Letter from Emma Evans to her cousin Arthur
Phelps. Transcribed from a scan of
the original in March 2015 by Penelope Forrest, born Phelps, great granddaughter
of Arthur.
Octr 19th [1853]
Dearest Pumpy,
I gave your message to Madlle & sent off her seal on Saturday
– in an unfinished state, I need not tell you. You know my little peculiarities
on that point.
Such a sea there is today! Yesterday it could hardly muster up energy to
make the slightest ripple, & at sunset, it was like a sea of oil – which looks
better than it sounds – reflecting that metallic green & red that one often sees
in stormy sunsets & which Danby delights to paint, & today, walking on the
esplanade, a great raised walk 7 or 8 feet high, the sea came quite up to the
bottom of it & actually dashed some shingles in my face as I stood watching it.
Plenty of surf I received too of course. Such waves there were! curling
themselves over till they made great caves underneath, some smooth & snowy white
inside, from the surf of their predecessor. But it's of no use talking about the
sea, one might go on for ever & be none the forwarder.
Both your letters arrived together on Saturday – whether by mistake of
the Post or of someone else I know not. As to describing the place, I will try,
but I am not addicted to descriptions. It faces the south as you know, & there
are hills all round, with the town principally built up a sort of small valley
to the N.E. That is the old town, a regular fishing plan with the usual amount
of narrow allies & tarred wooden houses. To the E are rather high sand stone
cliffs, with a fine outline and a very pleasant colour, & horizontal lines, that
make it look like gigantic Masonry. On the top are the Fairlight Downs – from
whence you may see Dover & France, & if you are of the porcine race, a good deal
of wind. Along the beach are new houses, terraces Crescents & Parades, to the
other end of St Leonards. There is no visible separation between the two towns.
There are two old Churches – one very picturesque outside – both with a good
deal the same character, with low massive towers & no steeples. The Castle, with
its tea-gardens & neat tamarisk hedges, I think I told you of, also "Mr
Vores's Church" – of theatrical design.
Mrs Birt is at St Leonard's. She is a very old friend of
Papa's, & a very kind one, Mrs Mather too (Mrs Robertson's
Sister) & Miss M, & Mrs Taylor with 5 of her daughters are here. I
dare say you have heard of the Taylors from Joe, if indeed you did not see them
when you were at Canterbury.
Touching your going to Madeira, I will not give up all hope of it yet,
though as you will see from Fanny's letter, Uncle John seems to set his face
decidedly against it. But remember, dearest Pumps, that if it is decided that
you do not go, it will be because it is better for you not. Don't let
your thoughts rest on the secondary orderers of events, Uncle John & so
forth. I have just been reading Carlyle's Life of Schiller, in which that fault
recurs again & again. Such passages as, "From first to last his circumstances
were against him" &c &c do grate against one's mind & conscience if one thinks
for a moment that circumstances are God's education for us. But all this you can
think for yourself – & I hope do.
Papa goes on better than he did last week, & is nearly as well as usual
now. I mean to send you Madlle's letter, a favour I hope you will
properly appreciate – & when you send it back, tell me about the dreary party at
R. P.
The Selwyn's were to sail from Gravesend yesterday. What a day for their
first! I am going to write to J. M. so think yourself lucky to have had so much
from me.
And with Papa's & Mamma's love to you – & mine, I am dear old boy your
very affectionate Cousin Emma.
B
has returned home after the Voluntary Theological Exam but he does not know if
he is through & will not just yet, for they do not publish the list till 3 weeks
afterwards – which is a very barbarous proceeding.