with the old friends, her parents, i cannot boast that i was even on speaking terms; but with the lovely and lively rachel my acquaintance had ripened even to the calling her by her christian name; and the reciprocation of her thou and thee, to which i was led, not as a convertite, but from learning, in my french and german grammars, that the use of the second person singular was an especial token of intimacy and affection. in this our neighbourly intercourse, a system of mutual accommodation sprang up between us, not by bills, but by books; for which she drew upon me by pretty little notes of hand, that i duly honoured, making them payable over the back garden
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wall. drawings and pieces of new music were equally negotiable. if i remember rightly, it was in return for moore’s melodies—the exchange at the time being against me—that i received “fox’s martyrs.” it was rather a ponderous tome for a lover of light reading; and if st. swithin’s festival had not fallen on a very wet sunday in the country, i might never have opened its leaves,—if indeed they did not open of themselves,—thus letting fall certain mss. intrusted to their custody, and which i now proceed to make public. in a new edition of the “curiosities of literature” they would deserve a distinguished place.
minutes of the tottenham friends’ conversazione;
established with a view to sober, intellectual, and literary unbendings. now first held, namely, on the fourteenth day of the eleventh month, one thousand eight hundred thirty and four. brother mumford, the father of the present humble pen, in the chair.
a most powerful and worthy setting forth, both in regard of numbers and our proceedings. firstly, a word in season from friend oliver. secondly, a draft of the rules. thirdly, an opening poem; meditation thereon until the tenth hour, when our sitting was completed. many congratulations between the brethren on the order, quiet, and decency thereof; myself as its humble founder, very joyously elevated—even unto the shedding of tears.
17. some awkwardness on this night, arising out of the presentation of nine several negroes’ complaints to be read forth. precedence yielded unto sister skeldrum’s complaint, in respect of her being so ancient, namely three-score and ten. after which, sister panyer’s was gone through, detaining us nearhand until our hour of dissolution. friend black in the chair.
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21. the negro complaints resumed, whereof three more were gotten over, sister fagg kindly taking turn about with me in the deliverance thereof. friend thorne in the chair.
24. a spare meeting. the negro complaints brought to an end, save one; sister rumble consenting, on much persuasion, to reserve the sorrows of sambo for the abolition anniversary. friend woolley in the chair.
28. friend greathead read forth an original paper on the manners of the beavers. much meditation thereon. friend stillfox in the chair.
