John HAND [1674]

  General Notes:

John was a legatee under the will of his aunt Philadelphia Liveing.

On the 13 Aug 1835 a John Hand wrote to Edward Liveing in Nayland of his travels in Rhineland Germany, his letter is on file with Edward Fenn 2000.
It is an assumed that he was this John.

John Hand
Gender: Male
Birth Date: 24 Oct 1812
Birth Place: Great Burstead, Essex, England
Father: Revd. John Staples Hand
Mother: Mary Hand
FHL Film Number: 1471966

John Hand
Gender: Male
Birth Date: 24 Oct
Baptism Date: 23 Dec 1812
Baptism Place: Great Burstead, St Mary Magdalene, Essex, England
Father: Revd John Staples Hand
Mother: Mary Hand

Transcription of this letter is far from complete as it is difficult to read as a page has been over-written by Hand, see picture file.
Heidelberg
August 13, 1835
My dear Mrs Liveing
I have . . . . . to you that I am a afraid you have only . . . . . it down to respect . . . . . may just . . . . . I can only say that you have . . . . . of my friends but I know I have known you for too long for you this . . . . . to something's . . . . . Miss . . . . . is that I have heard that . . . . . unpleasant illness of the enjoying with . . . . . England that it had been with great difficulty that I have . . . . . is French . . . . . enough to write a letter. During my three staying . . . . . in a French. . . . . family just where marvellous and . . . . . which it presented that you cannot wonder it's any being much gratified. Everything indeed that can please the eye . . . . . in their loft building their . . . . . in every . . . . . same indeed in their social circles seemed to give life and soul to a . . . . . Londoner but with all their . . . . . of happiness that Parisiens are frequently not so . . . . . woman is the only deity - they worship no other much I can tell you of tho I see you smile - She takes no small advantage of her station, the . . . . . domestic manners of the best French society to an Englishman is little less than disgusting - Paris was getting to intolerably hot and I was very glad to exchange it for the sweet refinements of Heidelberg in Baden - not all that I had seen or heard could give me an adequate idea of the exceeding beauty of this place situated between two ridges of mountains the Obanwald with a refreshing Neckar by its sides surmounted by its grand castles the most magnificent ruins in Germany all seemed to render it the most delightful summer residence that can be conceived with the exception perhaps of Baden-Baden which it . . . . . surpasses it. There are several English families here these with two English friends here . . . . . made it very pleasant - I must not forget to mention . . . . . of the finest of our countrys women that I have ever seen. I cannot say much for the German ladies on the score of beauty though a presentable quality they are exceedingly amiable indeed all their manners which also those of the primitive times (dine out half past 12 pm) were exceedingly congenial to my taste.
I have heard you give utterance to such abhorrence of smoking as "Horror of Horrors" that exceedingly foolish expression of Mrs Trollop(?) so I must tell you that we Germans (for I am regularly innured) smoke all day and read Faust or metaphysics - nothing can exceed the pleasant life of this good natured sound thinking people. Calling forth their exquisite vocal organs in the evening . . . . . or beguiling their time with the graceful walz (which has tempted fastidious me even to learn it immediately . . . . . I . . . . . pass their evenings with the almost joviality not even Sunday excepted; proving to that black demon like spirit pervading I am sorry to say many parts of the religious world in England that even . . . . . . . . . . on a sunday on a Sunday their way with joy and gladness to heaven in . . . . . acceptable manner to their creator than Agnew(?) and his . . . . . can find for them
I leave this place on the eighth of next month and walk down the Rhine to Bonn which includes all the prettiest part I shall be present at the meeting of the Savans* of Europe at that place on the 18th after which I returned to England to be in readiness for the House Surgeonry at St Barts where I shall be ready to give all the assistance in my power to your young friend provided he comes up. A friend of mine a Mr Guillemand(?) has just asked me if I could obtain any information about an opening for a practice at Bury which he has been informed off by an Uncle of his a Clergyman and D.D. in the neighbourhood of Bury this Doctor tells Guillemand who is M.R.C.S. a very highly commended with scientific men . . . . . Captain Frankland and Davies(?) Gilbert; that an opening is likely to occur in the course of next month at Bury in conjunction in consequence of one of the first practitioners being obliged to resign the consequence of ill health are If Liveing should have heard of this or could possibly find out by enquiring whether such is likely to be the case, and if he thinks there is any prospect of success there you would much oblige me by writing. . . . . me. . . . . as Mr G. would in that event return to England instead of prosecuting his travels elsewhere. I could feel pages with the beauties around here but I find I am getting like . . . . . without falling into that very ungentile manner of writing too much particularly as I return . . . . . soon.
I will conclude with wishing you all the health and happiness in the world . . . . . to your little ones
Believe me
Yours most sincerely
John Hand

Tell the Alston's I am sorry that I have not been able to write to them as you wrote to me last it was impossible I could overlook that

* Savans is an old word used for scientists

Deaths
Died 13 inst at Althorne, Mr John Hand, fifth son of the Rev J S Hand of Billericay, aged 23 years.
Essex Herald 24 Nov 1835.

Burials
John Hand
Death Age: 23
Birth Date: abt 1812
Death Date: abt 1835
Burial Date: 21 Nov 1835
Burial Place: St Mary DuntonEssex, England