Charles Lee Lewes to Agnes Lewes, Hofwyl, 1 March 1857
Title
Charles Lee Lewes to Agnes Lewes, Hofwyl, 1 March 1857
Title
Charles Lee Lewes to Agnes Lewes, Hofwyl, 1 March 1857
Sender
Charles Lee Lewes
Recipient
Agnes Lewes
Date(s)
- 1857-03-01
Place
Hofwyl
Letter Content
Charles Lee Lewes to Agnes Lewes, Hofwyl, 1 March 1857
MS: Yale.
Hofwyl. | March 1st 1857.
Dear Mamma,
It is now nearly two months that I have been writing to you for I began the first rough copy on the 12th January and had filled 5 pages with it; but when copying it out for the second time I found there was a great deal that I ought to scratch out. By the middle of February I had done three pages of the new copy, but as I had written at so many different times it was composed of scarcely any thing more than a quantity of contradictory statements, so I have begun, to day being Sunday, to copy a new letter which is to be completed to day in the time we have either for working or for letterwriting just as we choose.
We had a very happy Newyear here, but as Mrs. M'fcller was not here on Christmas day we did not have much fun. However we had plenty of amusement among ourselves, sledging, sliding, skating, and snowballing. It was not considered a very cold winter here, for it was not colder than it has been these 2 or 3 winters in England. Have you had many colds and chilblains at home? How is Mr. Bertie Lewes getting on at school. If he would learn a little to read, write, and cipher I think he might come over here to school, for I don't think he would get ill from the feeding here, as he would not be obliged to take things when he does not want them; and I think he would get on [better] here than at Dr. Pearce's for he would learn the languages here, and would be able to indulge in his favourite sports, such as gardening, fishing, soldiers etc. etc.
For I must tell you that during this week we have been playing at soldiers every day. Mr. May gave us permission to go up into the old soldiers' room (I mean the room where the boys in Dr. de Fellenberg's 302 time kept their soldiers dresses) and have taken possession of everything that was in it. There 5 or 6 drums, one real musket, about a dozen swords, two bayonets, a cannon, and 2 trumpets, and a standard. We soon formed an army with these things, as we found also 3 wooden guns up in the theatre room, which when they had bayonets put on look very well. Each boy is also supplied with a cartouche box, which I forgot to mention above. Yesterday we had a grand march and fired the cannon off a quantity of times. The army was placed so; 1st at the head of all walked the drum major with his baton of office (for there is one) Jos'e9 Guimaraes, then the drummer, Wilhelm R'f6sslisberger (for there was only one yesterday) then a line of swordsmen Walter Young, Hans v. Waltenwyl, Antonio Vismara, Frank Beaumont; then the standard bearer, Gustav Gerster; then a line of musketeers, Hans Muralt, Edward Fisher, Eugenio Strazza, Your humble Servant; then came the cannon drawn by Adolphe de la Marre, and Emilio Strazza, after the cannon walked the three canonniers, Battista, Laurenzo Amaglio, Alberto Ubrich, who were distinguished from the others by white gaiters (Each of them also carried a sword, and cartouche box). I forgot to mention that Albert Herrinshwand was the general and walked at the side of the soldiers, he had a sword and cartouche box. Mr. Pache the French master was the director over all.
Why was it that Ann 303 went away? How are Aunt Susannah, 304 and Grandmamma, 305 and Nursie, 306 and Emily? 307 When is Emily going to be married? How is Papa's head? How are you yourself? And the children? 308 Give my love and kisses to them all and tell Papa to kiss you for me. I wish you would tell me the trick of the magic wand so that I could do it with Thornie or Mrs. M'fcller, for we play all sorts of games with Mrs. M'fcller of an evening. I believe there are a good many new boys coming at Easter. We shall have an examination also. I wish some of the boys that are at Dr. Pearce's were coming here. If you know of anybody who wants to send his son or sons abroad, I hope you will remember Hofwyl. In de Fellenberg's time there were always from 15 to 18 English boys, and we are at present 6 though only Thornie and I come direct from England. I wish you would send some little plays that we would be able to get up here when the box is sent. By the bye when will it be sent? Have you any idea what month? I can't think of anything else to say so good bye. And I remain Dear Mamma Your affectionate Son
Charles Lewes.
MS: Yale.
Hofwyl. | March 1st 1857.
Dear Mamma,
It is now nearly two months that I have been writing to you for I began the first rough copy on the 12th January and had filled 5 pages with it; but when copying it out for the second time I found there was a great deal that I ought to scratch out. By the middle of February I had done three pages of the new copy, but as I had written at so many different times it was composed of scarcely any thing more than a quantity of contradictory statements, so I have begun, to day being Sunday, to copy a new letter which is to be completed to day in the time we have either for working or for letterwriting just as we choose.
We had a very happy Newyear here, but as Mrs. M'fcller was not here on Christmas day we did not have much fun. However we had plenty of amusement among ourselves, sledging, sliding, skating, and snowballing. It was not considered a very cold winter here, for it was not colder than it has been these 2 or 3 winters in England. Have you had many colds and chilblains at home? How is Mr. Bertie Lewes getting on at school. If he would learn a little to read, write, and cipher I think he might come over here to school, for I don't think he would get ill from the feeding here, as he would not be obliged to take things when he does not want them; and I think he would get on [better] here than at Dr. Pearce's for he would learn the languages here, and would be able to indulge in his favourite sports, such as gardening, fishing, soldiers etc. etc.
For I must tell you that during this week we have been playing at soldiers every day. Mr. May gave us permission to go up into the old soldiers' room (I mean the room where the boys in Dr. de Fellenberg's 302 time kept their soldiers dresses) and have taken possession of everything that was in it. There 5 or 6 drums, one real musket, about a dozen swords, two bayonets, a cannon, and 2 trumpets, and a standard. We soon formed an army with these things, as we found also 3 wooden guns up in the theatre room, which when they had bayonets put on look very well. Each boy is also supplied with a cartouche box, which I forgot to mention above. Yesterday we had a grand march and fired the cannon off a quantity of times. The army was placed so; 1st at the head of all walked the drum major with his baton of office (for there is one) Jos'e9 Guimaraes, then the drummer, Wilhelm R'f6sslisberger (for there was only one yesterday) then a line of swordsmen Walter Young, Hans v. Waltenwyl, Antonio Vismara, Frank Beaumont; then the standard bearer, Gustav Gerster; then a line of musketeers, Hans Muralt, Edward Fisher, Eugenio Strazza, Your humble Servant; then came the cannon drawn by Adolphe de la Marre, and Emilio Strazza, after the cannon walked the three canonniers, Battista, Laurenzo Amaglio, Alberto Ubrich, who were distinguished from the others by white gaiters (Each of them also carried a sword, and cartouche box). I forgot to mention that Albert Herrinshwand was the general and walked at the side of the soldiers, he had a sword and cartouche box. Mr. Pache the French master was the director over all.
Why was it that Ann 303 went away? How are Aunt Susannah, 304 and Grandmamma, 305 and Nursie, 306 and Emily? 307 When is Emily going to be married? How is Papa's head? How are you yourself? And the children? 308 Give my love and kisses to them all and tell Papa to kiss you for me. I wish you would tell me the trick of the magic wand so that I could do it with Thornie or Mrs. M'fcller, for we play all sorts of games with Mrs. M'fcller of an evening. I believe there are a good many new boys coming at Easter. We shall have an examination also. I wish some of the boys that are at Dr. Pearce's were coming here. If you know of anybody who wants to send his son or sons abroad, I hope you will remember Hofwyl. In de Fellenberg's time there were always from 15 to 18 English boys, and we are at present 6 though only Thornie and I come direct from England. I wish you would send some little plays that we would be able to get up here when the box is sent. By the bye when will it be sent? Have you any idea what month? I can't think of anything else to say so good bye. And I remain Dear Mamma Your affectionate Son
Charles Lewes.
Signature
Charles Lewes.
Citation
Charles Lee Lewes, Charles Lee Lewes to Agnes Lewes, Hofwyl, 1 March 1857, Complete George Eliot Letters(2026), George Eliot Archive, edited by Beverley Park Rilett. https://GeorgeEliotArchive.org, Accessed September 7, 2026. https://georgeeliotarchive.org/items/show/91749