Letter George Paulin to Frederick Arthur Paulin, 11 July 1883

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40 New Street Henley on Thames

July 11^th 1883

My Dear Grandson,

Your Grandma and myself were very pleas’d to receive your letter dated May 28, and to hear you were in good health we hope you have warmer weather and things growing fast, but I expect the heat in the day is not very comfortable.  I hear the musketoes are very busy.  We are both pretty well, the weather all over England has been unusually stormy. The thunder and lightning very heavy.  Our Regatta took place on the 5^th and 6^th and the two days were very fine the attendance was very large, the large house boat and steam launches extending in an unbroken line to Fawley Court Boat House, with hundreds up pleasure boats of all sizes, shape with some natives and venetian pleasure boats. It all went off without any accident and now we are again very quiet., and the Lodging letting people are looking forward for the summer visitors.  We have had Minnie and Annie Bennett for a few days they came during the Regatta.  Their mother and father in at Southsea near Portsmouth so the children are all taking their turn to Southsea and Mrs Bennett will come here on her return home. We are uncertain about visiting Acock’s Green, should very much like to see them.  Your mother and father wishes us to come during July, but I cannot say if

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We shall make up our mind to start altho’ we have not much incumbrances.  We have our favorite cat and the old magpie and we have a length of age.  Mine nearly 80 and your Grandma a 76 which begin to tell on our strength and inclination.  Had a letter this morning from Louise July 9^th – she is well and still at Swansea, she says that the death of Mrs Lorton very much grieves her.  On the 18^th June there was an American circus here and in the evening she attended the performance and persons told me very much enjoy it.  She was taken text morning with an attack of Smasmedie Gout and linger until Saturday the 23^rd and died.  She was 40 years of age.  Her son was a very great trouble to her, and he was sent to sea so he was a long way out on his voyage when she died. But I have not heard much about her, not have seen her more than twice this last two years (not since Louise was here).  We are losing our Rector Res G Phillimore who has  been appointed Rector of Eveline about 3 miles from Nethebed – it is a much better stipend than Henley we do not yet know who is to be the New Rector.

I wonder if the clergyman whom you heard preach one Sunday is related to the Rev Dr Pentreath who is head master of our Grammar School.

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We are very glad to hear your Father is doing a little better now, but he has had some trying amount of unemployment, but it’s a great blessing they are all in good heatl.

It’s no use telling you about our very wooded and water country round Henley but I hope that as you determined to search for beyond the lands to see judge for yourself whether it would be more likely to succeed in the experiment that we sincerely hope that the climate may have a benefitting tendency to improve your sight, also prove that by sound principle of doing right and the Almighty God, who is always about us in all our work may bless and protect you from harm and prosper you in every endeavour to succeed in whatever you undertake under his guidance.  It seems to be a difficult matter to get into a new situation in England when any one leasor and old and every one economising and take boys in thereby same paying salaries. Brakespears seem to do so.  Their clerk (Grey) who has been with them many years has left and another in his place.  I expect with smaller amount of wages.

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Wm Doyley Brook died June 19 last aged 57 years.  The crops here are heavy we are now having fine rain SW wind, very brisk to day July 11 your Grandma birth day, Louise sent her a birth day card, she was very well your father seemd getting a little round  and doing better.  I have now exhausted all my remembrance of any thing interesting to you so hoping you may receive this letter and hoping you may prosper in all your undertaking and that you may be protected from all danger so under the divine providence I must leave you.  Your Grandma sends her blessings to you and the same from your affectionate

Grandfather

Drama personae:

Louise – Louise Paulin – sister of Frederick

Grandma – Sarah Clements Paulin

Grandfather – George Paulin

Mr and Mrs Bennett – George Bennett and Sarah Paulin Bennett – George and Sarah’s daughter and son-in-law

Minnie and Annie – children of George and Sarah Bennett – Frederick’s first cousins

Mrs Lorton – no clue