Autograph Letter Signed; Collection of Letters from the Wife, Son & Daughter of Thomas Hood

The Rectory, Cossington. Fine. 7" x 4.5", 2 pp. bordered in black (mourning stationary following her husband's death in 1842), dated 8 Oct 1846, with mail folds. Content: Making arrangements and appointments, "Mr. Moxon begs you will send him a line - he has appointed me to meet hi at Doctors Commons on Friday next at twelve", likely being Edward Moxon,(Dec 1801 - Jun 1858, a British poet and publisher, significant in Victorian literature). She likens her unfortunate life situtation to that of a fictional characther, "Am I not like the Lady in The Bold Stone for a wife - waiting the consent of the three guardians?"<br /> <br /> 7" x 4.5", 2 pp. on stationary with mail fold. c. 1865. Content: Date established by Hood's comment "I am going to leave the War Office..." which he did in 1875; "I send you a picture of Lake House Wanstead - the house where I was born - it was originally the banquet hall of Wanstead House."; Greatly looking forward to the new freedom in his life and lamenting the loss of his pet dog, "It seems like a dream almost to think of having my time to myself & I have literary work now I know has to get through. I have just lost a very old favorite - my poor little doy Topsy"<br /> <br /> 7" x 4.5", 3 pp. Two mail folds, small ink smudge on rear, previous auctioneer note in pencil on blank verso. From the daughter of poet Thomas Hood and sister of humorist and editor Tom Hood. Content: Returning Mr. Hall's manuscript, a memorial about her father, "I return your M. S. with many thanks. It is so charming..."; She goes on to clarify details about the history of the property at Winchmore Hill and thank him for his work, "I must once more express my sincere pleasure that you are yourself superintending the publication of your memorials".<br /> <br /> Jane Hood, married to the editor, humorist and often pracitical joker Thomas Hood. Thomas was always a frail man and had a prolonged illness in the final years of his life.<br /> <br /> Frances Freeling Broderip (1830 - Nov 1878) was an English children's writer. She was named after her father's friend, Sir Francis Freeling, the secretary to the general post office. She was married to the Rev. John Somerville Broderip, and moved to the family's home, Cossington Manor. In 1857 Mrs. Broderip commenced her literary career by the publication of Wayside Fancies, which was followed in 1860 by Funny Fables for Little Folks, the first of a series of her works to which the illustrations were supplied by her brother, Tom Hood.<br /> <br /> Tom Hood (Jan 1835 - Nov 1874), was an English humorist and playwright, and son of the poet and author Thomas Hood. A prolific author, in 1865 he was appointed editor of the magazine Fun. He founded Tom Hood's Comic Annual in 1867. He also wrote two books on English verse composition, several children's books (in conjunction with his sister, Frances Freeling Broderip), and a body of magazine and journal articles. Hood drew with considerable facility, and illustrated several of his father's comic verses, some of which were collected in his father's book, Precocious Piggy.