Newcastle on Tyne Northumberland Street
25^th August 1841

My dear Lucy,

We arrived here at Tynesmouth on Monday where we had the benefit of sunbathing for those who liked it, and also of a mineral spa which I found of great use. It is situated on the German Ocean and distinguished by the river Tyne discharging itself into the sea there. Ships from London on the one side and Leith on the other enter the river on the way to Newcastle (a distance of ten miles) conducted by small steamers who ply about the entrance for hire, to pilot the vessels to their destination. We spent three weeks there very pleasantly, having constant and daily communication with Newcastle by a rail road. We have had the pleasure of Mr Gilpin’s company for nearly one month and the Rev Ralph Ward for one week - they both left us on Thursday last and have had letters from each informing us of their safe arrival in Belfast. I was present at the consecration of the new church at Tynesmouth by the bishop of Durham and heard a very appropriate sermon. I afterwards attended a confirmation of six hundred young persons at North Shiels. the girls were between three and four hundred in number and dressed for the most part in white muslin with white ribbons and extremely neat caps. they looked remarkably well. I was sorry that I did not know o the Bishop’s visitation at Newcastle or should have gone there. In his charge he severely censured the Puseyites and as the sermon is published I intend to purchase it. I heard a discourse very much in favour of the Pusyite system, explaining to the congregation its advantages in endeavouring to restore to its proper dignity the liturgy of the Church of England, and the superior efficacy of prayers in preference to preaching - which latter has been much extolled of late - that the consequence is that prayers, which in the worship of God, are neglected and eloquent, extempore preachers followed after, so that it is to be feared the creature may often preferred to the Creator. I shall see what the bishop says in his view of the subject. Tomorrow I propose to go to the wedding of two sisters, the Miss Johnstons who are to be married on the same day, and in the same church, fourteen miles distant from town. the ceremony will be followed by the grand breakfast and dinner, at the young ladies fathers. There are great complaints about the badness of trade here and every where and some apprehensions of an indifferent harvest from the incessant heavy rain. I enclose you one dozen of penny stamps to induce you to write as you seem you require a jog to make you take up your pen and dip it in your pale ink. I hope you will have got a fine young damesl to wait upon you and that you have restored your former domestic order and have visited Mr White and all your country neighbours. I am glad you like your parish Minister and that you sit under him to your improvement and edification. Mrs Lascelles is joined by Mrs Hodder and Mrs Bristow. In affect love to you.

I am my dear Lucy,

yours affect,

F.E. Lascelles