Have you heard from aunt Sally? My kind love to her

Be so kind to give the enclosed to your dear Aunt privately

6. Frances Elizabeth Downing: To her Niece Catherine Downing Part 2, 13 Mar 1819, Colchester.
Liveing Archive 168c-g LT13
Catherine married Edward Liveing in 1821.
Order of pages unsure.

Mar 13 Colchester
Your very beautiful handkerchief my dearest Catherine is just put into my hands, & I take up a pen immediately to express the grateful & affectionate feelings of my heart for this mark of your love, it cannot go by Rous as there will not be time but I mean to send it by the Post.
Saturday, Mar 20th
What must my sweet niece have thought of her apparently negligent aunt, it is very true that her intention was to have written by the post, & she lets the first date stand in order to prove it, & in some degree to plead her apology, which when you have a further
Page 2
explanation she trusts you will accept - On Sunday evening at church Mrs ^*Bartsham [?] Who had promised to convey the Bristol [?] Packet informed me her sister was to set off on Tuesday morning - Judge of my consternation, & worry! I had at least three letters, if not four letters to write, with a note to Mrs ^*Boutflowen [?] accepting the parcel, I had been engaged to drink tea at Mrs Marshes on Monday evening for some days before, & to take with me the memoir of the cook to read, this added to my distress, for I had been the week before getting so close to finish the copy of it, that I might send one to Bristol & my only copy was gone to Mrs Hallward. After all you see I could not send it as I was obliged to take it to Mrs Marsh's, & my packet must be done up before - as for my letters I hurried them over [?] in such a style that I question whether the good people could possibly decipher them, but such as they were they must go & no help
Page 3
could be had. Mr Gurdon however had an opportunity of sending a packet by that means to Mrs Stevenson & nine [?] new stands over for Miss Hooper who is going to Clifton the week before Easter but has promised to let me know when it is quite fixed, I mention this my love in case you should like to write to Janet [?] Fripp - perhaps before this reaches you she will have written. I have neither written to, or heard from them a great while, but I received a letter from Dorothea about a week ago wherein she says that Sarah had begun one to you but the weakness of her eye had prevented her finishing it, nothing new or fresh about dear
Mrs (Catherine) S(pencer) that Mr (Thomas) S(pencer [25884]) was to be in town last week about his late Father's Will he was to be presented to the living of Winkfield¹, but it was very uncertain whether he would retain it, as their plans were quite undecided at present - a very poor account of Miss Gurdon by this post she is going to Cheltenham as soon as she can, I have not been able to consider or settle any of my own plans, but I am looking . . . .
Page 4
my sweet G - for wisdom from above and I humbly trust my heavenly Father will guide the path of his ignorant & fallible child - He has been her God & her Guide from her youth & never once disappointed her hopes, Yet has always been better to him than her fears. It is this all sufficient God which in the tenderest affection she entreats you my love to devote soul & body to, from experience she without hesitation recommends the trial, earnestly beseeching you not to be led astray by those persons who are now doing all in their power to represent religion as gloomy & miserable, I trust my love the experience which you have already had, will influence you to see the mistake they are under. Give no heed my dearest Catherine to that pamphlet which has been lately published nor to any further ones which may be published all that people may say call to mind your beloved grandfather who died in the faith so happily,
Page 5
his blessed end was the consequence of a life devoted to his Saviour from his youngest years. Remember neither he nor your grand Mama ever entered into the follies of the world, at Ely they never joined in card playing etc etc & remember how they both were respected even by those who did not act like themselves, their consistent character shone as a light to all round, & when it pleased God to deprive them of your dearest Father all who saw their resignation to God & submission under his bearing had were struck, and constrained to confess "this is religion". O my Catherine may you & I pray earnestly to God our Saviour
Page 6
that we may follow them, as they followed Christ - the same grace is free for us also. It is an inescapable blessing to be descended from pious ancestors, & for my own part I wish to look back often upon their conduct through life that I may be stirred up to "go & do likewise", & I trust it will be made a blessing to my own heart in this day of rebuke when really pious people are despised & reckoned as the offscouring of the earth, to remember that this was the path in which my parents walked who are now gone to the bosom of their Lord, & that in this way I must
Page 7
also walk if ever I hope to be admitted to live with them in glory. Yet so prone is my wretched heart to all that is evil, that I feel I have no strength & that the first temptation would draw [?] me aside, therefore I desire to pray earnestly to my Saviour who agonised in the garden for this very purpose, that he will keep me, & if before I depart hence I should be called to make any open & particular stand for the truth that I may be found "Christ's faithful soldier & servant to the end". You my sweet Love are young, & if your life is spared must bear the bustle and heat of the day, & it is my opinion Satan is endeavouring by all means in his power to overthrow the Kingdom of our dear Redeemer & to render as far as he
Page 8
can, those bitter sufferings which our Lord endured to take away Sin, as futile & purgatory [?], therefore we know not what time of trial may be permitted to come upon the earth, but you had not be discouraged only keep watching and praying, & I trust you will be found among the number of the five wise virgins who shall at last go in with their Lord to the marriage.
My hearts desire & prayer for you in that you may be saved, & oh when her head is laid low, remember your aunt Frances, who tenderly loved you, & if Satan, the world, or your very heart tempts you to enlist on the side of our Lord's enemies, think "what would my aunt have said, I will for her sake keep to my colours".
Accept all I say is proof of my affection & accept also the inte . . . memoir of Simon Wilhelm as a fitting work of regard from your ever affectionate and obliged
Aunt Frances

Unplaced Page
my tenderest love to your dear mother who is a very dear sister to me may God bless you both more than I am able to ask or think. I have worn your pretty handkerchief I cannot tell you with how much pleasure, it is exceedingly admired I assure you, & your aunt is very proud of it, every day this week we have been so engaged I could not write before, & not only so, but as the servant has been . . . . I could not send anything to the post. Let your dear Aunt know about Miss Hooken, if you can she wish to send in my parcel let me have it in time, or perhaps you would like better to send it to Miss Hooken only let me know as soon as you can, & undertake for your dear aunt to remind her about it as he poor dear Mary[?] is so taken up with other things. Just led [?] our little sister very very [?] for your cold [?] , & and for her eye let me know sweet love as soon as you can.

<sup>Footnote:
1. Thomas Spencer was appointed Rector of Winkfield (Wingfield) 17 Mar 1819 his father Rev Edward Spencer of Winkfield [32566] made his will 6 Feb 1819, it was proved 15 Mar 1819 placing this letter c Mar 1819 and matching it to Letter noted H 6 13 Mar 1819.
*</sup>

7. Frances Elizabeth Downing: To her niece Catherine Downing, 7 Apr 1819, Colchester.
Liveing Archive 165a-b LT13
No address page but note H.8 visible, possibly backs of the 4 pages are written on ?

Agreeable to my promise sweet Cath: I send you the Christian Observer it is not a gift, but a loan, which I am in no hurry for whatever, & supposing your Aunt should think it might be of use to lend to anybody, it is at your & and her service to make what use of (sic) you like \endash I have also put in two of Mr Maish's New Year gift to his congregation which did not come out before, because his time has been so much occupied, I beg your dear Mother's & your acceptance of one a piece & I
Page 2
would also mention if you think your Aunt Sally would like some to give away, or you should wish to give them to any poor people let me know & I will supply you with more.
Inclosed (sic) you will find a little mark of affectionate regard from your Aunt Frances, there was not time to have it bound so it just comes to salute your hand for tomorrow, & then you must send it back by the Carrier [?] on Saturday, when I hope before long to have Bickestilk on prayer which was designed
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to accompany it but I am disappointed these two books my sweet Cath. I trust you will keep while you live for my sake, & not only keep, but to use the words of our Collect, respecting the holy Scripture, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that by patience and comfort of God's holy word you may embrace, & ever hold fast that blessed hope of everlasting life which is given you in our Saviour Jesus Christ. Can I offer up a more comprehensive prayer for my very dear niece at this period in her life? My heart overflows with love to her & my tears testify my earnest desire for her salvation accept
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them all, it is very probable this may the last birthday of hers I may ever see, my mind seems unprepared to leave a lasting token of affection with her, oh may we all at last be gathered into the fold of that Saviour whose love & mercy we are this sacred week commemorating. As soon as I can I shall send you my usual birthday read [?] the book must come back because as I wish you to keep it, it will not do without being bound \endash with fondest love to you dearest mother ever tenderly yours
F E Downing
Colchester
April 7, 1819

8. Frances Elizabeth Downing: To Catherine Mary Liveing nee Downing, 1 Apr 1823, 20 Alma Street, Sheerness.
Liveing Archive 166a-b LT13. Noted H 4.

Mrs Liveing
Nayland
My dearest Catherine
You will hear with receive the remainder of the China some of which has been mended, & also some articles of plate. The two silver cups were your dear Fathers, given him by Mr Bowles, & left to me in his Will, they are as you may suppose very valuable to me on that account & I have therefore sent them to your dear little Girl
Page 2
as a token of my love & to be preserved in the family, the other articles are Ovington and Hedingham both prized by Aunt Frances. I have only time to say how sorry we are to hear sweet babe is so poorly with kindest love from all here
ever your affectionate Aunt
F E Downing
April 1, 1823.

9. Frances Elizabeth Downing: To George Alston Jnr of Nayland, 14 Jan 1824, Hastings.

10. Mathew Bridges: Poem to his Cousin Maria in her Grief at death of Frances Elizabeth Downing, Abt 1826.
Liveing Archive 152b-c LT13

To My Dear Cousin
Mrs Knottesford
On the death of her sister (Fanny)
Hast thou been to the grave to weep
To hang thy harp on the Willow ?
How soft was the Pilgrims sleep
With the saviour's arm for her pillow

Hast thou been to the grave to weep
That home for the laden and weary ?
There repose in heaven is deep
Though the toil of her march was dreary

Hast thou been to the grave to weep ?
Her spirit was hovering o'er thee,
To tell through whom, she was strengthened to seek
Her golden harvest of glory !

Hast thou been to the grave to weep
And did not the minds emotion
Come on like the bailing gales which sweep
O'er the calm of an quiet ocean

Hast thou been to the grave to weep
That bed may be ours tomorrow
So (?) then let us pray for the grace to keep
Lower mean (?) in underlying sorrow

Yet go you to the grave to weep
That thy tears may be tears of gladness
And every grass covered heap
Where believers have fallen asleep
Should banish from those who weep
At last the sting of the sadness
M Bridges.