Letter from John Forbes' family to John Forbes, botanist, care of Joseph Sabine [secretary of the Horticultural Society of London], Horticultural Society, Regent Street, St James', London
Information
Title - Letter from John Forbes' family to John Forbes, botanist, care of Joseph Sabine [secretary of the Horticultural Society of London], Horticultural Society, Regent Street, St James', London
Record type - Archive
Original Reference - RHS/Col/3/5/48
Date - 8 Jan 1824
Scope & content - Written from Dukinfield by John Forbes [senior, John Forbes' father], Elizabeth Forbes [John Forbes' mother], Ann Forbes [Ann or Annabella Forbes, John Forbes' sister], James Forbes [John Forbes' brother] and George Forbes [John Forbes' brother]
An opened seal is attached to the letter
John Forbes [senior, Forbes' father] says that they received Forbes' letters of 8 May 1823 from Cape of Good Hope [South Africa] and of 29 Jun 1823; he answered the letter from the Cape of 18 Aug 1823, sending it 'by some missionaries' going to the Cape, directing it care of Dr Philip [John Philip, missionary in South Africa]; he hopes, but doubts, that Forbes received it; Sabine told him that it seems that both his letters and Joseph Sabine's 'had been omitted sending off by some mistake'; since 20 Oct they have received three letters from Sabine about James' [James Forbes, Forbes' brother] prospective employment at the Horticultural Gardens; James will be in London in about eight days: 'Mr S. [Joseph Sabine] writs [writes] very civilly to us, said that he means to put James into one of the orninentel [ornamental] parts of the gardens'; he has frequently read Forbes' letter of 29 Jun 1823 from Aloga Bay [Algoa Bay, South Africa] 'with much concern and tears in my eyes, I think this must have been the case whin ye wrot [wrote] it, for I see by it that you have wrot it with much concern and affliction'; he is concerned about Forbes' adventures in an unknown region and hopes that Forbes will pray for God's protection; he will pray for Forbes; he is glad to hear of the favourable accounts Forbes gave of his travelling companions; he hopes that they have not attempted going towards Latakoo [Kuruman, South Africa], 'for we have had dreadful accounts from that quarter, both in letters from Mr Moffat [Robert Moffat, Scottish missionary in South Africa] to Mr Smith, his father-in-law [John Smith, owner of a nursery garden in Dukinfield, father of Moffat's wife Mary Smith Moffat]' and from magazines and periodicals; the 'savage nation, the Mantatees' had invaded the area and 'burned & destroyed every thing alive, but cattle which they drove off', stopping Moffat from going to negotiate with Maccabbo [Makaba II, chief of baNgwaketse], 'that bloodthirsty villain'; Moffat has not attempted to undertake the journey again; Forbes' last letter mentioned him leaving behind most of his belongings: 'I fear that you will much suffer for the want of them requsits [requisites] in so long a time in such a horried [horrid] terrable [terrible] country'; he wonders whether they will travel by land and where they will sleep at night, as Forbes did not mention having wagons, 'like the missioner and as Mr Burchill [William John Burchell, explorer and naturalist, who published his travel journal 'Travels in the Interior of Southern Africa' in 1822-1824] was provided with'; he hopes Forbes will return alive from the 'savage country', but he trusts God to preserve those who believe in him; James is at Mr Marsland's [Peter Marsland, owner of Woodbank Park in Stockport], 'very much improved in his person' and in good health; Bella [Ann or Annabella Forbes, Forbes' sister] is 'a decent young lass', in good health; he and Forbes' mother [Elizabeth Forbes] are both in good health; he expects George [George Forbes, Forbes' brother] will add his own greetings, but they cannot wait for James' arrival with the letter, as Sabine wishes the letter to be sent immediately
George has little to add to his father's letter, 'except 'hopes and fears, and fluttering doubts if all be well or ill', no doubt by the time you receive this your most eminent dangers will be over'; his own health is not good, but is a little improved; he is 'still with Mr C.', but there is not much work in mid-winter; the cotton trade is continuing to increase, and factories are 'springing up around us like mushrooms'; if Forbes hears any news from Europe, he will be sorry to hear about the 'late termination of affairs in the peninsula, and the death of those great patriots, Mr Ricardo [David Ricardo, British political economist] and Lord Erskine [Thomas Erskine, British politician]'; the Allied Sovereigns are jealous of the new governments of South America, 'but many consider the American President's [James Monroe] speech (which has just arrived in this country), together with the favourable disposition of Mr Canning [George Canning, British foreign secretary] to the new governments, as setting the matter at rest' [referring to the Monroe doctrine, a policy opposing European colonialism in the Americas]; Captain Parry [William Parry, British Arctic explorer] 'and his brave comrades' have returned; Captain Franklin [John Franklin, British Arctic explorer] travelling in the Polar regions, will go on another exploration under the British government, with Parry attempting 'the NW' [Parry was attempting to reach the Northwest Passage, the sea route to the Pacific Ocean through the Arctic Ocean and the Canadian Arctic Archipelago]; they have not yet received the letter Forbes mentioned from Quilemane [Quelimane, Mozambique]; he hopes they will hear from Forbes by next June
John Forbes [senior] continues, adding to George's 'pertinent observations' that the season of 1823 was 'the coldest, most gloomy & rainy I almost ever remembered', with both the hay and corn harvests spoiled by the wet and cold; it was not as bad everywhere in Britain, with the east faring relatively well; otherwise the country would have been 'badly off', with neither grains nor vegetables; autumn flowers, such as carnations, hellebores and sunflowers, were unable to blossom, except during the two dry weeks in May and November; the continuous rain 'has been very much against my employment'; apparently cotton trade and spinning are doing well; wages are still low; Bella [Anna Bella Forbes] is now attending a Moravian night school; he thinks he mentioned previously that James will set off in a coach to the London Horticultural Gardens on 14 or 15 Jan: 'myself am now very low in spirits, James is going and douts [doubts] of George's going after a while, and John your absence will bring my grey hairs to the grave with sorrow, I am now turned of my three score years & ten'
Ann [Anna Bella Forbes] signs the letter
Elizabeth [Elizabeth Forbes, Forbes' mother] wishes to express her love and sends her best wishes and prayers for Forbes' safe return
Extent - 4 page letter (1 sheet)
Repository - Royal Horticultural Society Lindley Library
Copyright - Orphan work
Credit Line - RHS Lindley Collections
Usage terms - Non-commercial use with attribution permitted (CC BY-NC 4.0)