Author Topic: Matilda Mead 1842 letter - start of last page.  (Read 589 times)

Offline Peter L. Mitchell

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Matilda Mead 1842 letter - start of last page.
« on: Saturday 22 August 20 07:00 BST (UK) »
Hi again, folks.

Attached is a screenshot of the first paragraph of the letter Matilda Mead wrote to William Menere in September 1842. This page has a tear in it, which means two or three words will be guesswork. I have done some work on it and have come up with the following (each gap is a missing word):

Some will say I ought to apologise for sending

letters of poetry to you. I would _______ so both

think it(?) probable(?) I may fall into a(?) ________.

________ (inserted word) if _______ _______ (scrap torn) risk your

disapprobation is too ___(scrap torn).

Please feel free to correct any words I've mis-read.

Once this paragraph is sorted out I will post the final paragraph.

All ideas gratefully received! You contributors are amazing!

Thanks again,
                    Peter

Offline sparrett

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Re: Matilda Mead 1842 letter - start of last page.
« Reply #1 on: Saturday 22 August 20 09:15 BST (UK) »
A try from me

I would now in truth think it probable I would fall into a similar......if you now...
Sue
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Offline Peter L. Mitchell

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Re: Matilda Mead 1842 letter - start of last page.
« Reply #2 on: Saturday 22 August 20 09:46 BST (UK) »
Thanks Sue. That looks good. It will make it easier to work out the words in the missing torn part once I know the other words. Once the whole letter is "decoded" I will post it in the general section.

Thanks again,
                    Peter

Offline Bookbox

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Re: Matilda Mead 1842 letter - start of last page.
« Reply #3 on: Saturday 22 August 20 10:59 BST (UK) »
Compare the letter-forms with those already identified earlier?
https://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=836204.0
(I’m not sure why you’ve started another thread)

=====
You will say I ought to apologise for sending
letters of poetry to you. I would do so but
think it probable I may fall into a similar
error another ^time^ if you do [not expre]ss your
disapprobation in too [...]

(perhaps 'in too [something] a way'?)


Offline Peter L. Mitchell

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Re: Matilda Mead 1842 letter - start of last page.
« Reply #4 on: Saturday 22 August 20 11:27 BST (UK) »
Thanks Bookbox.

That makes sense. Once I have the whole text worked out I will re-read it a few times I will start to think about what the missing words might be. She wrote in a very interesting, rather florid way, so it will be a bit of a challenge (perhaps a future topic for this site?).

I created a new post for this paragraph because I wasn't sure whether it would be lost or overlooked in the earlier post. I'll continue using this post for the last paragraph, which I'll post shortly. Thank you for both your help and the suggestion.

Peter

Offline Peter L. Mitchell

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Re: Matilda Mead 1842 letter - start of last page.
« Reply #5 on: Saturday 22 August 20 11:32 BST (UK) »
The final paragraph!

Here is what I've worked out so far:

 I have received a(?) _______ ________ - they(?)

containing _______ _________ ________ ________ hopes that

nothing(?) will(?) leave(?) _______ _______ as both in the

_________.

      I have obliged(?) to _________ (scrap before torn piece)

for their _______ opinion _______ _______ (end of word missing)

then it is reciprocated ________ _______ ________ ________

then goes back to them.      (gap).    __________ _________

than(?) being(?) lonely(?).

         __________ yours affectionately

               Matilda Mead

Thanks again to everyone who is helping.

Peter

Offline Bookbox

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Re: Matilda Mead 1842 letter - start of last page.
« Reply #6 on: Saturday 22 August 20 11:52 BST (UK) »
I have received a letter from Mary
containing a thousand kind hopes that
nothing will prevent her seeing us both in the
Spring. I am obliged to your P[arents?]
for their good opinion and a[...]
them it is reciprocated  Give my kind [love?]
when you write to them and accept
the same yourself
from yours affectionatly
Matilda F. Mead

Offline Peter L. Mitchell

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Re: Matilda Mead 1842 letter - start of last page.
« Reply #7 on: Saturday 22 August 20 12:01 BST (UK) »
Bookbox! WOW! You are absolutely amazing! That's just brilliant! Thank you SO much!

When I've typed it out I will post it for others to view and for Mead and Menere researchers to enjoy.

Thank you again!

Peter

Offline Bookbox

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Re: Matilda Mead 1842 letter - start of last page.
« Reply #8 on: Saturday 22 August 20 12:03 BST (UK) »
It's just a suggestion. You may want to wait for any other opinions before typing it out.