Ellenor Fenn letter to John Hatley Norton, 1769 March

Ellenor Fenn letter to John Hatley Norton, 1769 March

Ellenor Fenn letter to John Hatley Norton, merchant in Yorktown, Virginia. Fenn was Norton's cousin and a writer of children's books. She writes about various members of the family including her brother, John Frere, the famed antiquarian, and his wife, Jane Hookham Frere; John's brothers George and Harry; his sister; and his cousin Ned who broke his collarbone in a riding accident. Fenn also comments on the London stage noting that David Garrick is ill and that though both theaters are active with plays and Harlequin entertainments the "tolerable players are very scarce."

MS 1936.3.181
Folder 16

John Norton and Sons Papers, MS 1936.3

Special Collections, John D. Rockefeller Jr. Library, Colonial Williamsburg Foundation

Ink on paper

Recto

Not thinking my letters worth carriage so far
as Virginia, I believe I shou'd have put off thanking you
for one you favoured me with a year & half since, till
I cou'd have the pleasure of doing it in person, had not
your brother George kindly told me he wou'd take the trou:
ble to send one for me in his packet. I hope your health
is better established than when the ship came from Virginia.
I have now seen all your family except little Daniel; your
sister paid us a morning visit with M^rs. Norton; she is a
charming lively girl. Your Gould square packet contains
every thing of news undoubtedly, so there is nothing left
for me - unless I tell you how happy we all are in our
new relation & if I once enter on that subject I shall
have no fear of having any spare paper; you knew her
I think personally, but you cou'd not know half her good quali:
ties, & my brother I assume is as tenderly fond of her as it is
possible to be, to say the most one can, as she deserves.

Page 2

M^r Fenn & I have been in Bedford now (I am sorry to recollect
it) three weeks, whither we came to spend a month.
I very much regret those afternoons that pass in
visits - but above all any thing like a rout is
my abhorrence as Young says - "They relish nor to
reason, nor to sense." I am very much out of luck as
to plays; - Garrick is ill, both theatres swarm with
new plays, & Harlequin entertainments; & tolerable
players are very scarce .. but to be serious, as our
view was happiness not pleasure we are exceedingly
well saisfy'd with our journey to London, for nothing
can be more friendly than our reception here, & & if I tell
you I am as fond of my sister as of her husband you
will conclude me very happy in their company,
since you must know I always had a very great
affection for my brothers. My poor brother Ned got
a fall with or from his horse - 3 weeks since .. &
broke or dislocated his collar bone (my mother's & aunt's
accounts differ) he is still restrained from riding, and

Page 3

under M^r. Layman's care .. but I hope likely very soon
to recover the use of his arm.

M^r. Fenn sends his love. so does my brother, & my sister her's.
M^rs. Rose of Putney I hear is dead.

in apology for the dullness of my letter, I must plead
the foggyness & heat of the morning, which dulls my
genius.

Your brother Harry I think I shou'd have knew from his
likeness to the family; I was very much concerned to see
the [ms. torn] [melancholy] air of his countenance, I fear he is
[ms torn] sensible of his misfortune; I hope it will be
very bright weather when you receive this, that
the sunshine may be an antidote to my letter, as
you will be infected with stupidity; & I shou'd be
sorry you shou'd receive such an injury from

Your affec^te. cousin
E. Fenn

Page 4

To
M^r. Hatley Norton
Merchant
York Town
Virginia
p the Brilliant
Cap^t. Robertson

London March 1769
M^rs. Fenn
Rec^d. July 1769
Answ^d D^o