William Hone to Dr. Charles West, 5 february, 1841 An Electronic Edition William Hone Kyle Grimes

For publication in the Hone Correspondence section of the William Hone BioText, http://honearchive.org. The letter is published under a Creative Commons license, details of which are accessible from the BioText homepage.

Transcribed from an image of the original in Wellesley College Library, Special Collections, Last Days of William Hone, ff. 22-23.

 Transcribed from image of Wellesley MS.
William Hone to Dr. Charles West, 5 February, 1841.Wellesley College Library, Special Collections, Last Days of William Hone, ff. 22-23. It is difficult to know exactly what to make of this letter as it clearly responds to an earlier missive which we do not have. That said, clearly Dr. West and Joseph Parkes are still working to secure a living for Hone and his family — at least this would explain Hone's seemingly random insertion of biographical details. The National Endowment and Assurance Society (later renamed as the National Mercantile Life Assurance Society) was an early version of a life insurance company, and it could be of some help as the Hones were searching for some way to support their daughters once they had passed. The "Mr. Lushington" is Charles Lushington (1785-1866), a liberal politician and MP for Ashburton who had taken some interest in supporting Hone in his pecuniary difficulties. [return] — -TEI-
Tottenham
5 February 1841 My dear Sir

Yesterday brought a letter from you, with another lithographic & proposes to be circulated by Mr Parkes. I have slept a night, and, after considering them, thus reply—

I know no names, nor can throw out any hints, which will not suggest themselves to Mr Parkes, nor do I possess any information more than he or you have already.

My wife was born 30 November 1781, & I am the 3rd of June 1780. The National Endowment & Assurance Society, of which my friend Fry is Actuary, in Arthur Street West, London Bridge, will safely assess the value of our lives. Mr. G. Sturges is interested in it.

Pray reserve ten Guineas for Alice to learn the dress-making business. I wish her to get at it as soon as possible. the lady we have selected to teach her is thoroughly competent, & takes the lead here among the Ladies. We have great [one word] for the future welfare of our daughter, but they must each be fully qualified in order to succeed respectably. Ellen is as a Milliner — Alice may be, as a dress-maker, and thus they can each serve the other.

If Mr Parkes will serve us — he can, & I shall be thankful for what he does.

I am a freeman of London,Hone refers here to his status as member of the "Company of Spectacle-Makers." Membership in such a guild granted persons the right to conduct business in the City of London, and Hone maintained his membership through 1842. See his initial notice of admission, dated 24 June, 1813. [return] never was at Edinburgh, & know nothing of Mr Lushington's wine, but a saying about it by Mr Condor to my wife

I am deeply grateful to Mr. Lushington for his munificence, & to you for your multiplied exertions.

I remain My dear Sir yours faighfully William Hone

Dr. West