Transcript of letter dated 1st December 1830, from Robert Booth Rawes of Bromley, Kent, to his cousin, the Reverend John Hodgson of Whelpington, Northumberland. (The original was published in the Memoires of the Rev. John Hodgson by the Rev. James Raine). (Bromley Line to Hodgson Line)

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 / 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 / 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.

Transcript of letter dated 8th March 1829 but postmarked 28th March 1838, from Robert Booth Rawes of Bromley, Kent, to his cousin, the Reverend John Hodgson of Hartburn Rectory, Morpeth, Northumberland. (The original was published in the Memoires of the Rev. John Hodgson by the Rev. James Raine). (Bromley Line to Hodgson Line)

Bromley 8 March 1829 My dear Sir,         From the interest you have / always felt for the family, I cannot but fear / that the communication which it becomes / my painful office to make, will be read / with considerable regret My sister has lost / her most attached and valued Husband / Mr. Palmer who after many years struggling / with the effects of an asthmatic complaint / has at length, although at the last rather suddenly / quietly and resignedly breathed his last in / the arms of his most devoted and attentive wife.         This event has plunged us all into the deepest / grief in which I am sure even of my own / knowledge you will deeply sympathise.         I never hear from any of our good friends / in your part of the North since the dinner / or our excellent relative Mrs. Rawes of Haughton / This I much regret as much interest will ever / be felt for them.         Surrounded as me has been by grief and / sorrow and every thing which makes the / head sick you will not expect a long / letter on the present occasion but I trust / you will believe me, with the united / respects and regards of all here, and their / constant wishes for the continued health / and welfare of yourself, Mrs. Hodgson and / your Family. My Dear Sir Yours Most Sincerely, R.B. Rawes. [Robert Booth Rawes] (Addressed to Revd. J. Hodgson, Hartburn Rectory, Morpeth, Northumberland) (N.B. This letter is postmarked 28 March 1839 yet dated 8 March 1829) Notes:- Robert Booth Rawes was Headmaster of the Rawes Academy in Bromley and brother to Captain Richard Rawes. The Mr.Palmer referred to in the letter was Thomas Carey Palmer who died 24th March 1839 aged 67. For 'Haughton' read Houghton le Spring, County Durham. Copied by Julian Rawes of Cheltenham.