Letter from Florence Nightingale to Marianne Nicholson - page 1

A letter Florence Nightingale wrote to her cousin Marianne Nicholson when she was 20 years old in 1840. The letter was written from her home, Embley Park, in Wellow near Romsey in Hampshire.

Transcript:
“My dearest, this place is looking so beautiful in the long shadows of a sunny Sunday evening. That’s though I scarcely dare hope that our petition will be granted (I feel as if fat bulls of Bashan had hemmed me in and compassed around on every side) Yet in this perfect silence and serenity if we could sit under the tree together once more and finish Jocelyn together, I think we might be so happy again, if when you leave London you could make up your mind to come here. That is your mind I know is graciously inclined towards us, not how will others be? My dear my heart is full and I cannot write any more. Mama will send her request tomorrow for you and Sam to come when you leave London. She has been obliged to go.

Ever yours Flo”.