[Anna Gurney, philologist and philanthropist.] Autograph Letter Signed ('A Gurney') to Lady Cullum of Hardwick House, discussing the Cullums' European tour, and giving news of their friends.

See Anna Gurney's entry in the Oxford DNB. The recipient and her husband had spent some time in Rome in 1842, and in 1838 had befriended the Alpinist Henriette d'Angeville at Geneva. 4pp, 4to. Bifolium with mourning border and watermark year 1840. In good condition, lightly aged, with minor traces of glue from label on outsides of gutter. The letter begins: 'My dear Lady Cullum | I think You & Sir Thomas may be home by this time & I must wish to enquire how you both are after your long wanderings. Your letters gave me very true pleasure - & indeed gratified many of your Friends in these parts - amongst them Miss Fowler - I had the comfort of a visit from her not long ago - & she spoke with much pleasure of the prospect of one day renewing the pleasant acquaintance formed on the Rhine'. She continues with news of Miss Fowler (visiting 'her Brother & Sister near Melksham in Wiltshire') and of 'Lady Buxton' (who 'does not continue quite so sound as we cd. have wished'), whose own 'Italian sojourn' gives 'pleasure to all the party'. With regard to the Cullums' own trip, she repeats her thanks for 'giving us so entertaining a history - & very glad shd. I be to hear the completion at N Repps Cottage'. She wonders if they ever 'come near this corner of the world', and thanks them for their 'truly kind wish to see me one day at Hardwick [...] The return to our dear Home was a [giant?] trial to me, & I know [sic] see by experience that real happiness once [reached?], is not to be [?] on earth'. She commends them for having taken 'a rest at Kissingen before entering on the great fatigues of home life', and thanks them for news of her 'old friend Francois', before concluding.