The year 1853 saw the publication of Charlotte Bronte’s novel Villette, which drew on her experiences at a pensionnat, a boarding school, in Brussels in the 1840s. In September of the same year Anna Maria Tabor, at age 14, entered a pensionnat in the northern French port town of Dunkirk. This “house for the education of young women” was established and run by three sisters, the Mesdemoiselles Gallois. The building it occupied, in the Rue Royer, was said to have been the final home of a local hero, the naval officer and privateer Jean Bart, who had died in Dunkirk in 1702. Since Bart had been particularly active against the English, it is unlikely that this connection was drawn to the attention of the English pupils, whom, as the following advertisement suggests, they were anxious to attract.
This prospectus addresses possible concerns of parents by stressing the healthiness of conditions, and the moral and physical care of pupils, as well as the teaching offered, including that of “the best visiting masters”. For the English audience there is the presence of “an English Lady”, the possibility of attending the English protestant Church, and notice of the regular steamship connections. Notably, besides more academic studies, the school is offering training in the practical, artistic, and social skills seen as appropriate to young women at this period – needlework, drawing, dancing, piano, etc.
The letters which follow here can be read in various ways. As exchanges between Anna and members of her family they reveal relationships within a Victorian family, both in terms of formal expectations and emotional bonds. They also point towards broader sets of social convention and expectation, in areas such as class, morality and religion. While the formality of style and rigidity in social relations may seem alien, the letters can still be entertainingly descriptive of life both at school and at home in Essex.
In the text below all spellings are as in the original. Unreadable sections are marked […….?]
MARIA TABOR Hotel Bedford Friday Evening
My dear Anna
It is decided that Aunt, Walter 1 , & myself remain in Paris till Monday & we shall call upon you on Tuesday morning after Breakfast, when I hope we shall find you quite comfortable for I know you felt ill from the effects of the voyage –
Papa gets to Dunkerque so late, that we do not expect he will see you, therefore I write these few hasty lines, to make you sure of our keeping our promise of seeing you again. We are charmed with Paris – passed close to the Emperor 2 to day & received a bow from him, entirely to ourselves
Mary will be amused to hear this – We can take Papa’s Purse home – I forgot to say, it is said the Emperor 2 is going to Dunkerque. I have your night gown ……..…
my dear Anna your affectionate M.
Maria Tabor
ANNA TABOR Sept. 22 Dunkerque
My dear, dear Mama,
I am going to send you a history of the chief events, which have happened since you have been away. First as to the Miss Rawlins, the youngest is 13, the 2nd. 16, & the eldest 18, nearly 19; the youngest will be 14 the day before my birthday; I am sure this is correct, for they said so themselves; they seem to be ladies, and I like them all very much. Secondly as to the Bathing, 2 other girls, both a good deal bigger, but younger than me went with me to bathe yesterday, we have nice long gowns, and the machine 3 has 2 rooms it was drawn only so far into the sea as to be ancle deep, and we had to go some way into the sea; but coming back the machines were drawn up a little way onto the sands, & we had to run on the dry sands to get to them, there were but few persons on the beach, I think 4, but I am not sure you would like it, nobody seemed to mind it, & I think I shall go with the rest to-morrow, as we cannot bathe longer than next week; I enjoyed my bathe much,
Thirdly, as to the letters, I find it will be cheaper for me to pay my letters with stamps 4 , which Miss Gallois will give me, & your letters, when they come, will go to Miss Gallois, who will pay them, & send them without opening them to me; this arrangement will save two-pence every letter. I laid down on the sofa in my room yesterday & shall do so every day. The W.C. 5 is much better as Mrs. Rawlins bought some paper with poison on them which has killed a great many. Mr. Kinsey has invited, Mary Waters & I to go there to spend the day on Monday, his house being next to the one where the Emperor will come, we shall see him well,
23rd.
I have finished Papa’s purse, but I cannot send it in this letter, as it would be overweight; there its a Gentlemen going over next week, who will take it. We are to Bathe today if the Weather is fine.
I send my very best love to you, dear Mama, & to Papa, & to Walter & Sisters. I remain dear Mama
Your- very affecte. Daughter
Anna Maria Tabor
P.S. I quite thought I was at the last page of my sheet had left this space for the Direction, but I am agreeably surprised, to find a whole page over, so there will be a long P.S. Mary Waters sends her love to you. I took my first lesson of Italian yesterday, & I think I. shall like it.
[To] Miss Mary Tabor
I write to you dear Mary 6 to wish you very many happy returns of your Birthday, I hope you will enjoy yourselves very much, pray do you use my silver Mug at Desert; & take Ellie out if you like, give my love to her, Tot & Charlie. How are our gardens? Give my love to the Tweeds. I have no room for more. I remain your affecte. Sister, Anna Maria Tabor
The music master (I do not know how to spell his name) has promised me a new piece for next time. This piece is For Mary. How is your Garden, & Rose’s & her Guinea-pig, & Marys (big Mary I mean) & Charlotte’s? Please send me a history of what you did when we were away. There is a cat here, something like Charlie, but not so big, or handsome. It gave me a fine fright the other night, for I was lying down on the sofa in the little room; in the dark, when all of a sudden, something touched, my face, then luckily, a bell, which it wears began ringing, & I knew it was the Cat. Give my love to Rosa, & wish her many happy returns of her birthday for me, give my love to Flora too.
I find this will not be too heavy for an envelope.
Accept my thanks, with Mary’s for- your most kind and pleasant birthdays note. She was very delighted with that and the dear little portfolio. I dare say you sent me that beautiful cotton by F. pray accept many and best thanks for it, it it a beauty!
Dunkerque Sept. 27th I853
My dear Walter,
I write now to give you an account of the Emperor’s visit. Mr. Kinsey with Agnes and Charlotte Kinsey called for Mary Waters, 2 other girls & myself at 10 1/2 hrs. , we then went to their house, which being next to the one where the Emperor was to be, (the Sous prefect’s) was the best in the whole town for seeing them. We amused ourselves more than an hour, in looking out of a window, watching the ladies arrive to receive the Empress and were much amused when sometimes a cab for 4 ladies arrived with 6 or 7, and much disappointed when an immense omnibus came up with only one lady, & still worse only some gentlemen, 7 perhaps only one of them. The ladies dresses were splendid, some had most beautiful figured silks, but we liked those In white muslin best. They all [had] to alight in some sand which had been put over a large puddle, & to prevent its becoming mud put so much that some of the heavy ladies sunk to an alarming depth.
At length the crowd became enormous, a great many officers on horseback, & the soldiers stood in a line to make room for the carriages & the [..sapirs?] 7 stood in another line to guard the entrance, & an English Carriage drawn by 4 beautiful English horses, drove up, & and in it were the Emperor & Empress; the crowd made a little noise, but we thought 20 English sailors would have made more, though I think there must have bean about 3000 people present; they seemed afraid. We saw the Emperor very well as he bowed several times, & took off his hat 2 or 3 times & held it in his hand whilst he bowed, The Empress was very troublesome, she had a Parasol of dove coloured watered silk, which prevented us from seeing anything of her till she bowed, when we had. a glance at which only informed. us that she was fair and had a white sort of silk bonnet. The Emperor soon went out for a drive, we hoped it would have been a ride on. horseback, as Miss Gallois, (who has just returned from Lille, & saw him there) says he gets on horseback very well & looks well when on.
Whilst he was gone a deputation of Fisherwomen arrived to pay their respects to the Empress, they were dressed nearly alike, all having caps, light dresses, (cotton I think) & gay handkerchiefs on their shoulders red or yellow, they cheered louder than the crowd both going or coming. When the Emperor returned we again saw him well. A quantity of priests came to see them, who had to pass just behind the tail of one horse, & almost under the head of another. It was most amusing to see them watch their time, when the horse put its head higher than usual, their dive under, looking very frightened, some took off their hats to facilitate their enterprise.
The E &E arrived at 11 1/2hrs. and went away at 2 1/2hrs, then we saw them best, the Empress had not her parasol, she was fair, had a beautiful complexion, light hair, most decidedly not the least red & light eyes, she was very pretty, graceful, &. and bowed both. gracefully & in a dignified manner. The Emperor was taller, less fat, and more dignified than I expected. He must have been disappointed, as the decorations were spoilt by the rain on Sunday, & the storm & great wind Sunday night.
With love to all I remain dear Walter Your affecte. Sister Anna Maria Tabor
27th. My dear Mama,
I write to you to say that after my last letter was gone I cannot remember whether I had mentioned Walter, & certainly I did not write to him, but I keep thinking he is at School. I have written him a long letter this time to make up for it. I was so sorry to have forgotten him, do not show this to him he would not like it I think, I am quite well now, in all aspects. I remain dear Mama Your affecte. Child
Anna Maria Tabor
P.S. We did not bathe that day, as it was too wet, & I dare say we shall not again. We have been a walk every day. I have not my room yet. Thank everybody for their enquiries about me. Your letter has much improved the W.C. I am quite well with respect to it now.
29th. [September, 1853]
My dear dear Mama,
I had written a long letter to you all to send by a friend of one of the governesses, & put Papa’s purse in it; but Miss Gallois said that the purse would make it so large as to be a trouble; so I thought I would keep the letter and make it longer; I will send the purse as soon as I can. I received your letter this morning; you people at home cannot imagine what an extreme pleasure it gives us poor things out of Dear England to hear home news.
I am now going to answer everything in your letter. I am very glad you were pleased with my letter. The Miss Rawlins are certainly very nice girls, so kind to everyone, especially to me. They all of them read some of the Bible every morning before Breakfast, though we are not obliged to do so, which I think shows that they are the proper sort of girls, & so do I out of Aunt Sarah’s testament; but when you write will you tell me where abouts you are, as I should like to think you were reading the same as I am. I am careful whom 1 associate with as the School is entirely at my disposal as to the choice of Friends. As to the Roman Catholicks 8, we never think of talking to them about religion, pray do not trouble yourself about them, as there is no difference, & no more danger for me than for you. I do not in the least exaggerate in saying this. We have only bathed once, & I think very likely we shall not again, as it is cold though I do not mind at all.
30 th We did not have a teacher with us but a servant, as the servants here are considered quite as equal to everybody else, they are so clean & nice.
I will keep an account of the letters as you say. Was the letter which was overweight from me? If it was I as very sorry for it.
I go properly to the W.C. now; your letter caused it to be well washed, which has improved it.
You say you talk enough of me, I am glad of it & so do I think a great deal of you all. I like Agnes Kinsey very much, & Charlotte too, Agnes is nearly 17, & Charlotte 12 just.
I have had lessons of Italian, it seems easy, & I liked it. We have not begun German or Drawing yet.
Thank you for sending the copy Books, when next you send I should be glad of some English stamps, as we often have an opportunity of sending letters by people going to England, and then they are necessary.
We learn our lessons from 7 till 8, & as I am not nearly all that time learning mine (for we have only 2) I lie down on the floor of the little room with a cushion for my head the rest of the time , it is no waste of time as if we know our lessons we may not do anything else during the hour.
It is quite dark but I say hymns and poetry to myself & I like it very much, at 8 Mary & Penny Rawlins come up to me & we generally have a nice chat till supper. Walter says in his letter that he is glad I have that room, but I have not yet got it, I do not think I shall have it for some time. I have meat every day, whether the others do or not, Wednesday is not a fast day, Saint’s days are,
I do not think it is possible for me to make tea for myself, & I do not mind the other tea now, though I. think they had been washing a deal table with. it this morning, for I am sure I tasted soap suds. Someone suggested that the tea leaves had been 1 st used to scrub the carpet with, but we thought that this was not likely as they neither look nor taste like tea leaves, whatever they are I like them very well. When you write to Aunt & Uncle give my best love to them. You must have enjoyed Uncle +s little visit. Miss Gallois has not said anything to me about the Dancing. As to our wardrobes we are expected to look after these , I believe someone sees to the little ones. I have now answered your letter, except about the letters. I should not expect a letter from you now for 2 or 3 weeks, I did not expect the last, which made me all the more glad to have it. I wear Aunt’s little scent bottle on my chain as she said, but I shall not in future, as I am very sorry to find the gilt is wearing off. I must leave off now,
With best love to you Dearest Mama, I remain Your affecte. Daughter
Anna Maria Tabor
P.S. Oct.1 I had something to say but I cannot think what it is. If I have made some repetitions you must ascribe it to its being written at different times.
Sept. 30th, 1853
My dear Papa,
I write to tell you that I have finished your purse some time ago, but cannot send it in a letter, I will send it the first opportunity. I hope you will write to me soon, & tell me how the kitchen garden, &. the Mangle
worsle
9 are. It is very wet today, so I suppose we cannot go out; we have been a walk every day lately. I have not much news to tell you,
as I have given Walter an account of the Emperor’s visit.
I remain dear Papa Your affecte, Daughter
Anna Maria Tabor
My dear Rose 10,
I thank thank you very much for your nice letter, telling me just what I want to know. Give my love to Ellie, Flora, & Rosa, & all the pussies, especially the biggest of the Tots. I will write to her next time.
I hope W. will prosper in his bargains, & not get taken in. Where will he keep the cochin chinas? 11
Mary Waters sends her love to all; pray do not forget to send your loves to her next tine, as they always send theirs to me.
The girls are making a tremendous noise, more than the school at Rayne.
I remain your affecte. Sister
Anna Maria Tabor
To Mama. The W.C. is being turned out, & will be washed with clorid of lime. 12
Dunkerque Oct.4th.
1853
My dear Papa,
As one of the girls’ Papa and Mama are going to England they will take the purse. I am afraid it is not very well finished up, as I never did one by myself before. It is beginning to get extremely cold hear, but I like it.
5 new girls came up today, and there will be seven more this week, all boarders.
The Drawing master came yesterday, but we did not, do. anything as we had
to arrange. Miss Eugenie asked me yesterday whether 1 had rather begin German now, as there was someone in the town. who offered to teach or wait till a real German came in a Month or 6 weeks. I said. I would rather wait as I thought a Frenchman would not teach German well. I did not put stamps on my last letter as I was afraid it might be over weight, & then you would have to pay 1s 3d besides my 8d. I send my love to Walter, Rose, & Mary, & my best love to you & Mama.
I remain Dear Papa Your affecte. Daughter
Anna Maria Tabor
MARIA TABOR Rayne Octr. 5th. 1853
My dear Anna
I indulge sooner than I intended in writing to you having a few questions to ask you – but I must first give you my best love accompanied with many thanks for the happiness & satisfaction your pleasant letter afforded me. Papa & the rest will reply to their share of your kind attentions in writing to them in so entertaining a way.
I enclose you a few stamps, which will be useful no doubt – your letter was 10d this time – I understood Miss Gallois was to put a French stamp on, to save 2d – making the sum 8d to us – It was my letter to you that was overweight - it must not be over ¼oz. We will endeavour to tell you all that we think you will like to know –
Walter is engaged to go to Mr. Tweed’s till Xmas. he likes the plan much – but I am sorry to see how difficult it is for him to keep steady at his work. Mr. T. is very pleased with him at present, & wishes he had six more pupils like him.
I am truly glad to believe you are comfortable always tell me, if you are not ** also that you are well & attend to your first duties *- I always understood M. Waters, an. English teacher resided in the house – as I never should have wished you to have been sent but for believing this to be the case, & for Mr. Kinsey – do you continue to like him? I hope you thanked him for the pleasure his kind attention gave you – I thought Miss K. looked good.
Your Aunts will be so pleased with your letters, that I shall forward them for their perusa1 I hope you go to bed in good time & get someone to help you make it – you, “returning the compliment”.
I am quite thankful to have rendered such valuable help to the W.C. Have you a chair to sit on, as promised? Tell me when you have the room – it seems a shabby business you have not yet got it. Are your stays home? 13 pray do not have them tight anywhere.
Who teaches Italian?
I am surprised you have not begun German & Drawing – is no one learning? I shall be glad to hear you have left off your net – 1 am convinced it spoils the whole head of hair – you can get a little tortoiseshell comb or two for the side hair. I hope to hear you walk when the weather will permit every day –
Who is to have Velvet Bonnets? if no one else has, I was thinking you might do as the rest do – the straw bonnet night be lined with velvet the shade of your merino & trimmed to suit. I remember I said you were to have a Velvet if anyone else does – do you – the worst is they are so warm, that you must wear it every day, & then I fear it would get shabby, but perhaps, a new pair of strings only would be washed – tell me a little about this, when you write -
Do you get fatter or thinner? I hope you try to carry yourself well – I fear not enough attention is paid to manners & carriage &c. Do you attend well to French? I doubt there are too many English pupils – I was pleased with the Miss Rawlins’s What is the name of the Lady who attends you to church? We are reading the Bible, (just begun Numbers) on Mary’s account. Walter is reading Jeremiah – the New Testament & the dear Psalms suit you & [……….]are best, for daily conduct dear- Anna – I hope you use my favorite [……] we ought to know most of the Psalms by heart. I am not surprised to know the little scent bottle does not preserve its decoration – we thought everything very dear.
M. Waters appears to be making the most of her time. I hope you will tell me you are doing the same dear Anna – for you have already had so many more advantages than her or Sisters – it does good to old & young to quit home now & then, to render them sufficiently [.?grateful] for the comforts & blessings we scarcely notice, ’till we are deprived of them – showing the real use of privations & practising self-denial, as well as self -control to form a proper character even for this world –
We must not write too often, because it would interfere too much with your studies-
Your purse is arrived today - 7th – your sisters have just on their flannel chemises I should think you require yours – They try not to get chilblains 14 – it is now they begin – your night socks should be used, on getting into bed, not taken off before yon go to sleep – I hope you will have our room now. I think you judged wisely about the German – I understood the holidays were for 3 weeks in August – does no one else learn German? I was in hopes I had written plainer but am sorry to see how untidy it looks,
ROSE TABOR Rayne Oct. 6th.
Dear Anna
I have given your love to Ellie Flora and Rosa as well as the pusses and Mary she is very pleased to hear you will write to her.
Mary and I are going to have 2 hens of our own and Mama proposes to keep one for you till you come home give my love to Mary Waters and if I ever forget it you must suppose I have sent it Eleanor Tweed came home on Mary’s
Birthday she is not at all well, neither is Charlotte, Sophia is pretty well. Our gardens are all very well we have taken all our cuttings in as it is very cold. Walter manages your garden for you; my Guineapig is very well.
Mary & I bought 2 penwipers
15 with patterns stamped on them to work mine is blue & Mary’s is green we have worked then both with red silk Mary is going to give hers to Walter and I am going to give mine to Mama.
I am writing on lines for the first time and I cannot keep the it straight. I am in a very opposite position to you for there is not a sound except Tot purring before the fire. I have no room to say any more.
I remain your affect. Sister R.C.T.
I am very much obliged to you for your kind note
WALTER TABOR Rayne Thursday
My dear Anna
I was very glad on Tuesday morning to find a letter for me and still more so to see it was from you. We are much obliged to you for your well written account of the Emperors visit to Dunkerque. It seems to have been a short one. I suppose the fisherwomen were the only people who brought deputations to the Emperor or Empress. The ladies in the quagmire must have appeared very ridiculous and it amused us much.
We intend to send your letters to both Aunts and we think they will please them as much as they did us. I began my studies with Mr. Tweed last Monday, I much like his way of teaching. I have an hour and a half per diem. I have 3 Cochin China pullets and a cock of the true breed, it belonged to Mr. Rolfe who gave it us, as he did not wish to sell it in the sale, yourself and Mary have each a common hen , yours is grey and Mary’s a dark brown. Rose has not yet obtained hers, we believe they lay. A great number of Cattle passed this year on their way to Braintree fair, which took place last Monday. Hoping you are well Believe me to remain
Your affectionate Brother Walter Clement Tabor
CLEMENT TABOR Rayne 7 Oct 1853
My dear Anna
I recd. your note this morning for which I am much obliged & pleased. The Purse Is a good strong one and I hope will last me some time. I am glad to find you like the cold weather. I fear you will have it colder as the winter progresses, however if you jump and dance about I trust you will not find it inclement. We think you did right in declining to commence German under a French tutor. Walter has commenced. his studies under Mr. Tweed. I hope he may draw benefit from hie attendance on so clever a tutor. W. seems to pay tolerable attention in preparing his work. Your description of the Emperor’s visit pleased me much and I was gratified that you had a good place to view the whole affair. I hope you will find the Miss Gallois continue to show you the same kind manner as they have commenced with: a good deal will depend upon yourself in taking care that your conduct shall be such that they cannot object to: the same may be said in gaining the good will and regard of your older schoolfellows. No doubt as to many there will be unreasonable characters but never mind what they may say but care more that your behaviour shall be such that all ought to respect you. I do not think there is much occasion for me to write all this as your own distinctive good sense would regulate your conduct only I thought I would mention it to show you how much I am concerned for your maintaining the credit of our home. In fact we ought all to conduct ourselves that we should fear to bring any reflections on our friends.
The Mangel Wurzel is improved, amazingly. I hope there may be nearly 20 tons this year. The kitchen garden is in tolerable order, most of my winter greens are planted & do well but just now I have a very hard job to get the piece of ground near the large pear tree cleared of the Raspberry and horse radish roots. It is very troublesome the ground being wet and the weather uncertain so that I cannot continue ant length of time at it. I am very anxious to get it ready that I may plant some cabbage for the spring.
Now that you are so far from us we think more of you than we ever did so pray have a little note ready to send whenever you may have a chance opportunity to take advantage of. I do not think you know Mr. Granger but I am sure that you will be pleased to hear that he is very much improved in health. Make my kind remembrances to the Miss Gallois and say that I am very well though I still continue to avoid animal food and say I hope they allow you to take a good walk every day and the nearer the sea the better.
I do not suppose you hear of the College at Dunkirk though a gentleman who returned with. me gave me a very flattering account of it having just placed his son there. From what I heard from him I should think it a good place for Walter. Perhaps your clergyman may know something of it. Your Mama & Sisters & Walter have all written to you by this paper so there is not much more … that I can say. Uncle Brooke had a very pleasing letter from Uncle George, from China but he does not say anything about coming to England. I must conclude my dear Anna. Believe me your loving Father
Clement Tabor
MARIA TABOR NOTE
Do you use the Green Book of Exercises? in Music I mean. I understood about the Postage – I expect to have to pay 1/3 for these but will be more careful next time. Send enquiries for Cook & Susan next time 16, always remember me to the Miss Rawlins love to M. Waters & best love dear Anna from your affectionate Mama Maria Tabor You must not expect us to write again till your birthday – we shall keep a journal ready to send then.
Dunkerque Oct.22nd. 1853
My dear Mama,
I have a great quantity of things to tell you, but first I must thank you all very much for all your nice letters, I cannot tell you now much pleasure they gave me. Thank you for the Stamps. The English Governess, I have nothing to do with, except that she takes us to church, as her teaching is an extra, and all the girls say that she teaches nothing but what I know. Miss Rawlins reads prayers to us, etc. & is very kind to us.
M.Waters & I are their particular friends. We go to bed about nine.
I am happy to tell you that I have my room at last; I go up every evening
& lie down an hour or so, I have not been the last 2 or 3 evenings as I have a cold, but except that I feel quite well, though I am sorry to say I have not been poorly once since I have been here, though I should have been two
weeks ago or more; when you write will you tell me what I had better do. I am glad Aunts & Uncle were pleased with my letter, please always give my best love to them when you write. When I was in the other bedroom Mary
W. helped me make my bed, but would never let me help her, which was so unpleasant that I always made it myself when I could; now a girl often comes in & makes it all for me, which is very kind but the mattress is not
at all heavy. I always have a chair to sit in at meals etc. My stays came home some time ago, they felt rather tight at first but do not now. Italian is taught by a French woman, I do not think she teaches very well, but as I am
a beginner it does not matter. We have begun German of the French man, as the Mama of 4 young ladies who learn would not wait for the other & Miss Gallois will not have 2 masters, I think he teaches well. I have left off my net.
We walk every day when it is fine. I do not know about the bonnet yet, but a good many will have velvet, I think I had better have one for best, & my straw lined with pluck for every day. It would not spoil as I would never wear
the best except on Sunday. I think I do not get thinner, nor yet fatter.
I have begun my flannel socks but nothing else as it is not very cold here now, I must soon though. Please always remember me to Cook, Susan, & all the poor people, how is Mrs. Hale’s baby? I do not forget them, but I have so much to say that I have not always room or time. I use the green exercise book. Now I will answer yesterdays letter, I thank you dear Mama very much for it. I will try to hold my-self up. They are more particular about our dress than you thought, there is a rule to make us keep our closets tidy. I will get some grease for my hair. I will hear about the blankets, I have only 1 of Miss G’s at present. It is impossible that I should do some exercises without the others which are decidedly indecent for any but very little girls.
The Dancing begins about Easter, and as the great objection is removed, I really think I had better stay till August, but I hope extremely Papa can come here the day before my birthday, & stay a few days, & then he could settle it; but this would ba so pleasant that I agree with you, &scarcely dare expect it. If he does come I hope it will be the day before. Pray send me as many letters as you possibly can, I promise they shall not interrupt my studies. I should be very pleased to hear from some of the Tweeds. The envelopes must not be shut in any way, as I think it would make them liable to a penalty of 20£ each if they were. I am sorry to hear Walter is not very well, but I hope lying down will make him grow. Pray thank everyone for their enquiries, and give my love to the Tweeds etc. Please tell me when you write whether we are getting any richer, I hope so much, that Rose and Mary can have something done for them, they are a great deal too much for you, pray do not take too much trouble with them. You direct the letters quite right. Your letter came to 8d. All parcels directed to Miss Gallois are sent up to the house. I will now mention all the things I want beginning with those I want most.
I should like a soda cake, a plumb-pudding, some of Mr. Lake’s pic-nic biscuits, a few English flowers if possible, a ring to put round my dinner napkin; the Telemaque 18, some steel pins & some quill Do. A teaspoon if you can spare the Physick one. Some of those small mother of pearl buttons. Some brown ribbons for my hair. A loaf of brown or white bread, both new. Some butter if possible, though I do not expect it. Some loaf sugar. Please let me have Coffee if you do not mind it’s being an extra, everyone says it is much better than the tea. A good many girls have it. Some of the thin foreign paper. I think this is all, I hope I have not asked for too many things. Some needles I forgot, some one has been so wrong as to take my needle book out of my desk, in the school room. Emma Bovill is a very nice girl. I shall send you a box or something, I wished to send it for Christmas, but as there is a nice fair here on New year’s day, I shall send it after then. Please do not tell W or Sisters this.
I had such a very nice letter from Aunt Sarah, she said she would. not write often for fear of taking up my time, but I would not let any letters take up my time at all. & it is so nice to have them, when you write to her thank her very much for it & the good wishes, & good advice inside, and thank you too dear Mama for your good advice, which I will remember. I will write a little note to Mary as 1 promised, I thank them all very much for their letters, & Papa particularly, all the details they told me of are just what I like to hear. I should like a pot of rhubarb jam if you can spare it, & a little one of Black currant; but not unless you can spare this well. With kindest love to Walter, Rose,, Mary. & best of all to you dear Mama & Papa. I remain dear Mama your very affecte. Child,
Anna Maria Tabor
NOTES
1 Walter – Anna’s brother, one year older than her.
2 The Emperor – Napoleon III, who had become the ruler of the Second French Empire in 1852, following the coup of 1851, through which he managed to retain his Presidency of the Second French Republic. He had married the Spanish aristocrat Eugénie de Montijo, in January of 1853.
3 The machine – Bathing machines were essentially small changing rooms mounted on cart wheels. They could be dragged across a beach into the sea. This was seen as a way of preserving the modesty of their users. Anna is concerned that her mother may think that the machines at Dunkirk are not drawn far enough into the water.
4 It will be cheaper for me to pay my letters with stamps – Pre-payment of postage by attached postage stamps was still relatively new at this time. The first French postage stamps were produced in 1849, while Britain’s first, the Penny Black, had appeared in 1840.
5 The W.C. is much better – The condition of the Water Closet, the lavatory, at the school is a theme which reappears in other early letters. It seems that a parent has provided a fly paper to improve it in the eyes of the English girls. The letters offer an early example of British travellers concern for the state of “foreign” toilets. Another British obsession, with the difficulty of obtaining a satisfactory cup of tea, appears later!
6 Mary – Augusta Mary Tabor is Anna’s younger sister, about to celebrate her eleventh birthday.
7 Sapirs? – the writing is unclear. Possibly she means ‘sapeurs’, which might refer to a detachment of military engineers or a brigade of ‘sapeurs pompiers’, firefighters.
8 As to the Roman Catholicks – Anna is clearly responding to her mother’s concern that her English Protestantism may be adversely affected by exposure to Roman Catholic ideas. See The Early Life of My Daughter, Note 17. In her letter of the 2th September Anna also reassures her mother that she is reading her Bible regularly and that she is eating meat even when others do not on Catholic fast days.
9 The Mangle worsle – Mangel wurzel is a variety of beet, grown for root and leaves.
10 Rose – Rose Clementina Tabor, another younger sister, born in 1841.
11 Where will he keep the cochin chinas? – Rose has told Anna that their brother Walter has started to keep chickens.
12 Clorid of lime – Chloride of lime, also known as bleaching powder, used as a disinfectant and deodoriser.
13 Are your stays home? Pray do not have them tight. – this guidance on the use of a corset reflects the same concern about the overly restrictive women’s clothing of this period seen in The Early Life of My Daughter.
14 Chilblains – patches of inflammation on the skin brought about by exposure to cold and damp conditions and subsequent re-warming, chilblains were clearly a concern in the European 19 th century world of cold winters and uneven domestic heating. Charlotte Bronte describes their effect on the poorly-clothed pupils of the charitable school, Lowood, in Ch.7 of Jane Eyre.
15 Penwipers – With repeated dipping into ink, pen nibs needed to be wiped clean from time to time. It seems that the sisters have bought pen wipes with a decorative border which they could embroider, and then use as gifts.
16 Send enquiries for Cook and Susan…- Maria reminds her daughter to ask after their domestic servants. While it is now difficult not to see this in terms of middle class condescension, in the religious and moral context of this family it is seen as an indication of an appropriate concern for the “less fortunate”.Notably, in the following letter Anna underlines social distinctions, by asking to be remembered to Cook, Susan “and all the poor people”.
17 Please tell me when you write whether we are getting any richer……..do not take too much trouble with them. – These comments reflect the fact that while Anna is receiving her finishing education in Dunkirk, and her brother Walter is being tutored by Mr. Tweed, her mother is teaching her sisters at home. Anna hopes that the family may be wealthy enough to allow them to pay for her sisters to further their studies, and relieve her mother of the responsibility.
18 The Telemaque – Presumably refers to a copy of Les Aventures de Télémaque or Telemachus by François Fénélon. First published in 1699, it is a tale of moral and political education.