Place: Sycamore Cottage [Derbyshire, England]
From: A. Alsop
To: The Rev'd John Smithurst, Church Missy House, Salisbury Square, Fleet Street, London [England]
Details: 4pp with integral address
Notes: Anne Alsop sends much news from England, with unrest over the corn laws having led to a crowd in Derby burning an effigy of Sir Robert Peel. Since the last letter, Catherine Wasse was pregnant but lost the baby boy. Anne Alsop has not seen Rev. Smithurst's brother George for some time, but she believes one of his daughters got married. Mr. Nightingale (the father of Florence Nightingale, the famous nurse) is in the area collecting rents. The economy is doing quite poorly, and the Tories want to change the poor laws. Alsop herself is a Wigg, but her nephews are Tories. While in London, she saw great crowds gather during the election. She also attended twice daily sermons to hear Dr. Crow at St. Stevens Walbrook, by whom she is greatly impressed. (It is possible she is referring to Dr. Croly who was a rector at St. Stephens Walbrook in London during this period. He was a famous orator and novelist.)
Alsop, Anne