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Mysterious old letter

21 replies

Cassimin · 07/09/2020 11:36

I found this letter on my bookshelf tucked in a book.
I vaguely remember my Dad mentioning it many years ago and a quick google says it was written in the time of the cholera epidemic.
Has anyone any idea what it says?
I can make a few words out but can’t really make sense of it.
Thought the detectives in here could help.

Mysterious old letter

Mysterious old letter

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Ormally · 07/09/2020 12:33

Wow, amazing! I think I have got some of this - not easy onscreen but does this work with your interpretation?

My Dear ? (Liv? but not quite)
Your much esteeming favour of the 2 / 3 inv. is at hand and (Contented? Content?) duly noted.

(Name - something like Andrew Douglas but prob female given what follows) is sadly out but I have not been able to get her/him to bring her old receipts to compare (?not sure about compare) … but our return tomorrow from the fair and they shall be (?applicable; if possible? Maybe 2 words strung together) be arranged as you desire.

Then think the bottom lines partially read 'so glad to be informing'

Will be watching this one!

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Ormally · 07/09/2020 12:35

But 'on her return tomorrow' - not our, on a closer look.

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Cassimin · 07/09/2020 14:51

I’m the same, can make out a few words but it makes no sense.
I’m sure he said he bought it from a antique shop so I thought it may have some historic interest.
I wish I would have asked more about it but I think I was a teenager when he told me so wasn’t interested.
Both my parents have died so now I’ve got no one to ask.
I’ve emailed Liverpool library and they said they’ll get someone from archives to email me back.

Fingers crossed!

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Ormally · 07/09/2020 16:28

Just thinking, the date given at the top is a March one so 2/3 could mean it's a reply to an earlier March dated letter (March 2nd?).

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Howmanysleepsnow · 07/09/2020 16:29

My dear ...
Your much esteeming favor of the 2/3 ... is at hand and it’s contents duly noted.
Antonia (Davison?) is sadly out but I have not been able to get her to bring her old receipts to compare with the entries, but on her return tomorrow from the fair (?pray) they shall appropriate by arranged as you desire.
Theodora has her last... which will be ... and she ..................... aware of her destination..... .. would be glad to be informing.

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NymphInYellow · 07/09/2020 17:49

Can't add much to the above, but I think 'My dear Iris.'

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Paintingtheroseswhite · 07/09/2020 18:54

Is the place name at the top Vienna?

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iklboo · 07/09/2020 19:01

Looks like 'My Dear Sirs'

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Cassimin · 07/09/2020 19:09

My son just said Iris and I thought it was sirs.
We’re sitting trying to decipher it at the moment.
Great family activity!!!

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Will0wtree · 07/09/2020 19:20

I had a go...I wonder if they are ships rather than women....

Vienna 5 March 1832
My dear sirs
Your much esteemed favor of the 2/3 inv. (short for invoice?) is at hand, and its contents duly noted.
Antonia Danta's account is taken out but I have not been able to get her to bring her old receipts to compare with the entries. But on her return tomorrow from the fair every thing shall appropriate by arranged as you desire.
The Susan (a ship?) has her salt on board with will be Iclandesh (Icelandic?) and she will sail from Frinay (?) ---- (a name I can't make out) aware of her destination from Bilboa Capt. Burney would be glad to be informed.
Enclosed is last month's

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Will0wtree · 07/09/2020 19:23

edit
WHICH will be Iclandiesh (?)

Could the fair. be short for a place like the Fair Isles rather than a funfair.

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Cassimin · 07/09/2020 19:31

This is the last page. We have just noticed that it says cholera in London.
Maybe that’s why he kept it??

Mysterious old letter

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Cassimin · 07/09/2020 19:57

Will0wtree
I think you’ve got it!
When it’s folded up it says
Hunt Newman Roope on the front.
Google tells us this is a shipping company. The letter is signed
Charles Roope.
Absolutely no idea why my Dad thought it was so important??!

Mysterious old letter

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iklboo · 07/09/2020 20:11

Appropriate by = appropriately?

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iklboo · 07/09/2020 20:20

Long shot but could Frinay (?) ---- be

Finnafjörður - it's a fjord in Iceland ?

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Ormally · 07/09/2020 20:26

Or even Friday, maybe? If not a place.

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Cassimin · 07/09/2020 20:28

My son thought it could be Friday.
I’m googling away and getting lost down lots of rabbit holes.

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Ormally · 07/09/2020 20:29

Have you googled the date of the letter...according to the interweb, was a Monday. Yes, I'm that sad.

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The3rdWatermelon · 07/09/2020 20:35

I think Will0wtree has it.

The beginning is ‘Your much esteemed Flavor of the 2/3 Inst’ an abbreviation for ‘instant’ meaning of this month

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The3rdWatermelon · 07/09/2020 20:36

@The3rdWatermelon

I think Will0wtree has it.

The beginning is ‘Your much esteemed Flavor of the 2/3 Inst’ an abbreviation for ‘instant’ meaning of this month

FAVOR not Flavor!

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Cassimin · 07/09/2020 22:35

Thinking now they were wine shippers. Have to get off this now, lost a day of my life.

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