Francis Barber Ogden, Liverpool, to Eliza Douglas Monroe, 1830 June 1

Liverpool June 1st 1830
My dear Friends
I returned last evening from a short trip in Wales where I went to accompany Harriet & George a little way on their journey to meet Margaret & William on their route from Holyhead. the party joined on Saturday evening and we spent Sunday in the delightful and widely celebrated vale of Llangollen, each in their own characteristic way. After breakfast trout from the river Dee, which broke in a beautiful cascade immediately under our large bow window unto the recess of which our table was spread, shrivelled ham with plenty of pepper. Muffins, toast &c &c we had an hour to two or rather half an age to spare, for from an English breakfast to an English dinner. from eight oClock to six much as you may love your friends is rather too long for one sitting. accordingly after the usual deliberations, consultations hesitations altercations and now & then an imprecation. for George swore he would be d—d if he would go, and I hoped the D —l might take me if I did, to see Miss Ponsonby—poor Lady Eleanor is dead so a visit to her was not insisted on—the carriage and four was drawn up, and as you know is even the case when a certain Lady has a point to carry her will was obeyed, and George at the risk of being d —d and I of going to the old boy, were bundled into it. and off the whole party proceeded with Barney, who has been anglicized into Bernard, and Ann and Mary in the boot. to Plas—something with a welsh name of half a dozen consonants, inpronouncable by any other than a welsh tongue and therefore unnecessary to be here written. to see Miss Ponsonby! Now you must know, the great merit of this Miss Ponsonby is, that some sixty years ago she and a certain Lady Eleanor Butler both of them, as it is averred, at that time too ugly to induce any body to run after them. ran away from their friends, and settled down in this retired spot in Wales, here they vegitated together for more than half a century until last year when (God rest her soul) poor Lady Eleanor departed and left her dear dear friend to trudge on the rest of the journey alone, for if she were even so much inclined I fear that the little beauty she has left of the very little she ever possessed would hardly at this time of day attract any of our sect and old women you know always hate each other. besides, she is a great fat old body with a grey wig, wearing a mans hat. and in conformity with the vow it appears they made, the same dress in which she made her escape. (I don't know if it be the identical same, or only after the same fashion) a cloth riding outfit. Well, as I said to see Miss Ponsonby we were all embarked, and poor me, I thought there was no help for me, when fortunately an old saw saved me one man may lead a horse, thinks I, but ten cant make him drink so having safely handed the two ladies to the gate. good morning says I. when you have enough of one antiquity George you will find me admiring another on the top of yonder hill—in about five minutes G. made his escape and away we started for the ruins of Dinias Brand. which well repaid us for our troubles. On the top of a high mountain overlooking the most beautiful valley in the world these ruins stand a beacon of times long gone by. here we enjoyed ourselves for two or three hours G. singing dancing shouting and reminding me of "An arm for joy flung out of joint." While this was going on, on the top of the mountain, the visit to Miss Ponsonby being over, H. went to church, M went to sleep and William I don't know what became of William I believe he went to help M- after church we all took a stroll together, and we talked about absent friends and going home, and Fortunatus his wishing cap and such like interesting subjects. but at six oClock ye Gods! what inroads we made upon the Welsh Mutton and the veal and the pigeon pie, and the tarts & the cheeses—until like the Boa constrictor when he has swallowed a Buffalo (at least I can speak for one, perhaps if would not be delicate to include the whole of this party) at the early hour of ten sleep became our only solace. In the morning, we rose with the larks, and accompanying them six miles further on their journey, after breakfasting and taking an affectionate farewell I left them to return to my bark mills while they proceeded to London. thus far in compliance with Harriets injunction to write and tell you all about them, and our excursion. My paper warns me my dear B M that I must be brief in what else I have to say. I have conversed fully & frequently with H. and depend on my word that you are as dear to her as ever, nor I am quite sure have any attempts been made from this quarter you suspect to estrange her affections There is a strange apathy a listlessness in M. that will ever prevent any active measures whatever may be her disposition, but in this case I really do not think there is any desire. If you were in the way of any of her enjoyments. it she were required to give up a ripe peach or a plate of strawberries, or a locket or an piece of faded ribbon even. she would complain and find fault with you and wonder what right you had to be happy while she was otherwise, she has none of that disinterested feeling which actuate Harriet & yourself, and being disappointed She has become querulous although I sincerely believe her disposition to be amiable and by no means vindictive. Monroe will doubtless have shewn you my last letter to him and I am happy to say I am fully confirmed in my opinion. You may therefore place implicit reliance on it. This is packet day and I have a thousand things to do, so good by and may Heaven continue to prosper you.
Sincerely and affectionately Your friend
Fras. B Ogden
I have not time to read all this nonsense I have written—