The letter itself is a long and chatty one, with 'crossed' writing to cram as much news into the letter as possible, but is rather sad, as the writer has lost her father, and is sharing her grief with her friend. It was dated May 25th, but the address is one word, and that is illegible, but could be either Newton or Trenton. The only clue is the first of the postmarks which is the receiving office stamp, of CHESTER MY 28 1836, the standard provincial date stamp of that time. As it is three days later than the date of the letter, it must have taken her longer to finish it, or to get it to the post office. (Fig 2)

My illustrations are rather poor, as I am not a brilliant artist, but as it is quite hard to make out the marks I have separated them out from the cover shown in Fig.1

The next in order is the London receiving office PAID 30 MY 30 1836, tombstone type with the day before and after the month, which was in use from 1810 to 1840 and also in 1843. (Fig 3)

Next comes the stamp applied by the Foreign section of the London General Post in use from 1815-1836. According to Willcocks & Jay the significance of the number 16 in between the F and the year 36, is not known - it may be the identifying number of the handstamp. (Fig 4.)

From London the letter was transmitted to Calais, the poorly struck postmark in red should read ANGLETERRA PAR CALAIS, and it was applied in Paris, in use from 1834. (Fig 5)

Next stop was the Italian entry point of Point Beauvoisin. This was the entry mark for mail from France in use from 1830. (Fig 6)

Then onto Livorno (Leghorn), where it received the stamp which identified foreign correspondence arriving by road from Genoa. This is the earliest of the three types in use and the full wording around the circumference should read CORRESPZA ESTERA DA GENOVA, with a Florentine fleur-de-lys in the centre of the stamp.(Fig 7)

The final one is the arrival datestamp applied in Florence - from 1828 it included the year, so this was 10 GIUGNO, 1836 , 12 days after it was put in the post at Chester. (Fig 8)

The manuscript markings are a different kettle of fish entirely. The rates from Britain to Europe were extremely complex and included the cost from the receiving office to London, (11d) plus the Packet rate London to Italy, (1/11d between 1828 and 1837) which equals 2/10d, so the 'Pd 2/8' entered in red does not match that. The letter was re-directed from Florence to Baigui d'Aix, Savoja , (which is the Italian form of the name of the French town "Aix les Bains" which was a well-known health spa when this letter was written), so the other four figures in black ink - 9/2 crossed through in black ink, the figure '8' in two different places, plus a '30' - may be additional costs for the redirection. When I made enquiries in 1978 through the English stamp magazine Stamp Collecting, Alan Becker of St Neots gave me information about the Italian postmarks but was also baffled by the charge marks, so I think it is unlikely that I would ever be able to unravel that puzzle.

And now to the letter itself which is yet another 'crossed' letter, making it difficult to decipher in some parts, full of family news and emotion.

"May 25th, Your last kind letter my dearest Lady Selsy deserved an earlier answer had not my time & thoughts for the past six weeks been most painfully taken up. I would not at least have had the appearance of being so ungrateful, when I tell you I have lost the best of fathers. I am sure you will forgive me & likewise excuse the melancholy that will I feel sure pervade this letter.

Augusta came with me to this place about a month ago and we then had the benefit of finding my dear father well enough to express pleasure at seeing us - but after that, then he was too weak to think, to smile as he looked at us all - for all his children here with him & many of his grandchildren- to the very last when he look leave of us in the most affecting manner possible . For in a most wonderful way his long lost speech was restored to him he enunciated more clearly than he had done for weeks. Then was there so solemn a scene attended with such Heavenly Peace and Resignation, it has left the most soothing and blessed impressions on the minds of all who surrounded him.

He was a great age and never can there have been a happier close to a long & virtuous life & how fervently does the witnessing of such a scene induce one to Pray to be called to lead the Life of the Righteous, that we others may be as blessed as him.
Forgive me dear Lady Selsy for passing my griefs into your care, but when the heart is full the mouth will speak, particularly when writing to a friend who will sympathise in one's feeling. My poor mother is wonderfully supported but after a happy union of 52 years the separation is hard to bear, but she puts her trust in the Almighty Power. She is both able and willing to join those who trust in him & looks forward with humble hope to a reunion with that Blessed Spirit whose loss she now suffers.

"I left Miss Tyse at Stoke with my younger Children, she is quite well & you have doubtless heard from her since I left her. I shall return home next week so Pray direct to me to Stoke as usual. You will I undstd be now soon thinking of leaving Florence I trust, or you may be on your way home - we have had the longest winter and the coldest spring that we have recollected, we are still all very glad of a fire. I know you will rejoice to hear I have very good accounts of Col: Tyse. I heard from him about 10 days ago from Alexandria on his way to Cairo, into Syria. He had not had the warm weather he expected, & altogether has I think been disappointed, this I think & hope may make him more committed to good old England when he gets back that will be some time in the Autumn - he will find his Boys will be dispersed about , my Senior son is just going to sail in the 'Dunganen' ?? Gammell? going to Oxford, & Willy going somewhere abroad.

You may perhaps have seen my pretty friend Miss Happerly. Let me know when you receive this, as she was to leave here some time ago on her way thence. Her sister Miss Clara was so very homesick that she could not prevail upon herself to accompany her, so is returned to England.

People here are very full of Prince Charles's marriage to Miss Smith, she must be a strong Person I think, as they are only just married after they have been going about together everywhere, and they say she is very Pretty but I should imagine she was not very wise.

I feel this letter is not worth sending so far to you dear Lady Selsy, but I would rather run the risk of being thought stupid tho' respectful, which I fear I must already have done in not having sooner written to you.
I hope this will find you quite well & Lord Selsy as little suffering as you would naturally expect him to be.
With my kind rgds. & love from Augusta, Believe me dear Lady Selsy yours most sincerely and affectionately Fanny Harrod Tyse"