January
Letter from Miss Smith, she has been unwell and consequently could not write, but it would appear from Mother's letter and Aunt Charles's gossip that Miss Smith is paramount in Uncle Clepham's house; Aunt being superseded, oh! scandal! it would seem no place is holy to thy unholy eyes.
Letters: From Miss Smith, my little cousin, Thomas Richmond Clepham, is strengthening & thriving, Miss S returns soon to York, to meet, I fear, a very cool reception-
wrote to Miss Smith a long letter of friendship; trying to coax her over to Worcester.-
Letter from Miss Smith this morning; added PS after acknowledging it. She leaves Stockton for Northallerton on Wednesday;
Letter from Miss Smith written at Northallerton where she had just arrived on her way to York.
Letter this morning from Miss Smith who has gone as shopwoman to Mr. Halley, the draper;-
Letter from Miss Smith. She has already left Halley.
February
Wrote to Miss Smith last night in reply to her three last.-
Long letter from Aunt Jane this morning having her views as to Miss Smith & her conduct when with them, which she looks very disparagingly on; & on my vegetarianism with quiet, feeling remarks on it.
Wrote an 8 page letter to Aunt Jane last night to thank her for hers; with my views on vegetarianism & on Miss Smith in defence - at length;
Letter yesterday from Miss Smith hoping I shall get over to see her; letter also from Lindsay who has been in Wales & in reply to one written him on Wednesday.-
August
This morning to Sevrus Place to breakfast. Drove Mother and Mrs. Eagle in dog cart to Thorp Arch, by all the green and shady lanes we could find, to see Miss Smith who was happy to see us; we met as brother & sister; she looks well & contented; has an excellent situation as companion to Mrs. Anderton a rich and distant relative; had tea together & walk;
Friday, wrote a long and confidential letter to Miss Smith on my London trip & my feelings towards Miss Miles, knowing well she will give due advice & sympathy as a sister would.
Tuesday, long and affectionate sympathising letter from Miss Smith- "sister Josephine". with good advice as to my heart's complaint, but not much of hope, thinking as I am almost forced to do, that if Miss M. does not entertain any feeling towards me, it is merely of a slight & doubtful friendship & that her affection is placed elsewhere.- Wrote to Miss Miles to enquire as to her health. Wrote a letter of excuse Wrote to Miss Smith on Sunday evg, long letter on her last, Miss M, Mother's coming, Emma Vokes etc.
September
Letter from Miss Smith yesterday; at Boston Lodge yet,
very busy.-
Friday finished letter to Miss Smith on Henry, on Mother, Miss M & other matters.
On Friday morning letter from Miss Smith, whose mistress is dangerously ill
October
Mother says Miss Smith is losing her situation & is coming to see her.
Miss Smith staying at Mrs. Eagles having left her situation;
Aunt Cox taking objections to her coming to our house, with small cause, I think. Indoors all morning replying to Mother's letter- as to Miss Smith & the course for Aunt Mayfield to adopt.
Wrote letter of enquiry to Miss Smith to know about the causes of her leaving her situation & present circumstances, & this morning (Thurs) had a long one from her explaining all; her lady having a dropsical complaint required other attendance than hers; she is now staying with her Aunt Smith in York,
she is deeply concerned at the treatment Aunt Thackray has shown; refusing to speak to her when she called, rumours of Aunt Jane's letter as to her (Miss S's) behaviour at Stockton had reached (her) Miss S ears whereat she is deeply & justly concerned, she has heard too of Aunt Cox's uncalled for prejudiced remarks to Mother requesting her not to receive Miss S; all which is very wounding to Miss S.
Wrote her a long addition to my letter explaining all as far as I can, believing her, fully innocent in thought & word or deed to Aunt Clepham, & deeming apology due to Miss S from her slanders; at the same time requesting to know from her own lips how far several things reported of her are true viz: variety of statements as to her income from her own mouth to different persons, the slight assumption of authority at Aunt J's.
Aunt & Uncle Cox staying over my birthday & Neds; Miss Smith not present at either, which pains me for it seems that Aunts Clepham, Cox, Charles & Thackray have combined to expel & vilify her; so in a letter which I wrote back in the evening I avow my intention of fighting her battle.-
[Ned] Does not say who composed the party. I am desirous to know if his well constant, but now slighted friend, Miss Smith was present. I fear not.
Monday morning long letter from Miss Smith still feeling deeply Aunt Thackray's slight of her & Aunt Clepham's letters; these Aunts sting as bad as wasps. She attributes Aunt C's disposition to the mischievous tongue of a nurse there at the time.-
Wrote in evening to Miss Smith- a long letter on Aunt Clepham & herself with encouragement to her to be of good cheer.
I had a letter from Father on Thursday morning saying he, Mother and Miss Smith had been to the Palace at Bishopthorp in company which was pleasant to hear; I answered his letter with a long one last night mainly about Miss Smith, about removing lodgings should Mrs. Jones have room, & saying I should not be home at Xmas.
November
I wrote to Mother on her having omitted all mention of the attack on Miss Smith's Stockton conduct, & changed it into one on her failings- her drinking propensities - & on which I am not so prepared to defend her, but I want the other cleared up first;
Miss Smith had gone to live at her Aunt Brown's;
December
letter also from Miss Smith, on her Stockton visit & in self defence, enclosing affectionate letter from Aunt & Uncle Clepham written since she left them.
Wrote to Miss Smith in evening exhorting her to forget the Stockton affair & its results; telling her of our party, of Aunt hindering Jane's writing to her etc. in evening I wrote to Uncle Clepham in reply to his two letters, thanking but reluctantly declining his invitation for Xmas but promising to accept it by this day 9 months; on Miss Smith's resuming her old footings at York
letter also from Miss Smith, with Christmas greetings.-
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