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May 23 • The Research Room
An illustrated love letter from 1841
You have to see this one. I bought it over 10 years ago for £20, and have barely looked at it since.
In February 1841, a young man named F (T?) Field, of Great Berkhampstead (now Berkhamsted) in Hertfordshire sent a letter to Miss Adams of Burston, Buckinghamshire. The letter is noted as prepaid, with a red manuscript "1" to indicate payment of penny postage, as he didn't want the object of his affections to have to pay the penny.
The letter sheet was closed with a wax seal, which has survived intact, and although the cancels are very difficult to read, the one on the front is Gt Berkhampstead, and on the back, Aylesbury.
The letter itself is absolutely wonderful. Mr Field illustrated his letter with a colourful image of a couple kissing, with a little boy looking on from behind a bush. The moon is out and the sky is full of stars.
And then he wrote his poem.
This is the transcription:
Dear Madam tho bold you think me to write
To a lady by whom I'm unknown
Be assured that my reasons when brought to the light
Will for such an intrusion atone
My first and my greatest request is your hand
Which I hope you will willingly give
You're aware I must be an unfortunate man
Whilst apart from my love I must live
I heard a report that some nieces (?) imposed
Upon her who has all my regard
How (?) you must not imagine they've written again
And that this your bright prospect is mar'd
A very few words will suffice to express
That of wealth I have a great store
And of cattle estates and the like I've so much
That no mortal could wish to have more
Adieu dear Hannah & accept my love
And hand & hope that you will yield
That precious heart of yours to poor
F (T?) Field
Gt Berkhampstead Feb'y 13th 1841
The note with the little boy behind the bush is "They're a courting I'll go home and tell Mummy". Isn't it lovely?
I've done a little research, but as yet can't find records of either Miss Adams or Mr Field. I'd like to get this where I think it belongs, a museum in Buckinghamshire, but I'd like to have some real research done first.
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An illustrated love letter from 1841
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