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Bromley 1st Decr 1830
My apparent neglect & unkindness must
my dear Mr. Hodgson have appeared to you
not a little extraordinary but I am sure
you will have done me the justice not
to suppose for a moment that any thing
but total impossibility could have prevented
my sending me kindest condolence on
the melancholy events that so suddenly
& awfully afflicted your family, but
the truth is that on the very day I received
your letter I was myself in such a situation
from which I am not but mending
that a little detail will be necessary as I am sure
you take some interest in my welfare
& indeed it is necessary as well to exculpate
me from a great vice, that of forgetting my
friends - on the 4th of Octr I was obliged to take
to my bed from a severe bilious attack
which gave way & I supposed myself quite
clear of it but on the 7th the pains returned
again & I was attacked by gout in both
Hands & Feet as well, the pains I mention
proceeded from the pit of the stomach, were
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dull wearing kind and never ceased for a minute
these I had had for several months and my friend
Holt could never remove them except for
a short time after the effect of medicine
I remain'd in this way till the 10th of Novr when
the Gout left me - you may suppose in what
state - & to crown all in a sad state of
dispondence slowness of spirits incapable
of thinking of, or doing any thing I cannot
say much of my spirits for some time before -
Many of my friends wish-
d me to try some other
Doctor here, but I fill a great devise to visit a friend
of mine at Gloster who some years ago did me great
good and accordingly determined to go by easy journey
down to him, and by the 17th I supposed I had strength
to try it - I went to town intending to set off
at 10 in the morning - But it was not to be so
for at 10 at night
just as I was going to bed (I was
fortunately in a friends house) I was struck down
sudden and for 5 hours had little recollection of
what passed- when a little recovered I found myself
surrounded by strange faces and sadly sore all over
for the 2 Doctors had cover'd me with
blisters and mustard poultices, besides using their
other remedies When well sensible they got me out of
bed and after other applications in a few
hours I got whip and fell into a sound sleep for
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2 of 3 hours - my sister Palmer and her good husband were
with me in as short a time as despatch could bring
them - and after several days great care and good nursing
I mended rapidly and on Saturday last came down
here with Palmer - During the time I was in the
state of stupor, the Doctors and attendants say they never
saw such a - accumulation of bile thrown from
any one, I have had no returns of pain, thus
you see Nature effected that medicine would not
do in 5 weeks - I shall now resume my duties again
at the India Ho. a, week after my leave of absence for
the year, which I had just taken in my turn from the
end of October - no very pleasant way of spending it
I feel in every respect lighter and better a short
will probably return me to tolerable health
I have thus my dear Sir given you some
kind of an acct. of my sufferings and trust you will
be perfectly satisfied with
my excuse I will
know and feel
the better sufferings allotted to us
poor Mortals and would to God your poor friend
had that true resignation and confidence in
the just deeds of Almighty God that you represent your
dear Wife to have May peace and comfort be with
you all- pray present my kindest
regards and believe me yours most sincerely
Rt Rawes
My dear Mother as well as the rest of them
are well - I devise their best Regards.
(Addressed to Revd. John Hodgson, Whelpington, Northumberland).
Notes:-
Robert Booth Rawes owned the Rawes Academy in Bromley and was brother to Captain Richard Rawes of the HEICS. It is
interesting that in 1830, he was working at India House, the headquarters of the HEICS.
His sister Elizabeth, was the Wife of Thomas Carey Palmer of Bromley.
Copied by Julian Rawes of Cheltenham.
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