Brontës (219 page)

33.
CB to EN, 19 May 1853: MS pp.2–3, Berg [
LCB
, iii, 167].

34.
ABN to C.K. Shorter, 18 June 1895: MS in Brotherton.

35.
CB to EN, 19 May 1853: MS p.3, Berg [
LCB
, iii, 167].

36.
LI
, 28 May 1853 p.8. The paper reported that Merrall's speech was ‘kind and feeling' and that during Nicholls' 8 years ‘his zeal and energy in behalf of the church and schools, as well as his kind and judicious conduct to all, have won him the respect and esteem of the parishioners: so it is with sincere regret that they are parting with him'. The gold watch, inscribed inside its case, ‘Presented to the Revd A.B. Nicholls B.A. by the teachers scholars and congregation of St Michael's Haworth Yorkshire May 25th 1853' is now HAOBP:J1, BPM.

37.
CB to EN, 27 May 1853: MS Gr. E25 pp.3–5, BPM [JB
ST
, no.3;
LCB
, iii, 168–9].

38.
Nicholls performed his first duty, a burial, on 11 August but he may have been there earlier as the previous curate took his last duty on 24 June. The duties were very light – Nicholls performed only 6baptisms and 7 burials in the 9 months he was at Kirk Smeaton – so an exact date of arrival cannot be ascertained: Register of Baptisms, 1813–74, Register of Burials, 1813–38, St Peter's Church, Kirk Smeaton: MSS D69/6, D69/10, WYAS, Wakefield. WG
CB
, p.524 suggests Nicholls' departure was delayed because Patrick had to find a new curate and Nicholls a new post but it is clear from Nicholls' missionary application that he was contracted to remain at Haworth until the end of May: ABN to the Secretary of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel, 28 Jan 1853: MS in USPG. I have been unable to discover what he did between leaving Haworth and taking up his Kirk Smeaton posting: he may have visited relatives in Ireland.

39.
CB to EN, 27 May 1853: MS Gr. E25 p.3, BPM [JB
ST
, no.3;
LCB
, iii, 168]; Register of Burials, Haworth; Register of Baptisms, Haworth.

40.
ECG to John Forster, 3 May 1853 [
LCB
, iii, 160]; CB, ‘I will not deny that I took pleasure' [Willie Ellin], May 1853: MS Eng
35.4, Harvard [
BST
:9:46:4–5].
Villette
had completed Charlotte's contractual obligation to Smith, Elder & Co. so she was not required to write another book. I suspect, however, she deliberately gave the impression that she would not write for some time to avoid the pressure and weight of expectation which would inevitably surround her next work.

41.
CB to WSW, 28 May 1853: MS HM 24402 p.1, Huntington [
LCB
, iii, 170]; CB to Mrs Holland, 28 May 1853: MS BS 89.2, BPM [
LCB
, iii, 171].

42.
CB to ECG, 1 June 1853: MS n.l. [
LCB
, iii, 172]. Ellen was still at Oundle on 20 June though planning an imminent return home via Haworth: CB to EN, 20 June 1853: MS BS 90 pp.1–3, BPM [
LCB
, iii, 178].

43.
CB to ECG, 1June 1853: MS n.l. [
LCB
, iii, 172]; PB to ECG, [?5or 6June 1853]: MS EL B121, Rylands [
LCB
, iii, 173–4]; CB to GS, 12 June 1853: MS SG 83 p.1, BPM [
LCB
, iii, 174]. See also CB to EN, [?13 June 1853]: MS n.l. [
LCB
, iii, 175].

44.
CB to GS, 14 July 1853: MS SG 85 pp.3–4, BPM [
LCB
, iii, 184]. Apart from temporary attacks, before his cataracts were operated upon and when he had his stroke, Patrick was never actually blind, retaining enough vision to be able to write occasional letters till his death.

45.
Ibid., p.3[
LCB
, iii, 184]. Patrick's declared intention had been to stay in private lodg-ings in London: CB to GS, 3July 1853: MS SG 84 pp4–5, BPM [
LCB
, iii, 181].

46.
Ibid., pp.2–3[
LCB
, iii, 167].

47.
[Anne Mozley],
Christian Remembrancer
, Apr 1853 pp.401–43 [Allott, 203]. Mozley could have guessed something of the trauma Charlotte had gone through if she had read the Biographical Notice prefixed to the 1850 edition of
Wuthering Heights & Agnes Grey
.

48.
[Elizabeth Rigby],
Quarterly Review
, Dec 1848 pp.153–85 [Allott, 111]. See above, pp.715–8.

49.
CB to the Editor of the
Christian Remembrancer
, 18 July 1853: MS n.l. [
LCB
, iii, 186–7]. This letter was published in full in the October 1857 issue in a review of ECG,
Life
.

50.
Christian Remembrancer
, Oct 1853 [W. Robertson Nicoll, ‘Charlotte Brontë and one of her Critics',
The Bookman
, Nov 1899].

51.
CB, ‘In other countries and in distant times' [Willie Ellin], 22 June 1853: MS Eng 35. 4, Harvard [
BST
:9:46:5–19]; CB, ‘“Stop” – said the expectant victim earnestly' [Willie Ellin], [?June 1853]: MS Bon 111, BPM [
BST
:9:46:19–23].

52.
LI
, 30 July 1853 p.8; Haworth Church Hymnsheets, 24 July 1853: MS BS, x, H, BPM.

53.
Charlotte fixed 30 June as the date for Ellen's arrival in CB to EN, 23 June [1853]: MS Beinecke [
LCB
, iii, 180] but it is not clear whether Ellen came or not. The like-lihood is that she did, thus enabling her to discover that Charlotte was favourably inclined towards Nicholls' suit: Ellen's dis-approval caused a long estrangement between the two friends which lasted until February 1854: see below, pp.867–9, 881–2.

54.
Catherine Winkworth to Emma Shaen, 8 May 1854 [Shaen (ed.),
Memorials of Two Sisters
, 115]. CB to EN, 11 April 1854: MS p.1, Pforzheimer [
LCB
, iii, 239], where Charlotte states ‘Matters have progressed thus since last July. He renewed his visit in Septr –'. This implies a previous visit before September 1853, possibly in July while Ellen was staying at Haworth, which might have been the catalyst for their estrangement since then.

55.
MT to EN, 24 Feb 1854: MS Ashley 5768 p.2, BL [
LCB
, iii, 228], mentioning that Ellen's letter was written on 12 August.

56.
CB to EN, 23 June [1853]: MS Beinecke [
LCB
, iii, 180]; CB to EN, 1 Mar [1854]: MS Montague [
LCB
, iii, 230–1]. A lost letter from Charlotte to Ellen, ending the quarrel, is referred to in Mary Hewitt to EN, 21 Feb 1854: see below n.58. A letter dated only ‘Thursday Morning' by Charlotte was wrongly attributed to 6 October 1853 by Ellen: MS Bon 248, BPM [
L&L
, iv, 97–8].

57.
CB to MW, 12 Dec 1853: MS FM 25 p.2, Fitzwilliam [
LCB
, iii, 214]. Significantly, this letter is incomplete, ending with the words ‘My heart …' immediately after the sentence quoted in my text. This seems to me further evidence of a comprehensive attempt to destroy all references to the estrangement in Charlotte's correspondence. Miss Wooler would have willingly acquiesced to such a request from Ellen, just as she did for Nicholls with regard to references to James Taylor: see below, p.919.

58.
Mary Hewitt to EN, 21 Feb 1854: MS in Brotherton [
LCB
, iii, 226–7].

59.
CB to EN, 11 April 1854: MS p.1, Pforzheimer [
LCB
, iii, 239].

60.
CB to MW, 30 Aug 1853: MS FM 22 pp.2–4, Fitzwilliam [
LCB
, iii, 189].

61.
Ibid., pp.3–6[
LCB
, iii, 189].

62.
Ibid., p.1[
LCB
, iii, 188]; CB to MW, 8Sept 1853: MS FM 23 pp.1–2, Fitzwilliam [
LCB
, iii, 192].

63.
CB to ECG, 31 Aug 1853: MS BS 90.5, BPM [
LCB
, iii, 191]; CB to MW, 8Sept 1853: MS FM 23 pp.1–2, Fitzwilliam [
LCB
, iii, 192]; CB to EN, 11 April 1854: MS p.1, Pforzheimer [
LCB
, iii, 239].

64.
CB to MW, 30 Aug 1853: MS FM 22 p.4, Fitzwilliam [
LCB
, iii, 189]; CB to ECG, 16 [Sept 1853]: MS Rylands [
LCB
, iii, 193].

65.
See, for example, CB to MW, 12 Dec 1853: MS FM 25, Fitzwilliam [
LCB
, iii, 213–4].

66.
PB to ECG, 15 Sept 1853: MS EL B121 pp.2–3, Rylands [
LCB
, iii, 192–3]. See also CB to ECG, 1June 1853, quoted above, p.862.

67.
CB to ECG, 16 [Sept 1853]: MS Rylands [
LCB
, iii, 193].

68.
Ibid.; ECG to unidentified, [end Sept 1853] [C&P, 247–8]. This letter is quoted in ECG,
Life
, 438–40 where it appears as ‘part of a letter I wrote at the time'. It may in fact be an edited, reordered and polished version of her extant letter to someone, possibly John Forster, which was actually written at the time: ECG to [?John Forster], [after 29 Sept 1853]: MS in Brotherton [
LCB
, iii, 196–200].

69.
ECG,
Life
, 438–9; ECG to [?John Forster], [after 29 Sept 1853]: MS pp., 3–5, Brotherton [
LCB
, iii, 196–7].

70.
Ibid., pp.2–3 [
LCB
, iii, 196–7].

71.
Ibid., pp.3, 5–8, 11 [
LCB
, iii, 197–9].

72.
Ibid, pp.12–14 [
LCB
, iii, 199–200].

73.
ECG,
Life
, 442.

74.
Ibid., 440; ECG to [?John Forster], [after 29 Sept 1853]: MS p. 9, Brotherton [
LCB
, iii, 199]. Gaskell's remarks on Patrick's dining alone and coming in for tea ‘an honour to me I believe', for example, gave the false impression that he normally took all his meals alone: ibid., p.3[
LCB
, iii, 197].

75.
ECG to Richard Monckton Milnes, 29 Oct [1853] [C&P, 252–3]. According to this letter, Gaskell (a Unitarian) had also tried to find Nicholls a place as curate to Dr Hook, the widely respected Anglican bishop of Leeds, but he had no vacancies available.

76.
CB to ECG, 25 Sept 1853: MS n.l. [
LCB
, iii, 194].

77.
CB to Francis Bennoch, 29 Sept 1853: MS BS 91 p.3, BPM [
LCB
, iii, 195];
BO
, 6Oct 1852 p.5. Both sermons were in aid of Stanbury Sunday schools and between them raised £7.

78.
CB to MW, 18 Oct 1853: MS FM 24 pp.2, 3–4, Fitzwilliam [
LCB
, iii, 202].

79.
See, for example, Revd William Fawcett
(not J.T.C. Fawcett, vicar of Kildwick, as in
L&L
, iv, 98, 350), who stayed 15–18 October, preaching on the Sunday and baptizing 4 infants during the service: ibid., p.1[
LCB
, iii, 202]; Baptisms, Haworth.

80.
CB to ECG, 15 Nov 1853: MS BS 91.5, BPM [
LCB
, iii, 206]. This letter proves that Charlotte planned the visit prior to learning of George Smith's engagement and not as a response to it as is suggested by Fraser,
Charlotte Brontë
, 451–2.

81.
CB to MW, 7 Dec 1852: MS FM 18 pp.1–2, Fitzwilliam [
LCB
, iii, 89], where she says the payment for
Villette
‘perhaps is not quite equitable'. For the power of attorney see CB to GS, 27 July 1850: MS SG 38 p.2, BPM [
LCB
, ii, 430].

82.
CB to GS, 6 Dec 1852: MS SG 78 p.1, BPM [
LCB
, iii, 88].

83.
CB to Emily Shaen, 21 Nov 1853: MS in Brotherton [
LCB
, iii, 208].

84.
CB to Mrs Smith, 21 Nov 1853: MS SG 86 p.2, BPM [
LCB
, iii, 209].

85.
Mrs Smith, draft letter to CB, [?22 Nov 1853]: MS SG 87 p.1, BPM [
LCB
, iii, 209–10]. For Smith's own account of meeting and falling in love with Elizabeth Blakeway at a ball on 5 April 1853 and his proposal and acceptance the following November see Glynn,
Prince of Publishers
, 77–9.

86.
CB to Emily Shaen, Thursday morning [24 Nov 1853]: MS in Brotherton [
LCB
, iii, 211]. It is clear from this letter that Charlotte received Mrs Smith's letter that morning – the day she was due to go to London – and cancelled her trip immediately. Gaskell was intrigued both by the purpose of the visit and the reasons for its cancellation, obliging Charlotte to fend her off with the vague explanation that it ‘was regulated only by commonplace causes': CB to ECG, 27 Dec 1853: MS EL fB91 p.4, Rylands [
LCB
, iii, 215].

87.
CB to WSW, 6Dec 1853: MS Gr. F12 p.1, BPM [
LCB
, iii, 212].

88.
CB to GS, 10 Dec 1853: MS SG 88 p.1, BPM [
LCB
, iii, 213].

89.
CB to MW, 12 Dec 1853: MS FM 25 p.1, Fitzwilliam [
LCB
, iii, 213]; CB to ECG, 27 Dec 1853: MS EL fB91 p.2, Rylands [
LCB
, iii, 214].

90.
CB to EN, 11 Apr 1854: MS pp.1–2, Pforzheimer [
LCB
, iii, 239].

91.
Ibid., p.2 [
LCB
, iii, 239–40]; CB to EN, [28 Mar 1854]: MS p.3, Princeton [
LCB
, iii, 237].

92.
LI
, 7Jan 1854 p.8. The severe weather prompted William Cartman to give Patrick a pair of heel spikes to buckle under his shoes and prevent him slipping on the ice: writing to thank him, Patrick declared the device ‘another prop to Old-Age –': PB to Revd William Cartman, 27 Jan 1854: MS BS 197 pp.1–2, BPM [
LRPB
, 220], The heel spikes are now HAOBP:H61, BPM.

93.
Richard Monckton Milnes to ECG, 30 Jan 1854: MS fms Am 1943.1 (131) pp.1–3, Harvard [
LCB
, iii, 223]. Milnes may have succeeded in securing some augmentation of income for Nicholls as Gaskell later wrote ‘thanking you most truly about Mr Nicholls. I am sure you will keep the secret; and if you want a steam-engine or 1000 yards of calico pray employ me in Manchester': ECG to Richard Monckton Milnes, [?early June 1854] [C&P, 299]: but see also below, p.1119 n.15.

94.
HG
, 7Jan 1854 p.4. For the water dispute see ibid., 18 Feb 1854 p.5;
LI
, 21 May 1853 p.5;
BO
, 19 May 1853 p.5. For the CPAS meeting, which was held in the splendid surroundings of the newly built St George's Hall in Bradford see PB to Revd James Cooper, 21 Feb 1854: MS BS 198, BPM [
LRPB
, 221];
HG
, 4Mar 1854 p.6.