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1777
(Letter 8 CB pp. 126 - 127) May 6th 1777 Richard writes from Driffield to his mother in London: you are sensible to the necessity of my keeping House, of my furnishing it immediately, this may be done at a small expence with what we have already, but even that is more than I can bear at present without running into Debt, unless you will endeavour to help me out by applying some part of what remains after the account is settled with Mr. Tapp towards defraying your expences in coming down, and purchasing the Things the two beds only I mention'd above, as it is not in my power to remit a single shilling for that purpose, without leaving myself in a situation the most disagreeable, that of having nothing to defray incidental expences, which arise every day or borrowing money in a place where I am scarcely known. If you have so mean an opinion of me as to think I mean to lessen the little you have left by taking anything from you, which I shall not have it in my power to return, I am sorry for it. My intention in bringing you down here, is to enable you to live in a more comfortable quiet manner than you have hitherto done, and therefore I think you are as much interested in our setting out as myself The proposal that Richard makes as to how his mother is to raise the money to defray his expences involves an account in the form of stock that is held under the joint trusteeship of Mr. Tapp and John Man, Mary Man's husband. Unfortunately, John Man had not been heard of for some time, a common event in the 18th century, and which will be explained later. As a result, the money from the trust that would have been paid out to Eliza Cumberland, was instead being paid out from Mr. Tapp's own funds. Richard was now proposing that his mother should approach Mr. Tapp for a further loan against the trust. Eventually, all loans against the trust would be repaid on selling the stock. However this first required a declaration from Mrs. Mary Man that her husband John was probably no longer alive, the statutory number of years having elapsed since he was last seen. Once this had been accomplished, Mr. Tapp would be the sole executor and could dispense with the money as he saw fit, i.e. he could repay himself from the trust for the loans he had made against it to Eliza Cumberland. But this depended on convincing Mrs. Man to declare her husband dead, which was to prove a difficult task. It must be assumed that George had made several attempts to persuade Mrs. Man to make the declaration. The letter given in the appendix from John Man (Jnr.) to George Cumberland is in response to an inquiry made by George as to when John had last seen his father. George needs to establish when contact had last been made with John Man (Snr.) in order to determine how much pressure he could put on his aunt to make the declaration. (Letter 9 CB p. 128) To Richard's proposal as to how the money was to be raised, George replied on May 13th 1777 saying that he had: Been employed in searching for a cheap bed for you but to no purpose, as the upholders will not sell such a thing under 10 or 12 pounds, and at sales they are seldom to be met with without Blankets, etc. You hint in your letter that your expences are at the greatest and your income so small as to reduce you to the necessity of borrowing if you were to pay for the feather Bed etc. and you propose to my Mother to pay for it, and her expences in coming down, out of the stock to be sold, after defraying her debt to Mr. Tapp. I could have wished you had not mentioned the circumstance as it has given her some uneasyness, being unable, as you must be convinced, to pay for it now, and besides the uncertainty of getting it sold at all, there is a probability it may all be wanting to discharge Mr. Tapp's account --- however should this not be the case, you may I think be sure she will not refuse it you for any purpose you may want it for. I am now doing everything in my power to get it done, and cheerfully, I assure you, will I give my release to my future claim [ ] Clementina makes the following comment on the brothers' interchange: "I have not been able to arrive at any definite views as to Mrs. Cumberland's financial position, but I think the case must have been somewhat of this kind: Certain stock had been left to her (I surmise by her mother [Martha Balchen nee Hitchcock], or possibly under her father's will [Richard Balchen (1692 -1738)]), and Mr. Tapp and Mr. Man, her brother-in-law, were her trustees. Mr. Man had disappeared - under what circumstances I have not the smallest idea, but in those days the press gangs, Algerian slavery and very indifferent postal facilities the fact was not necessarily by any means discreditable - and in his absence Mrs. Cumberland had not been able to receive her dividends. Mr. Tapp knowing the money to be safe, had made those advances to her that were absolutely needed for the family's support; and it was now proposed that steps should be taken to enable her to sell her stock and repay him." (CB pp. 128 -129). Ms. Black's fanciful speculations as to John Man's disappearance turn out to be quite wrong and in fact what happened to him can be seen in the appendix. Clementina then comments that: "To George's slightly censorious letter Richard replied by return of post to explain he: ' never thought of taking advantage of my Mother which I did not intend to return and that only to the amount of ten or twelve Pounds at the most [ ] neither should I have done this if my mother herself had not told me, she should have about eighty pounds left when the account is settled.' " (CB p. 129). On hearing of Mary Man's recalcitrant behavior, Richard Cumberland writes to his mother (Letter 10 CB p. 130) on May 23rd 1777 expressing his 'astonishment' about: What you tell me of Mrs. Man's refusing to serve you in selling out the Stock . As it can never be of any use to her Family and must proceed from malice and ill-nature, tho I must doubt the sincerity of your Uncle in endeavouring to persuade her to it. However let it turn out as it will remain full security to Mr. Tapp, and we shall do very well, never fear. Who is this 'Uncle' that Richard refers to? Ms. Black speculates that he: " was I think John Balchen, possibly the husband of 'Mrs. Balchen of Goodmans Fields' whose death is mentioned (see letter ____). Her other uncle, Henry, and her father, both carried on their occupations in the Minories -- in their day a thoroughfare very respectfully inhabited. In Goodman's Fields the houses were, like many of those then standing in the Mile End, excellent and substantial residences, with gardens. [It should be noted that Mary Man's eldest son Henry (Harry) had been born in 1748 at Prescot Street which bounded Goodmans Fields (a large tree filled square) to the south. Her other two sons, John and James, were born at Mansel Street which formed the west side of Goodman Fields.] The fact of Mrs. Man's living in Mile End, where Mrs. Cumberland possessed a house, suggests that their farther, 'the druggist and apothecary' had acquired property in the East End of London. Mrs. Man had clearly been asked, either to take action as her husband's death representative, or to make a declaration from which his death might be presumed. True to her invariable character in the correspondence of her nephews, she had behaved ungraciously and refused." (CB p. 130). Clementina Black's suggestion that this uncle was John Balchen is probably incorrect and that it is in fact Henry Balchen. There was a bother of Henry's called John, but he died in 1742 and there were no other Balchen uncles left alive, except Henry, at the time that these letters were written. The hint of suspicion surrounding their uncle's motivations accompany almost all references to Henry Balchen and so there is little reason to assume that this uncle is any other than Henry. She continues:
(Letter 11 p. 133) On May 27th 1777 George writes to Richard: I went this morning to Mile End to persuade Mrs. Man to oblige us by swearing etc. (John [Man] having told me, how he had now explained to her all we wanted and that she would comply). I met him just by the house and he went back with me to lend his assistance, but instead of agreeing, she broke out into complaints that I and my Mother had treated her with disrespect, in not calling on her, before letting her Uncle know etc., etc., and in the end bounced out of the Room, and John and I out of the House of course, I am much beholden to John for the pains he takes to serve us in this affair, and sorry it has rendered his time in London so disagreeable. Clementina then includes an extract of a letter from Richard in reply to the above, where " he opines that Mrs. Man's behavior to be: ' such that I cannot account for it in a more charitable way, than by supposing her a little disorderd in the head.' " (CB p. 133). On June 26th 1777 George writes a letter to Richard where he makes the following three short observations: ' [ ] Ticonderaga is said to be taken [ ] Mrs. Man has swore. Nancy is going to Prison for four pounds again.' (CB p. 135) From this we learn that at long last the Cumberland's Aunt Man had agreed to declare her husband dead, according to 18th Century custom, as a result of his being missing for seven years. However, as will be seen, this 'swearing' was the first in a number of steps that had to be taken before the money from the sale of stock could finally be released to Mr. Tapp. The reference to Nancy going to prison is one of many where their Aunt Ann Balchen's incorrigible behavior would land her in debtor's prison and, as we shall see, her troubles would only worsen. "In early September George had written a letter to Richard giving an account of an interview with Mr. John Balchen, who had offered to mediate on behalf of the Cumberlands with their aunt, Mrs. Man. To this letter Richard then writes on September 10th 1777 with some mistrust of John Balchen: ' going so busily between us and Mrs. Man, [ ] and am confident he has some bye End to Serve.' And, as to the proposal of: ' relieving a certain person I am sorry it was not done before, if there were any Use in it. But they who know her must be sensible it can't be done by paying her Debts unless you have a mind to see her there again the next week.' " (CB p. 142). Although Ms. Black offers no explanation as to whom this 'certain person' is, there is little doubt that Richard is referring to Nancy Balchen, whose profligate ways would lead her frequently to the debtors prison at the Marshalsea (the 'there' in last line of the letter). Richard is reiterating the, by now, well known routine of Nancy's borrowing and spending and its inevitable consequence. Nancy had, in 1747, given birth to a son Isaac Balchen and in 1750 twins, John and George. Perhaps Nancy had a sense of humor since these were also the names of her sisters' husbands. All three children were born at the Foundling Hospital for unwed mothers. So her profligate ways were not confined to just money. The fact that John Balchen is involved in the process of trying to induce Mrs. Man to comply with the brothers' wishes indicates that her cooperation was still needed, although what exactly for is hard to deduce. The reference to John Balchen is also made with the usual note of suspicion. (Letter 12 CB p.145) Around the middle of September 1777 George writes to Richard the following: With respect to the Stock affair, we have no remedy with the Company -- I would gladly part with twenty pounds if it was my own to serve you -- I am sure my Mother thinks the same -- but that is not all, it is to serve herself --- for if [-] B. dies, where is the whole? -- one more chance seems now to offer. If the commons will grant a partial administration, which has been done, Mrs. Mann has offered to accede to it -- if this will come in and do her no injury -- I am to call on Adderly the Proctor to have his answer tomorrow about it -- if this will not do, at all events the Stock must be secured -- I saw old B. today and he seemed a little apprehensive that I should mention his refusal of [ ] as a cause of our miscarriage -- he was extremely civil, and pretended to interest himself much in the getting it done. I have lately heard another anecdote of his dissimulation, -- he told Mrs. Mann, to swear Mrs. R [ ] this was just as we had persuaded her to it -- but I do not give entire credit to it - "The Devil is painted blacker than he is". It is not easy to determine what is going on here. As we have noted Mrs. Man's swearing alone was not enough for the stocks to be released and the whole matter had now moved on to another legal level involving 'the commons' and a 'Procter'. The dissembling 'old B' is probably the brothers' great uncle Henry Balchen. The devil being painted 'blacker than he is' probably refers to Mrs. Man exaggerating the dissembling ways of Henry Balchen. Note also Mrs. Man's new found agreeableness. It seems that once she had overcome her (understandable) resistance to having to declare herself a widow, her disposition toward the two brothers became quite amiable. Mrs. R is Mrs. Read (Sally Balchen). The illustration is by George from his book 'Poem on Landscapes' published in 1793. Just as the brothers are at last about to lay their hands on the stock a further and somewhat obscure obstacle impedes their way, as the next letter indicates. (Letter 13 CB pp. 147 -149) from George to Richard on September 20th 1777. Dear Richard,
Yrs sincerely G. Cumberland Again in this letter George expresses his discomfort with regard to J.B. (John Balchen). The following is an extract of Eliza Cumberland's letter to George ("one of her pathetic scrawls" according to Ms. Black). The shade below is of Eliza Cumberland aged 62 (1814) by George.
the News of Nancy Confinement give me great Concern and must beg you will let me have the pleasure of hearing she is Released as I think there will be half a year due opon the House at Michaelmas I shoold be much obliged to you to now and then write me Long Letter of common Accurences of our friends and pray let me hear how Dear Little Sally Reed is and very she is likely to have a Brother soon, how you go on with Mrs. Spaweton and whether you find things Agreeable as I must say my Mind is continually anxious about my Children pray my Compliments to all friends shall conclude with prayers for your health and Happyness and am Dear George your Affectionate Mother, Eliza Cumberland We learn from this letter that Eliza's sister Nancy is once more in prison. The reference to the half year coming due at Christmas suggests that the family held property in London from which rent could be expected and which could be used to bail Nancy out. The likelihood of Sarah Read producing another child is also raised although as far as we can tell the next time she has a child is 1779 so if she was expecting in 1777 then perhaps this child died in infancy (?) The following letter shows George's great concern that his whereabouts would be discovered by Nancy Balchen and that she would create such problems for him as might lead him to lose his job. The power that he invests her with and that she seems to hold over him is quite remarkable for a man usually so rational. (Letter 15 CB pp. 151-153) from George to Richard October 2nd 1777. I might I think have concluded that his [Mr. Tapp's] rage was sated, and
having vented his spleen, he would now let me be quiet, but here I was mistaken,
not content with having called me to account for living without his licence, and
threatening to attack my bread - by injuring me with my employers he has now
thought proper to do the remaining ill natured action he had in his power, and
render my office a place of uneasiness -- The matter is this, about an hour ago
he sent George, who had been with him to receive Nancy's annuity, to my office
to ask charity of me for her, telling him, as he tells me "that he knew
none in the family who would grant her any assistance, unless it were George
Cumberland who he believed if applied to would help her." I am sorry to say
this one action, so malicious, so mean and unworthy of any man, even to a person
that had offended him, has in one moment given me the most disadvantageous
opinion of a person whom I had before thought incapable of such a thing - he
well must remember, for it was our conversation the last time I was at his
house, the uneasyness I expressed at the thought of her discovering me -- and
then in a joking manner, said he would send her to me -- he has now seriously as
good as fulfilled his promise -- for George in all likelihood will some time or
other inform her, or his wife, and in that case, my life will become really
unhappy, as I shall go [about?] my business full of apprehension - Is not
this a glorious and friendly act? When he first addressed himself to me I denied
having any such relation and wanted to persuade him he had mistaken the person
-- but he soon convinced me he was not to be put off, by telling me who he came
from -- in the greatest confusion imaginable I had nothing to do but to tell him
I had not seen the unhappy wretch a great many years, and had determined not to
own her, and therefore begged he would not trouble me about her, as I was
determined to do nothing -- He entirely agreed that what I said was very
But none of these expectations can render me quite easy. It will lay a dead weight on those spirits which lately had been quite lightened, and serve often to depress a person too much "alive to fame" -- If she comes I shall not dare to stay, or fly, if I retreat she will stay and abuse me and family, to people who will perhaps half believe her, or listen for divertion, if I converse with her the evil will be equal - either way. I shall never be able to hold up my head again -- such a crime it is to have an infamous relation -- I cannot bear the thought of it -- I have [ ] great inclination to write to him, to entreat [ ] offence [ ] given to be so persecuted, and wherein he has been [ ] cavallier [ ] but as I should chuse to write on my guard, I shall defer it till to-morrow when if I am in the same mind, I think I can make him feel wrong, and satisfy him that, tho I know when to be silent, I am neither a Stock nor a Stone, and can defend my self when ill treated -- I know how cautious I ought to be in the matter, and that I ought to keep a copy -- for it is not unlikely that if I fall any word that could be misconstrued Jno B. may take that opportunity to turn it to my disadvantage wither by telling Mr. C that I have ungratefully offended Mr. Tapp or something of that nature to open a door to injure me -- for I firmly believe J.B. to be at the bottom of it all. Clementina Black comments that this John Balchen (J.B.) is " the son of George's Uncle Henry not the young cousin of the same name belonging to the Newington family." She then goes on to say that it was not John Balchen after all who was responsible for persuading Mr. Tapp to send 'George' to visit George Cumberland, and thus expose him to Nancy, but rather George had " learned a few weeks later, on unimpeachable authority, that the author of his discomfort was one James Man, who appears I think on this occasion only in the correspondence". (CB p. 153). We know now that James Man appears more times (see Appendix -----) in the Cumberland letters than this once. James' relations with his Cumberland cousins appear to have been quite friendly, indeed in his Will he bequeaths ' twenty pounds to each of my particular friends the Reverend Richard Dennison Cumberland of Cirencester, George Cumberland of Bristol.' It seems unlikely that James was the inspiration behind Tapp's idea, unless he was acting quite innocently out of concern for Nancy and unaware of George's feelings. We do not know, and Ms. Black does not provide, the source for her claim about James and it is certainly well worth going back into the British Library to try to retrieve. The next letter Clementina Black provides is from George to Richard in which George is responding to an earlier one from Richard. In that letter he had suggested that George might have been overreacting to the threat that Nancy Balchen posed. Clementina Black calls the previous letter from Richard "a letter of consolation". (Letter 16 CB p. 154) George to Richard October 10th 1777: I receive your answer to mine as a kind of endeavour to make a disagreeable
circumstance appear trifling - and I myself do not feel it so severely as I did
at first, because like other Uneasyness it is not so fresh in my memory. You
speak of N.B. [Nancy Balchen] as if you knew nothing of her frenzy, her
artifice, her plausability, volubility,
It appears from this letter as if George's worst nightmare was realized and that Nancy had tracked him down and paid him a visit, although his reaction to the event does not appear to be as great as his anticipation of it. True to his nature he had attempted to help her. The illustration above is of the Marshalsea (see appendix). Clementina Black comments "It must be admitted that Miss Balchen was a troublesome relative, either to serve or offend; but it does strike a twentieth century reader that George was more discomposed than most nephews nowadays would have been by her proceedings. It is true that he knew her, and we do not." (CB p. 154) (Letter 17 CB pp. 155 -156) George to Richard November 5th 1777 What is the reason my dear Mother and brother, that the receit of your last Letter, affected [me] in the same manner as if you had both rushed in to my room unexpectedly -- it is the second time I have been overcome in the same way -- the moment I laid it down I melted into tears --- I will endeavour to account for it myself. My Mothers Letters are the overflowing of a parents love, yours of a fraternal one, expressed without art, and I love you both more than I even suspect -- do not imagine I am low spirited -- I was never livelyer in my life, and the tear or two I shed trickled sweetly down my cheek --- I feel no shame in confessing this weakness, if you call it such for I think it more praise worthy than many things we boast of . He then turns to the subject of Nancy Balchen and what an impossible character she was: Mr. Tapp has ordered her stockings and some money for tea, but she is ever ungovernable, and tells Mr. Smith, she does not understand having cold Mutton and broth, and desires to have Chicken, and Veal, which she has been always used to In the Marshalsea, I find she beat all the women that came her way, and accompanied her blows by opprobrious expressions, but sometimes she had the worst of it -- in short if she had not been released I think they would have given her liberty to keep the prison quiet. This letter conveys an image of a remarkably violent and abusive person who sadly received as much as she gave. 1778 In a letter dated January 1st 1778 George mentions that 'Mrs. Balchen of Goodman's Fields died on Monday' and that 'The Old Man, is I hear much shocked at it'. This reference is to the Cumberlands' great uncle Henry Balchen's wife Mary. Records indicate that she died in December 1777. (CB p.164.) It appears that, at the beginning of 1778, John Balchen, one of the 'Newington cousins', not the son of Henry was considering going to stay with Richard Cumberland at Driffield on account of his health. He, like many of the Balchens, was beginning at that time to show the first symptoms of the consumptive illness that would eventually sweep away all the children of William Balchen. (Letter 18 CB p. 164) In the letter of January 1st 1778, in which he had mentioned the death of Mrs. Balchen, George writes that Mr. Tapp: Said to me that he should by no means think of John's being with you without paying in some way for the trouble he gave, I told him you had, I was sure, no such wish, and that you would readyly afford him any service in your power, without any interested motive -- but he rejoined that He could not by any means agree to his being with you, unless you would be paid for his board etc. and in that case, nothing he thought would be more likely to restore his health especially as John earnestly desires it. (Letter 19 CB p. 164) Richard replies to George's letter on January 5th 1778: What Mr. Tapp mentioned of paying for John's Board rather vexes me, as I look upon it as a Cut of humble Pye, the natural consequence of some late transactions. I shall oppose accepting any thing, as I should be exceedingly glad of his Company as a Visitor but not as Boarder for a few weeks. Mother begs you'll make her Compts to Mr. and Mrs. Tapp and tomorrow being his Birth Day, is determined to drink his health in a glass of his own wine wishing him may happy returns of the Day. This as opportunity serves. What exactly these 'late transactions' are we are not told but we may hazard that they concern the Cumberland brother's gradual flexing of their financial independence from Mr. Tapp. Clementina Black does not transcribe the contents of a letter that Richard sends to George in the early part of February 1778, instead she summarizes it as follows: "A gossipy letter from Richard speaks feelingly of the illness of another of the Balchen sisters, 'poor Susan,' and refers again to the proposed visit of her brother John to Driffield, who could still be accommodated 'without Difficulty if he will take up with a bed in my Room' -- an arrangement to which, in the case of a consumptive person, medical science had not yet seen reason to object. So far were our ancestors from supposing such patients either dangerous to their neighbours or in need on their own account of fresh air, that the accepted treatment, at this period, was to keep them throughout the winter season in one heated room, to which their kindly friends resorted to as much as possible, in order to keep them amused. In these conditions the disease was apt to carry off member after member of a family -- as was the case with the Balchens. That Richard did not contract it from John during a visit of some duration, in which the lad had slept (doubtless with closed windows) in the same room seems to show that he had not the tendency to it which he seems to have supposed. The passion for both Cumberland brothers to spend long hours out of doors was doubtless of advantage to their health; Richard in particular from being a delicate youth seems to have become a hale man." (CB pp. 177-178) (Letter 20 CB p. 181) Richard to George March 11th 1778. John Balchen is arrived. I met him this Morning at Barnsely and put him on the old horse, which conveyed him safe home -- he is very well after his Journey, and already intimate with D. and L., who with my Mother are playing at Whist, while I write so you will not wonder at the stile of this -- A 'p.s.' is added by George at the end of a letter to Richard dated Tuesday March 16th 1778 which merely says 'Susan is rather better, and dined in Town the other day'." (CB p. 183). D and L are the initials of two students Richard was tutoring. (Letter 21 CB p.185) About a week after the above from George, Richard comments that: John is here still, and as stout as ever -- he frequently walks 8 or 10 Miles a Day, and makes a good Playfellow to the others he is a very honest good natured fellow and does not want Sense, but there is a certain Cockneyishness about him, something of the Jerry Sneak in his Manner and Expression, that makes him appear to the greatest Disadvantage, and I fear it is too late to remedy it now. (Letter 22 CB p. 186) A further letter from Richard written at Whitsuntide 1778 states that: Mother is as well as usual in health, or rather better. In temper much the same, tho now and then a little curbd by the Company of the Boys. Indeed on their Account I find her very useful and only fret she will not endeavour to make herself agreeable. Clementina Black then goes on to say that: "A day or two later Mrs. Cumberland must have been cheerd, if only temporarily of a present from .'Coz Mary of a very pretty Dress Cap with a Berkley Ribbon suit'. Ms. Black comments that "Coz Mary was Mary Balchen of Newington, and a 'ribbon suit' was a set of ribbons arranged for the neck, sleeves and sometimes the waist also. The nature of a 'Berkley Ribbon' remains a mystery. The next extract is interesting as to the light it throws on their mother's character: (Letter 23 CB pp. 186 - 187) George to Richard written on June 29th 1778: I am sorry the country and the new objects have not given her new ways of thinking, but now I believe it is an evil that will never be mended, however I think the pupils you have must of force do some good -- what a pity it is with such an ability to restrain her temper on some occasions, and with so many good qualities, and so much religion, she does not see the unhappyness it occasions, and be good Natured always. Clementina Black writes: "A letter of a week later shows that Richard has been in town and visited the Balchen family, who were at Peckham. He had found 'the poor dying Girl [Susan] sitting in the little Parlour which was crouded with 6 or 7 People, enough to stiffle a Person in health'. Richard expressed his fears lest John 'should go in the same way' if he remained in London, and besought George to urge the necessity of his going into the country. As no mention is made of Mary, it is possible that she was not at Peckham, although she was generally to be found wherever there was most need of attendance and sisterly devotion. Richard came away saddened". Two months later on August 30th, 1778 George writes that: 'Susan is dying indeed - but John is better - I fear for Mary.' (CB p. 202 - 203) (Letter 24 CB p. 209-210) September 12th 1778 Richard tells George:
This last part is interesting because it shows Richard's recognition of George's talents which were slowly emerging and which would blossom once he had escaped the daily grind of office work. (The portrait is of George by himself.) What the particular circumstances are that would considerably affect John on the loss of one of his sister we do not know. (Letter 25 CB p. 216 -217) Richard writes to George sometime after October 18th 1778: In your next be so good as to let us know how the Chancery Suit goes on, and when likely to be finished, and pray send me the Account of what I paid you when last in Town, as the want of it prevents my making up my Books. You say nothing about poor Susan, nor any of our London Friends but considering all think tis very excusable. Adieu R.D. Cumberland. Wedny Night 12 o clock. Clementina Black writes that " . on November 16th 1778 a letter with a black seal acknowledges the receipt of one from London, giving the news of Susan Balchen's death". (CB p. 217). The shade on the right is of Susan Balchen. All the shades used here were done by George.
I had a most friendly Letter from Mr. Cross today by Mr. Balchen who has been there two or three days -- in which he [ ] if we are to be very merry at Xmas on the Hill [ ] take the opportunity of calling on Mr. James who I have not seen since I met him in the street about [ ] weeks ago. (Tare of this part or burn the whole.) I tell it you as a secret - there is still some thing mysterious in the expressions of Mr. and Mrs. Tapp and Mrs. Read, when I am mentioned with my cousin M--- I know not if you have observed it, but I [ ] other reasons to imagine I have been thought on there, yet I am sure it cannot arise from any behaviour of mine -- it may be conjecture, -- but I can no otherwise account for the [ ] on her part, -- you may explain it, adieu -- This is your birth night, I'll drink your health in arack punch and tell our Mother I wish I could send her a Glass, Yrs. sincerely, G. Cumberland Revd. Mr. Cumberland 1779 (Letter 27 CB pp. 229 - 230) Richard Cumberland to George April 1779: If Mr. Tapp is about to settle our Account, there will be some money for my Mother, which you will let me know of, and I can regulate my Remittance accordingly. We are at last beginning to repair the Outhouses and I hope this Summer, you will find things in better order within as well as without -- my Garden is kept in better Repair than it used to be, by the Ingenuity of a very valuable Fellow who works for me and can turn his hand to any thing and we are extremely well settled in Maid Servants. Mother enjoys great Health and is as happy as she is capable of being, but so much taken upon with her little Family cares that it is impossible to persuade [her] to stray out Door or Horseback this fine Weather -- Farming you detest so will say nothing of that - Clementina Black summarizes a letter that George sent to Richard on June 14th 1779 where he goes to Newington to visit Mary Balchen and where he passes on to her a message from Richard that she should spend a month at Driffield. (CB p. 237) Further on Ms. Black claims that Eliza Cumberland " had been educated by a wealthy relative of good social position" although she produces no support for this claim. Who was this relative and would this education have applied to Eliza's siblings? (CB p. 247). 1780 The next letter is to George and is dated January 3rd 1780. Richard had earlier on at a masked ball met a mysterious lady wearing a Greek mask whom he referred to as the 'Grecian lady' and with whom he became quite infatuated. In the letter he asks George if he ' could procure an introduction thro any other family than the Reads', probably because the Reads were 'family'. (CB p. 251) Clementina writes that: "In this month (January 1780) had occurred the death -- in the workhouse, I think -- of Nancy Balchen, and Richard reported that his mother had been much affected by the sad end of her sister and had wept; although the event must, in one sense, have been felt as a relief by all surviving members of the family." (CB p. 251) (Letter 28 CB pp. 257- 258) On March 21st 1780 Richard writes to his brother on hearing of the death of Mrs. Sarah Read (nee Balchen) and he supposes that George would attend the funeral: Be so good as to attend to Cozen Mary's Behaviour on this and any other occasion that falls in your way, as You know I have the highest Opinion of Your Judgement and am interested more nearly than you can conceive in the Family since my last Visit -- Something whispers me she is the good Woman I have been so long in search of -- that without many shining ones she has all the good Qualities necessary to make the Married State comfortable of a serious religious turn without Melancholy -- of a tender disposition and passionately fond of Children -- her Education not amiss and Situation in Life sufficiently humble, by which I mean, such that being taken from an uneasy Dependance on a mean Selfish Woman to be Mistress of My House and Family would be an Elevation rather than the Contrary, which is a Circumstance I lay great Stress on. 'The mean Selfish Woman' is one of a number of references to Mrs. Sarah Balchen, Mary's mother, who appears from the letters to have been a somewhat malevolent character. Although George's enthusiasm for what was now left of the pallid Balchen sister had by now dwindled to a flicker, that of Richard's seems to have be rekindled. Ms. Black writes: "The visit of Mary Balchen to Driffield so long desired by her aunt and cousin, took place in July 1780, but the reason for her coming was alarming " (Letter 29 CB p. 265) George to Richard sometime in July 1780: that this measure [of going to the country] had not been adopted till her apothecary had pronunced her life in danger without a change of Air. 3 weeks ago she took a sore throat by being out late in an evening, which turned to a Cough and tho not apparently dangerous at present is very alarming to any one who knows her family. This I am sure you will take no notice of, as it should be every ones business to dispel in her the Idea and I think there is great hopes that your air may recover her. Ms. Black gathers from a letter written by Richard in August 1780 that: 'Driffield vicarage was a gayer place when inhabited by a young lady visitor than when it housed three hobbledyhoy pupils'. She then goes on to say that the "... next letter exhibits a handwriting that has not previously appeared. Its is very careful, very regular, very long in the loops, and belongs to John Balchen, who writes in the following terms -- no doubt exactly the proper ones for a young man writing to a relative whose hospitality he had recently enjoyed." 1781 (Letter 30 CB pp. 272 - 273) John Balchen to Richard Cumberland January 4th 1781 London Dear Cousin , A Letter, when one has no particular subject to write about, is generally to a Poor Orator a very difficult task, especially when it is divested of all the ceremony and Compliments, which is so much made use of in letters, and which I think between near friends, had better be omitted-I shall therefore without any further apology proceed, with thanking You in my Sisters name for your kind letter-which she received just after she had sent one to my Aunt--she would certainly have acknowledg'd it herself before, (and I dare say will soon, if she dont see you in town, which we all expect will be very soon) but when you hear of her great anxiety and una[ ] dilligence in the illness of Poor little Hannah and her affliction at her decease - I am sure you will excuse her-upon my word she stood greatly in need of Your usual kind advice to keep her Spirits up-however, she is now much better- but I am running on without mentioning the chief cause of my troubling you with these, and that is to beg your acceptance of a cask of some of the best Jamaica Rum this city can produce, have sent it by the Cirencester Coach to be left for you at the Ram-hope it will prove acceptable--All friends here are in good health and desire their best Respects to Aunt and self -- could almost swell a volume about Mrs. R. but think had better do it when we meet - hope My Aunt continues in her usual good health. Pay my best respects to her and am not without hopes o seeing her in the spring here--being in haste must conclude--with wishing you and my Aunt not only a happy new Year but a succession of that felicity which good hearts must always enjoy -- and remain Dear Cousin, Your sincere friend, J. Balchen Perhaps John Balchen obtained the cask of Jamaican rum from his cousin James Man whose business as a commodities importer included Rum from the west Indies. Also, from this letter we learn of the decease of Hannah Read either in later 1780 or the start of 1781. Ms. Black adds that "Although this epistle was addressed cojointly to the 'Revrd. and Mrs. Cumberlands' the lady cannot have taken her share of it until later, for she was at the time of its arrival on a visit to Richmond Hill [home of Mr. Richard Cross] where she seemed likely, according to the report of her younger son, to 'continue some time for my part I marvel what can make ammend[s] for so much self denial'. [!] ". (CB p. 273) CB continues: "The visit of his cousin Mary seems to have awakened in Richard to the pleasure of a good and gentle woman's presence in his house, and before she came away he had framed the hope of inducing her to return as his wife. The fact that his mother was fond of her niece, and would probably have liked to have her as a daughter-in-law, may have tended to favour the scheme. While Mary was his guest Richard would have considered it a breach of propriety to make her an offer of marriage, but I imagine that he allowed his wishes to be perceptible to her." (CB p. 278). This change of Richard's heart is in marked contrast to his thoughts expressed in Letter 24 where he writes 'I had serious thoughts of connecting ourselves with that Family some trifling Disgust or rather a new Turn of thinking put an end to them ' She continues that: "This winter of 1781 brought fresh unhappiness to the Balchen family. It will be remembered that Mrs. Read, the married sister [Sarah Balchen], had died some time previously; the widower, after quarreling about his late wife's fortune, had married again, not, it would appear, wisely, had become involved in financial difficulties and had now disappeared from London. Mary Balchen at once took charge of her little niece, and probably, since, as we know from Richard's account of her that she was 'passionately fond of children,' found happiness in doing so. The next misfortune was the return of John's illness; he began to spit blood, and was sent under his sister's [Mary's]care -- the only sister now -- to Clifton, "the hot Wells" of our ancestors. Richard met them and saw them to their lodgings [ ] and was constantly running over for a couple of days at a time." (CB pp. 283 - 284).
|
Now comes one of the more
complex and lengthy incidents, as related by Clementina, and which I have
reconstructed as follows: Richard on leaving Cambridge finally ends up as the
vicar of Driffield in Gloucestershire, and in the process is required to expend
a fair amount of money on furnishing his new digs. To raise the money, he
approaches his mother with the following proposition:
"Harry Man, whom we have
seen assisting George to placard the City with political bills of their own
composition, was about to marry a lady whose Christian name was Eleanor and
whose surname does not appear. Richard observed of the match that it was: 'A
good one -- because it is as equal as anything of this kind can be, 'tis a toss
up which has the best of the Bargain'. He goes on to beg his mother not to
concern herself: '
on account of my situation as to furniture, very
little will serve us at first setting out and things will be better bye and bye.'
" (CB p. 131). Left is St. Mary Aldermary Parish Church, London in which
Henry Man married Eleanor on May 17th 1777. She was the daughter of
James Thompson who had married Susannah Balchen after her mother Ann Eastham had
passed away.
I wish you could bottle up
and send me some of that phylosophy which you say is become so natural to you,
say it [is] the result of a constitution early broke, which god forbid; -
yet I fear the want of your indifference, will dissolve mine, weaken'd it, it
has already. - I know not how it is with you, but my mirth often is turn'd into
heaviness - I have got to suspect good fortune, and if I have particular reason
to be cheerful, I take it for an omen that something will soon happen to vex me
- when it comes, I cry - what next? - however , what a difference between this
and our schooldays! When our little misfortunes served only to make us sport --
now, everyday brings with it grave Lessons, and serious Concerns, - The World, I
am convinced will not let you live in peace unless you can conceal your
happyness in some retired corner, or purchase its smiles, with appearance of
wealth -- if you have it, you are out of its power -- I know not how far I might
run on with these reflections, if I did not check myself but I will tell you
what caused them -- From the remarkable civillity of Mr. Tapp to me lately, and
his behaviour to me at his own house, where I have dined and supped since I have
been return'd from the country -- I had ventured to think that all our offences
where done away and our obligations forgiven; - especially as there seemed to
now be opening a way to discharge all demands - for the other day he went with
me to Mr. Adderly, and he (Mr. Adderly) gave me hopes that limited
administration might be granted - and if not, I had promised (as he desired)
that we would spend twenty pounds in chancery sooner than not do it (this seem'd
to put all partys in good humour: -- now whether it is Mr. T's natural temper to
elate and depress a Dependent , or whether he is worked upon, J.B. or others, I
know not - but that night I was sent for and not being at home went this morning
- when I was lectured in one of the compleatest stiles imaginable, and in the
end (as Shakespear finally has it) shaken up to a warmth that convinced me it
would be imprudent to reply -- on this occasion the old fable comes opportunely
to my aid, and I consider that to say white to people who are determined it
shall be black, is but waste of words -- when I went there this morning -- I was
told "I have been sent to last night but was not at home -- that a man has
been with Mr. Tapp to demand seven years Interest on the hundred twelve pounds
of the Trust and that he had a Letter of Attorney from the Mother, and demanding
to know how it was to be paid -- and the end of the story he said that my mother
had thought proper to take everything out of his hands -- and therefore she must
take the consequences for his part, he should not pay a shilling of it -- this
was the burthern of the song -- I slightly hinted that as we were about settling
every thing the person might possibly be induced to stay a little; this put him
in a fury - "Would I undertake to explain to him how my father had acted
with regard to the trust - he thought it would not much rebound to the credit of
the family -- here I had the resolution to defend my father's ashes -- by saying
that I thought he left more than enough property behind him to discharge the
debts, he gave nobody any room to believe his intentions were dishonourable; --
" It was none of his to leave, he left no property" etc. was
reverberated from both quarters, Mrs. T. and Mr. T. -- I maintained my position
by an argument that you would readily guess -- that this threw them on another
ground, my Mother was a fool and a weak woman etc to give up to me what she
might have kept for Life, and been independent of her sons, and had enough money
to discharge all these demands, and not strip herself of every thing to [ ]
her sons -- that Mr. Cross and Mr. Long never thought I [ ] any benefit
from these Ground Rents -- but My Mother -- would have given them, Mr. Cross to
his servant, Mr. long to his Clerk -- that Mr. Balchen would have done it for
her had already, and would again -- with a vast deal more; and that he - Mr. T.
would take the first opportunity when he saw Mr. Cross -- to ask him what he
thought of it -- concluding that he had been all along treated very cavallierly
by us all, and he did not care a damn whether I was cool or warm; (upon my
telling him that I was ready to answer all his arguments, but found myself then
to warm to enter into them) to all this harangue I answered shortly, the
substance of which was, that I desired him to satisfy himself with respect to
Mr. Cross opinion - that I ever did, and ever should look on the money I earned
as my own property -- that I believe Mr. C. had a better regard for me than his
servant, and Mr. L. than his clerk, that my Mother was so far from being
dependent on her Sons, that I was ready and I believed you were too, to allow
her any thing that we should risk reasonably putting it out of our own power to
retract - and in the end that he would send the person to me, I would take care
to discharge the demand - he said I might if I would as he should not, repeating
an echo, that he had been treated cavallierlly by us all --- To do this I am
brought into a situation that I have never before experienced -- I mean to
borrow -- and how my first application will succeed I know not -- but I shall
ask Mr. E. to lend me twenty pounds for three months, the money is but twenty
three pounds and five shillings so that you must remit me the cash I advanced
for your Bill as soon as you can, or I go to pot for twenty pounds! Tomorrow I
settle with Mr. Long and I have already paid Mr. C. more than I have received --
do not give yourself a moments uneasiness about all this, I write it only
because I know you love to be informed -- at present I am doubting whether I
shall undertake to defend the family in a Letter, or whether I shall let the
"weakest go to the wall" -- the latter is wisest I believe and
easyest, but yet not altogether right -- only let it root in you one maxim,
never if you can help it borrow of a friend -- My love to my mother -- I dined
with Mr. S. and they do not yet fix, but will certainly be down as they intend
spending a month -- adieu --
(Letter 14 CB p. 150)
dated September 26th 1777:
reasonable, said that he out of compassion for her distress (of which tis
possible he might be a cause), had taken her out of Prison, and given his joint
note with hers, to pay her debt at one pound one shilling per Quarter -- for 7
Quarters -- that he had taken her home. Where she lay on his chairs, being so
dirty as not to be fit to go into a bed, that instead of thanking him, "she
had, according to her wont, been abusive to him and his family," and had
kicked up several rows, -- however as he had known something of her he was
willing if possible to take care of her provided she has some cloaths to wear.
-- I considered some time, and at last came to a resolution to give him one
guinea, for the following reasons, tho I could ill spare it at the same time
making him promise never to say to anyone that he had got any thing from me, but
to lay it out in course cloathing for her use as if of his own accord and by no
means to let her know where I was or mention my name. -- I considered that if I
sent him away without any thing he might possibly be induced to send her to me,
out of revenge for having lost his labour, that if it was properly applied
(which he desired me to call and see done) it would be a means of really
assisting her, if such a thing can be done -- and if he put the money in his own
pocket (which I since hope he will) that will effectually prevent his sending
her where she may be informed of the cheat.
and other
abilities for which she is famed -- could I bear an office where she came? Or
live in a house where she had called on me? In short you talk like a person
living in Driffield, and have no apprehension of her taking so long a Journey to
annoy you. If you read my letter you will find I do explain why she came to beg
of me, she having nothing to clothe her. The money [s]he had of Mr. T., having
been expended in taking her out of prison -- the part of a former Letter, was, I
thought by her being released -- for my own part I Could not think of acting in
the affair, for fear of a discovery, and I knew not who to employ or ask such a
favour of if I had it in my power to relieve which it was not, having myself one
evening, gone to the Prison, to be informed of her situation, and finding it
would require ten pounds.
I am afraid indeed poor Susan
will be cut off by the first Wintry blast - but why are you alarmed for her
Sister, I hope there are no symptoms of a Decline, tho no one need be surpriz'd
if there was -- Distress of Mind, Confinement, and Fatigue are enough to ruin
the best constitution - you say John is better. Should he be too much affected
at the Loss of his Sister, and there is a circumstance in her case, that may
deeply affect him I intend to give him a hearty and pressing Invitation to join
his old companions at Driffield -- You may remember the Time, when you and I had
serious thoughts of connecting ourselves with that Family -- to own the truth
they were the last time I thought seriously on the Subject -- some trifling
Disgust or rather a new Turn of thinking put an end to them, yet still there
remains some Degree of affection and regard, beyond what we feel for [ ]
acquaintance, which without talking of Natural affection, [ ] suppose to
arise from our being acquainted from our Infancy and now we talk of new turn of
thinking. I cannot help [ ] notice of the astonishing alteration that has
taken place in you within these 4 to 5 years -- you need not be surprized, if it
had not been for the better, I would have mentioned it in softer Terms - but you
must allow you are far from being the same man now in sentiment manner and
expression that you were then, and your Genius which is the most extensive I
have any where met with, did not discover itself except in the article of
Drawing, till very late. This I am convinced was for want of opportunity, and am
very sure, had you had the same education that was thrown my way on me, you
would much earlier have shewn those abilities which lay so long conceal'd.
.
(Letter 26 CB pp. 219 - 220) from George Cumberland to Richard Cumberland
December 9th 1778.