Letter from Emma Hubbard to her cousin Arthur Phelps.  Transcribed from a scan of the original in January 2013 by Penelope Forrest, born Phelps, great granddaughter of Arthur.

                                                                                    Bosworth   March 2^nd 1857

My dear boy Arthur,

            Your table-cover reached me safely on Saturday – only I don't think it will ever make its appearance in that character, but that it will on the contrary adorn & be adorned by the somewhat broad shoulders of your respected cousin. We all agree that it will be much more to the purpose as a shawl – so when you appear in these parts again – yellow but opulent – you may expect to be greeted by me in it. I was so glad to see it after having heard of it & looked out for it so long. It is of a most pleasant colouring. We Westerns can never hit that quiet harmony of rich colours which seems natural to you people out there. Many thanks to you for it, dear Arthur.

            What is your appointment? I have seen an extract from Uncle Tom's letter to Fanny, who speaks of the probability of your attaining a 'premature competency if not affluence' – pleasant things even to hear of in these hungry days. I am so very glad to hear of it. I suppose one may infer from it that you have at last passed in Mahratta. Arguing about anything really interesting is a very good way of learning a language – not that I think arguments are wholesome. There's a married-&-settled sentiment for you.

            Have I read Philo-Judaus?!!! Of course I have not. I am not likely – I think I know nothing of him but what I learnt from Kingsley. I should very much have liked 3 years ago to read him – but I think I am different now. I like hard dry facts – with as little colouring as may be of personal opinion. And the author that I liked perhaps best of all now going, has shot himself: Hugh Miller, one of the greatest men, as I believe, morally & intellectually that we have seen for many a long day. He finished his great work 'The Testimony of the rocks', the last day of his life, & though it is not yet published, they say it bears no traces of the overwork & strain of mind which produced it & killed him. You must know about him though so I won't write: it seemed like a friend dying.

            I have had an unprovoked lame knee for 3 or 4 months past, & have been altogether nothing to boast of, but I am nearly all right again now. I should like you to see our boy. I don't know much about babies in general but I don't [think] this is quite like them – it has such a quick good face, with very black eyes. It still remains bald, I regret to say, & as M^rs Hubbard says John was hairless when he was a year old, I suppose it is of no use to look out for much of a crop on his boy's head yet. I hope when it does come it will be like John's curly chestnut wig.

            Poor old B¹ is 27 today – & his affairs are still unsettled & unsatisfactory. M^r Oliphant & he were to have entered into partnership now but nothing had been said as to the terms on which B was to be admitted & M^r O asks such absurd & exorbitant terms that B cannot accept them & now we are waiting to see whether M^r O will accept those B has proposed. M^r O has a lawyer & B has Jack, which is better than the principals fighting it out. M^r O is no man of business at all & such are often harder to treat with than those who are. I should be sorry for them to part company for I believe him to be an upright honourable man & that his powers & attainments dovetail in with B's just as they ought. Moreover B has no capital, poor boy, to begin the fight on his own account with. And he had been rather hoping to be able to marry this summer.           My dear Pumps, please don't, pray don't, I beg & exhort & implore you not to go & marry any Indian girl now. None of them are worth having.

            I dare say Fanny will have told you of poor Uncle John's lawsuit with Delarue & of its most unjust & unexpected verdict. It was bad enough for the Uncle to have to appear as defendant, but to have the verdict go against him in the face of the facts is too much. He is thinking of applying for another trial & I hope he may. People talk of the harm the excitement of a new contest may do him – as if having to swallow an injustice like that were not far worse – especially to a Dickinson.

            Mamma has been staying here a good while lately – & I am to go soon to her, taking my boy, & my small Bosworth maid (orphan of Kimberlin the saddler) who has never seen a railway, with me.

            3^rd. I have heard from Mamma this morning, who says that M^r O has accepted B's terms & that B is to have ⅓ of the business if Jack's inspection of M^r O's books & accounts is satisfactory. I am so glad.

            All goes much as usual here. Hall & Rectory at loggerheads, also Rectory & School, also Head Master & 3^rd. We are pacific people & always steer clear of all shoals. Babies abound. All 3 of the masters have them. Also our Bosworth lawyer, Bramah by name, who is rather a novelty. None of them come up to our's. I think all the Mammas would name our's 2^nd like Themistocles, was it? or Aristides. I forget & don't care. Copes all well & very glad to hear of your good fortune. So of course was Mad^lle.

            Goodbye dearest Pumpy. I wish you w^d not grow up & be a man before I see you again. I shall have the trouble of making your acquaintance over again. How very glad I should be to see you – especially here.

            Ever your loving

                        Emma Hubbard.

1. B = Bassy, Emma's brother, Sebastian Evans.

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