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1. 1 2024-01-10T09:41:54+00:00 Christopher Ohge 67a4fbaba4797c94aa865988788fca89b5c37616 Letter from Ralph Wardlaw to Mary Anne Rawson (English MS 415/160) Christopher Ohge 12 Letter from Ralph Wardlaw to Mary Anne Rawson declining to contribute to The Bow in the Cloud. plain 2024-08-10T13:19:46+00:00 Christopher Ohge 67a4fbaba4797c94aa865988788fca89b5c37616

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• 1 2024-01-10T09:41:54+00:00 Letter from Ralph Wardlaw to Mary Anne Rawson (English MS 415/160) 9 Letter from Ralph Wardlaw to Mary Anne Rawson declining to contribute to The Bow in the Cloud. plain 2024-01-11T11:57:28+00:00
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  Edinburgh March 20th, 1834.
  My Dear Madam

  
  I am sorry that the apology you
  so kindly meant for me is one which I cannot
  plead -- namely that your first letter might possibly
  not have reached me. At the same time, it would
  be impossible for me, after so long an interval
  to give any distinct account of the circumstances
  which, at the period of its reception, prevented me from
  answering it, I have most assuredly been very ungal-
  lant; and, considering the nature and object of the
  request it contained, in other respects culpable[?].
  Your second letter reached me at Glasgow on the
  afternoon of this day [?]; and next morn-
  ing I came off for Edinr. where I now write.
  A press of engagements prevented me from getting any
  thing said in reply before leaving home; and since
  coming in here, I have been tossed about incessant-
  ly. I am tho more concerned at this, because, after
  all I am constrained to answer you in terms that
  will not be to your mind, -- that is, in terms of ne-
  gation. I should not only be seriously[?] anxious to
  gratify you; I should count it, moreover, a high
  honour to have my name associated with the names
  of those eminent and excellent friends of religion
  and humanity, whom you mention; and an hon-
  our still higher to appear in permanent associa-
  tion with the Cause, equally glorious for its piety
  and its benevolence, in which they have so nobly
  and through the divine blessing, so successfully
  co-operated. I rejoice in having been, even in how-
  ever feeble a manner, employed in the work of ?
  pecation?, -- in pulling down the prison-house, and
  striking off the fetters of the bondmen; -- and few
  things could afford me a higher gratification than
  to put a stone into the Monument which you are
  engaged in erecting upon its ruins, to tell posterity
  where it stood, the curses it contained, and how
  it fell. But it must not be. The time is alrea-
  dy gone, which your last letter allowed me; and
  my hands are now, and must be for some time
  to come, quite full. I might explain how; but
  it might wear the aspect of affectation, and is un-
  necessary. The hands you inumerall are more than
  sufficient to present to the view of posterity an ex-
  quisite piece of masonry, -- a structure, in moral
  & literary architecture, amply worthy of the great
  occasion. ----
  
  I have only now once more to offer my apolo-
  gies, lame as I feel them to be, for my former long
  silence, and to ask your forgiveness. ----
  Mrs. W. who is here with me, unites[?] in kindest
  regards to youself & to the members of both the fa-
  milies with which you stand connected. -- We are
  just going down to Leith, and intend leaving for
  home to morrow morning. -- We thank you for
  your kind regrets as to our not seeing you when in
  your neighbourhood; we join in reciprocating those
  regrets, and hope to be more fortunate next time.

  
  Believe me to be, My Dear Madam
  Yours with esteem & affection
  
  Ralph Wardlaw
   
  [envelope:]
  [stamped:] MAR | 20 E | 1834
  Add! 1/2.
  
  Mrs. John Rawson
  Mrs.[?] Reid's Esq
  Wincobank
  near
  Sheffield