Brimscombe Mills
Near Stroud
Gloucestershire
Nov. 8th, 1860
My dear Alexander,

I have only written once to you, I think, since your marriage; don't think I forget you; daily I think & what is better, pray for you & Andrea. My two brothers are now the only members of our family of whom I do not feel sure that they are fellow-heirs of the inheritance Jesus has gone to prepare for his people & when relatives are mentioned in prayer, my one prayer for them is "Lord bring them to Jesus". I was very pleased to receive a religious paper from you containing some very good articles - the best American paper I have yet seen. It gave me hope that perhaps you read religious papers yourself & felt some interest in such matters. However, I must scold you & tell you you are not social enough; why don't you write sometimes and let us see you are yet in the land of the living, but I suppose your large family takes up your time! Ah poor fellow, I must not expect too much of you.

Mar. 21st.

So far had I written when trouble in my large family stopped me & only now have I found leisure to continue. One of my servants fell down in our first frost and broke her wrist & a week after my nurse was taken ill with inflammation [?] & as I could get no others I have been so busy.

Besides this I hoped I should see Pacheco and be able to tell you what I thought of him but I have not seen him yet & I am afraid he is gone back without coming to Brimscombe. I hope not however. I should like to see him.

Tell Andrea I wish she was in England with her sewing machine. I could keep it going for her - but I must have one myself - it would be a great help to me. The expense is so great for a good one so I shall wait for them to come down & this they are doing every day.

Give my love to Andrea. I am much obliged to her for making you write to us, as I see by your letter to mama she does. My youngest child now runs alone - her name is Margaret. I hope she is to be the last, but time will prove. I shall endeavour to send the likenesses of them all by Pacheco if I can, if not in letters as you have done. But I wish you could see them - they are thought very pretty children & of course their mother thinks them so. What is better, they are all healthy, active & quick witted for which I feel very thankful. Your old favourite Elijah would still be your favourite. He is such a smart & good tempered fellow. Everybody likes him. He never wants for friends wherever he is. People all know him all the country round. He is quite unlike the rest of my children. Now he is at school at Clevedon - a small watering place near Bristol, so it is on the Bristol Channel. He is not small for his age & more healthy than you would think he would have been. Not fond of books but of all active employment. Walter is quite the contrary of Elijah. As strong & muscular as a young Hercules and as grave & thoughtful as a judge, reading and understanding everything. Then there is Annie, Arthur, Bessie and Margaret [...to say nothing of Ted...] - such a little lot to call you uncle. Not to forget my eldest son Philip who is taller than our [= his?] father & a very dear & good son to me. My two daughters, Mary & Sarah Ann, both ever so much taller than I & the latter a very lovely girl. I should like you to come over before we are divided by marriage which will no doubt be before many years have passed over but if it cannot be we must be content.

I am sorry Charles does not get on & hope if he joins you in California he will meet with better success. Aunt Everitt gave me his likeness & I am very pleased to have it. When you write tell him I don't forget his kindness to me & my little Elijah when I was at home.

You know mama has been to see me. I hope to get her here again this summer. Why don't you mention Walter in your letters? He should mention you and you him & then we should oftener know all is well. I shall write to him next. I think my last letter must have miscarried.

What do you think in America of the good news from Europe - don't you all hope Italy will be delivered from priest & Pope? I do. When once the Pope is only a spiritual ruler a great evil will cease to exist & Italy will progress & rapidly. Many of the people will become Protestants doubtless & that is what Pope & Priest are afraid of but it must be. Popery must vanish among the dark things out of which it came - it cannot bear the light of civilization & education. Ah me! I have forgotten you have a Catholic wife! I hope you will be able to enlighten her a little so that she may in time see the true light of the Gospel of Jesus.

I am glad you stick to your business & are not given to change; it is the best plan. I wish you Americans would settle your little affair and not keep things in such a state of uncertainty. It makes our trade very bad, keeps up the price of wool & all sorts of mischief. My husband has some thousands locked up in stock which he can't sell. It is very awkward for him.

We all unite in love to you & Andrea. Believe me

Your affectionate Sister

Anne Evans