A letter addressed to Jane Saffery, Tuesday, 2 October 1827, about a governess position.

Oct.r 2. 1827.

The Routine of occupation of the Governess and Friend of my

two youngest Children (Girls) aged 10 & 11 –

         The Lady has a large Bed room & a Dressing Cabinet to herself; but one of the Children must sleep with her, because the room wherein the other child sleeps, (within the Chamber, but having a separate way into it) is too small to hold a large bed for both children.

         The Children dress &c &c in this inner chamber; so that all that one child would have to do in the outer chamber, is to go into it, undrest, to sleep –

         The School room is another large room on the other side of the Landing of the Stairs; and tho’ all on the second floor, we find them the most undisturbed and pleasant part of the House.

   The Parlour breakfast is at 8 o’clock; so that the Children must be up, drest, &c in good time – they dress each other, as (from principle of independence,) no maid is set apart for them, tho’ the House Maid waits on the School room – therefore such superintendence of dressing, or of hair plaiting &c as is necessary, the Lady does – Summer Mornings, an hour’s employ or exercize in the Garden, before breakfast, would be salutary.

   My complaint causes me to breakfast in my own room at 7, and to remain there sometimes ’till noon – but, the children come to my room ¼ before 9, for a quarter of an hour to read me a chapter &c: – this prevents my attending family worship in the morning; but before breakfast, the Servants attend Scripture reading & prayer (from Jays collection), the eldest Daughter and the Governess taking it in turn week about, to perform this.

   The Lady also takes the same week about, to preside at breakfast, dinner, and tea; because, herein, as in our Visits, which are but very few, we consider her the same as a Daughter; except, that she has nothing to do in household management  stores wine &c in order that all her mind & time may be devoted to the children; in fact, as a Mother.

   The morning School ended, comes fruit for luncheon; and then walking or play in the Garden, in which the Lady accompanies the children, so as to be their companion, ’till dressing for dinner, which is at 3, and needle after, ’till Tea.

   Tea is at 5. – after which some light exercize of the Body or Mind for the children ’till 8, when they go to bed – as they have no maid, the Lady superintends their going to bed, next her own room, making them do every thing for each other, as being wholly separate from Servants – after 8, she sits with us, or in her own room & fire side at pleasure, till 9, – when the Tray comes in with the Servants to family worship: and at 10, the day closes, that each may retire to his room.

         These hours shew, that we are plain, but we endeavour to be an hospitable people, in Society, Food, firing, &c.

         Every Thursday is a working day, or rather a holiday, all hands for the poor; for except mending their own things, which we wish them to do, (and which the Lady superintends, & does what they cannot do) we rather pay for making for them, that they may have time to make for others, instead of exercizing invention on the adornment of the person: – tho’ we are particularly anxious, in their acquiring, wise, neat, cleanly, quiet & orderly habits about all their things, their apparel, hair, manners and every thing, that forms a lady-like person.

         The Lady’s washing is done at house for her –

         Unhappily my own time is only about half of it spent at house; the rest being with Mrs Alexander who lives at Hattons, about 3 miles from Yarmouth, & only occasionally intermixes with her family.

Text: Timothy Whelan, gen. ed., Nonconformist Women Writers, 1720-1840 (London: Pickering & Chatto, 2011), vol. 6, pp. 403-04 (annotated version); Reeves Collection, Box 17.1, Bodleian Library, Oxford.  On the back page is written, ‘For Miss Saffery’.  The mother of the two girls lives in Yarmouth, but is otherwise unknown. In the letter, the ‘Lady’ is obvioulsy the governess to be hired.