Notes
- Peter Gaussen (1786-1808) was the son of Samuel Gaussen of North Mimms, Hertfordshire, and a great nephew of the Methodist evangelist Mary Fletcher. He was educated at Eton College and Christ Church Oxford. Gaussen was commissioned into the Coldstream Guards and served in the expedition against Copenhagen in 1807. He died from a fever at Dartford near London on 10 October 1808. Source: Alumni Oxonienses and British Register
- Samuel Whittingham (1783-1874) was the son of Richard Whittingham of Potten, Bedfordshire, and a great nephew of the Methodist evangelist Mary Fletcher. He was educated at Corpus Christi College Oxford and was ordained into the Anglican ministry in 1806. He was a Fellow of Corpus Christi until 1841, senior bursar in 1823 and vice-president in 1824. Whittingham was Rector of Childrey in Buckinghamshire from 1840 until his death on 4 March 1874.Source: Alumni Oxonienses and Clergy of the Church of England database
From Mary Whittingham in Potten Vicarage to Mary Fletcher in Madeley. It has been a long while she last wrote, although she has often thought of her Aunt Fletcher. She hopes that she is well.
This morning's post brought a letter from Whittingham's dear brother. Alas, he has lost his oldest son Peter. The young man lay dangerously ill at Dartmouth (she supposes that he was there with his regiment) and his father was sent for by express [Gaussen's obituary in "The British Register" records the place of death as Dartford, not Dartmouth]. He took Dr Ash with him and Peter was also attended by Dr Pitcairn and the regimental doctor, but they declared that there was no hope of recovery. He died on the Monday in the prime of life. Peter was at the siege of Copenhagen. When Whittingham was visiting her brother, Peter was very obliging and kind. Her son [Samuel] was at Oxford at the same time as his cousin and the two were close. Peter's brother Samuel is 'a very amiable young man'. Another brother is very ill with a throat infection and fever. Whittingham's maid servant is sick with a similar complaint. 'Poor Peter I have heard was partial to one of my sister's daughters and wished to have married her. No doubt, they are also in great affliction.'
When Fletcher writes next, perhaps Whittingham can read the letter to some of the people here 'as you always furnish me with some good things'. Whittingham is continuing to work with the children in the school-room. 'God is doing something about the people, and some are turned from the error of their ways ...' Spiritual matters are discussed in detail.
Her husband Richard and the children send their best wishes. Her daughter Marianne is in London at the moment - her brother is close-by and sees her often. She hopes that her son Samuel is growing in grace.