Frances reads two letters written by her 3rd great grandmother, probably in 1823, sent to her favourite brother Christopher, back at home in Beverley, Yorkshire.
Matilda is staying with Mrs Appleby in her house on East Parade in Leeds. She goes to a concert and hears Mr Sapio (tenor), Mrs Salmon (soprano), Mr Mori (violin) and Mr Lindley (cello) - Matilda is in ecstasy at the beautiful music.
Matilda also goes to several Balls and describes who she dances with and what she thinks of them.
Minnie, Matilda's daughter, kept these letters; they were then transcribed by Dr Cox and Vera in 1912, for the ten siblings - Matilda was their grandmother.
It goes without saying, that Matilda and her brother Christopher would be staggered that you are listening to their letters, almost 200 years after they were written. Enjoy.
Do email Frances if you can shed any further light on any of the content of the letters - machellcoxletters@gmail.com
Intro - 00:00
Matilda Machell - 05:08
First 1823 letter from Leeds - 09:48
Notes on first letter - 19:49
Second 1823 letter from Leeds - 32:21
Notes on second letter - 30:49
You can contact Frances by email - machellcoxletters@gmail.com
or X/Twitter - @CoxLetters
or Blue Sky - @Coxletters.bsky.social
All content is subject to copyright and belongs to Frances Thompson and the Bodleian Library.
