Lot 8: BRONTË, CHARLOTTE

BRONTË, CHARLOTTE Autograph letter signed ("C. B."), 3 pages (7 1/2 x 4 3/4 in.; 190 x 120 mm), n.p. [Haworth Parsonage, Yorkshire], 3 April 1850, to Ellen Nussey; horizontal and vertical folds, few minor spots, lower portion of third page cut away (loss approx. 1 5/8 x 4 1/8 in.).

George D. Smith (New York bookseller; with a clipped entry from a sale catalogue of his estate, item 66, $17.50; inscribed in ink "Bought, Feb. 11th, 1921")

Charlotte Brontë gives medical advice to her lifelong friend and correspondent, Ellen Nussey: "I certainly do think that you are generally too venturous in risking exposure to all weathers—there are sudden changes from hot to cold and vice versa—there are fogs, cold penetrating winds during which all people of constitutions not robust are better in the house than out of doors; regular exercise is an excellent thing, but unless you were much stronger than you are—in very cold or stormy weather—you cannot always with prudence enjoy it. I do not wish you to coddle yourself, but in future I trust you will be careful. There has evidently been in your system a gradually increasing inflammatory action. The late cold weather and the nervous irritation consequent on the tooth-business brought it to a crisis. I only trust that, that crisis safely passed, you will be better afterwards, but I repeat most seriously you will need care. Be in no hurry to rush out of doors .... As to night-air, eschew it for six months to come—maladies are sooner caught than cured. In your position it is positive duty to run no risks; if anything happened to you what would be your Mother's condition?"

Brontë then goes on to speculate on her negative impressions of someone she refers to as "J. T.", hoping he will not come to Haworth in the spring. She ends with another admonition: "Do not write again till you can do it without fatigue—but as soon as you feel able indite to me a particular detailed account of your state—speak the truth, and give no deceiving gloss."