| Description | Dear Sir,
I have just had a person with me who wants a housekeeper's place. Mr. Gunter the confectioner recommended her very strongly. She says she understands a table perfectly well, and seems to think herself well qualified to make you breakfast occasionally. She asks thirty guineas and her expences to Birmingham, and back again also, if she shou'd not suit you, as she says the distance is so great and travelling so expensive. She has no objection to dining, &c., with the servants, but must have a room to retire to at pleasure. The last place she lived in was at Mr. Blackburn's, the member for Lancashire, but she was there but a very short time as their cook understood so little that it made it too fatiguing for her, but that Mrs. Blackburne was very sorry to part with her; and had an extreme good character with her from a Mr. Hungerford of Dingley Hall near Market Harbro', where she lived five years.
I cannot pass judgment from what I have seen, but if you never try you will never get one, and you must judge from the character till you have made trial yourself; only I have been such a dunce as to forget to ask her name. I will, however, send to Mr. Gunter to know it, and let you know as soon as I can, that you may write to Mrs. Blackburne for her character, if you are not already suited and can submit to her terms.
Not knowing whether you wou'd make any stay at Cheltenham or go from thence elsewhere, I shall direct this to Birmingham to be forwarded to you, and shall be glad of your reply as soon as you can, that I may not keep the woman in suspense.
I hope your journey has been of service to you. I beg my kind love to Miss Boulton, and, heartily wishing you and yours all possible health and happiness many years to come, I remain, dear sir, most affectionately yours,
C. Matthews
I think there seems a little conceit about the woman, but perhaps that may wear off when you are accustomed to her, or, if she has good qualities to overbalance, might be looked over.
[Edited transcript.] |