Letters of Mary Wollstonecraft in Newington Green.1

To George Blood
"Newington Green, July 3d
... They are to be sent to Betty Delane ..."

Research Note :-
Janet Todd in her "Collected Letters of Mary Wollstonecraft" makes a note that Betty Delane was the daughter of Simon Delane a Dublin Merchant. She was a friend of the Bloods and Mary Wollstonecraft. She shared her home at 48 Britain Street with her sister Susanna and her brother-in-law Robert Home.

Letters of Mary Wollstonecraft in Newington Green.1

To George Blood
"Newington Green, July 20th
... When I do I will answer Betty Delane's letter ... ... give my love to the Delanes ..."

Letters of Mary Wollstonecraft in Newington Green.1

To George Blood
"Newington Green, July 25
... When it does I will write to Betty Delane ... ... Skeys is quite delighted with the prospect; but Fanny is out of spirits, and tired with contending with sickness and care ... ... Skeys has received congratulatory letters form most of his friends and relations in Ireland and he now regrets that he did not marry sooner ... ... Betty Delane is a good girl and has your interest at heart tho' she does not profess much - call on her often - Her conversation will improve you."

Letters of Mary Wollstonecraft in Newington Green.1

To George Blood
"Newington Green, August 14th
... I will attempt to write to Betty Delane tho' I dislike it at this time; but I am not willing to the expense of postage when I can avoid it ... ... I shall write to you as soon as I see Mr. John Skeys who is now on his way to London ... ..."

Letters of Mary Wollstonecraft in Newington Green.1

To George Blood
"Newington Green, September 4th
...I intend to write to Betty Delane very soon - give her my love ..."

Letters of Mary Wollstonecraft in Newington Green.1

To George Blood
"Newington Green, February 4th
... I have received a short unsatisfactory letter from Lisbon ... ... give my love to Betty Delane and the rest of the family..."

Research Note :-
Janet Todd in her "Collected Letters of Mary Wollstonecraft" makes a note that George Blood had returned to Dublin and that he received this letter in the care of Robert Home

Letters of Mary Wollstonecraft in Newington Green.1

To George Blood
"Newington Green, February 27th
... I was hoping Skeys would have sent them some trifle before this ... ... Willm was very well and thriving apace - Mrs. S. had taken him to her house ... ... I am quite pleased with the Delanes and Homes - remember me to them in the kindest style ... ... I will write to Betty Delane soon."

Research Note :-
News of the death of the baby William Skeys obviously had not yet reached Mary Wollstonecraft

Letters of Mary Wollstonecraft in Newington Green.1

To George Blood
"Newington Green, May 22d
... a few days after they set sail I received a letter from Skeys, - he laments his inability to assist them, and dwell on his own embarrassments ... ... Be very particular in your account of your situation, and Betty Delane's reception of your father and mother"

Letters of Mary Wollstonecraft in Newington Green.1

Toe George Blood
"Newington Green, Jue 18t
... ... Remember me to your father and poor Betty Delane. I shall answer her letter the first opportunity."

Letters of Mary Wollstonecraft in Ireland, Mitchelstown.1

To Eliza Bishop
"Mitchelstown, November 5th
... I spent a few days in Dublin, George and his mother, you may suppose were glad to see me, and so was Betty Delane - she is just the same lively creature though by no means in a comfortable situation, when I am more at ease, I will give you a particular account of the family"

Letters of Mary Wollstonecraft in Ireland, Dublin.1

To Everina Wollstonecraft
"Dublin, February 10th
And this evening Betty Delane came, and her lively company diverted - ... ... Betty Delane is still the same - only in rather better spirits than usual - as Mr Home has met with uncommon success lately - He has been in the north some time - I have not yet seen him"

Letters of Mary Wollstonecraft in Ireland, Dublin.1

To Everina Wollstonecraft
"Dublin, February 12th
... Last Sunday I went to church, the service discomposed - hurried - my spirits - Lady K sat me down at Mr. Home's when I got to the house I fell into such a violent fit of trembling as terrified Betty Delane ... ... Mr & Mrs Home are still in the country - ... ... Betty D. has spent two evenings with me and her conversation is so much superior, to what I met generally, it is quite a treat to me ... ... I am sorry for poor Howett - Betty Delane read his sermons with great pleasure."

Letters of Mary Wollstonecraft in Ireland, Dublin.1

To Everine Wollstonecraft
"Dublin, March 14th
Mr Skeys has at last delivered your letter ... ... I shall answer Skeys letter ... ... Lady K. offered me two tickets, for myself and Miss Delane to accompany me, I refused them on account of the expense of dressing properly, she then to obviate that objection lent me her black domino, I was out of spirits - and thought of another excuse; but she proposed, to take me and Betty Delane, to houses of several people of fashion who saw masques ... ... Betty D. as a forsaken shepherdess - and your sister Mary in a black domino"

Letters of Mary Wollstonecraft in Ireland, Dublin.1

To Everina Wollstonecraft
"Dublin, March 24th
... ... Betty Delane often visits me ... ..."

Letters of Mary Wollstonecraft in Ireland, Dublin.1

To Everina Wollstonecraft
"Dublin, May 15th
... ... Betty Delane drank tea with me yesterday ... ..."

Letters of Mary Wollstonecraft in Bristol.1

To George Blood
"Bristol, June 27th
... ... I have many things to worry me, poor dear Bess Delane used to pity me when she saw the difficult card I had to play. I really feel very lonely without her - I received the other day a truly elegant friendly epistle from her. She has one of the best hearts in the world and a most excellent temper ..."

Letters of Mary Wollstonecraft in Henley upon Thames.1

To George Blood
"Henley, September 11th
... ... and Betty Delane and tell the latter I have received her letter and shall answer it very soon ..."

Letters of Mary Wollstonecraft in London.1

To George Blood
"London, January 1st
.... Your behaviour with respect to the Homes - I admire - suffer not the seeds of virtue in your bosom lie dormant or to be choked by mistaken fondness for present gratification ... ... Give my love to Bess Delane ... ... I shall write to Bess D. tomorrow or next day ... ..."

Research Note :-
Janet Todd in her "Collected Letters of Mary Wollstonecraft" makes a note that it would seem that George Blood had lent money to Robert Home who was not doing well in Dublin.

Letters of Mary Wollstonecraft.1

To George Blood
"London, January 17th
... ... mention Bess Delane when you do ... ..."

Letters of Mary Wollstonecraft in London.1

To George Blood
"London, May 16th
... ... Before you give "Mary" to Bess Delane etc. alter two mistakes the printers have made ... ..."

Letters of Mary Wollstonecraft.1

To George Blood
"May 26th or 27th
... ... do write as you receive the books, and be particular in your account of Bess, I cannot help thinking Mr. H. has been ungrateful - he knows not how to value a treasure ... ..."

Letters of Mary Wollstonecraft in London.1

To George Blood
"London, February 28th
... ... Why did you entangle yourself again in Mr. Home's affairs? ... ... Tell Bess Delane I will not allow her to find fault with the language I am learning in which I am told the sweetest verses are written ... ... I have not visited Mrs. H. lately - she seems very near her time, and he is apparently attentive - I cannot warm to him. I see the snake in the grass - Give my love to your mother - and give Bess a still kinder assurance of my affection I shall write to her when I have seen Susan, ... .."

Research Note :-
Janet Todd in her "Collected Letters of Mary Wollstonecraft" makes the point that Robert Home had just moved from Dublin to London to seek more work - and probably not repaying George Blood the money he was owed.

Letters of Mary Wollstonecraft in London.1

To George Blood
"London, September 15th
... ... I have not answered Bess Delane's last letter, and I shall wait 'till I hear again from Susan ... ..."

Letters of Mary Wollstonecraft.1

To George Blood
"November 19th
... ....Betty D. desired me to suspend my judgment I could not suspend it when facts starred me full in the face. ... ..."

Licence obtained for marriage to Hugh SKEYS in Ireland, Dublin.2

"Skeys - Hugh and Elizabeth Delane 1790"

Married Hugh SKEYS in Ireland, Dublin

Research Note .-
On the 4th September 1790 Mary Wollstonecraft mentioned Betty Delane as Mrs. Skeys for the first time, so therefore the marriage must have taken place before that date.
Looked after the children of Robert Home and Susanna Delane after Susanna's death in 1790 when Robert Home left for India.

Letters of Mary Wollstonecraft in Warminster.1

To Everina Wollstonecraft
"Saturday night, September 4th 90
I have heard from Mrs. S. which you will see when I return - as part of it is addressed to you two. - She gives too good a reason for her silence - I am afraid by her account poor Mrs. Home is in the last stage of a consumption"

Letters of Mary Wollstonecraft in London.1

To George Blood
"London, February 4th 91
Poor Susan has haunted me ever since I read your letter to Elizs - I only received it this morning, and I have not been able to drive her image from my mind, though I do not think that her death should be regretted on account of her children, for she would never have been an active mother - and they may be as well taken care of, putting tenderness out of the question, as if their mother was still alive. I shall write to Bess by this post, for I know the tenderness of her heart ... ...
Nay procure for you a comfortable situation if you should ever determine to leave Skeys."

Research note :-
George Blood was working for Hugh Skeys in Dublin at his shop in Great Britain Street.

Letters of Mary Wollstonecraft in London (New Store Street).1

To George Blood
"New Store Street, October 6th 91
... ... I do not wish Skeys to know anything of this application. ... ... Pray tell me all about yourself - and tell me whether there is any chance of the Child ever making its appearance?
Tell Bess that the Cups are on their way to her - I hope they will come in time.
Tell her also that now I have, in some degree, recovered my spirits, I do not find the child so troublesome as I did when I last wrote to her."

Research Note :-
1) Betty Delane, Mrs. Hugh  Skeys, was pregnant.
2) The child referred to on the last sentance was Ann Home, who was in Mary's care.

Letters of Mary Wollstonecraft in London.1

To George Blood
"January 2nd 92
"... ... But coincide with you in opinion that you have little to expect from Skeys ... ... Our friend Bess has an affectionate heart, but I always thought her far too much attached to the world, and her conduct since her marriage proves to me that I read her right ... ..."

Birth of daughter Ann SKEYS

Letters of Mary Wollstonecraft in London.1

To Everina Wollstonecraft
"February 23rd
... ... I am sorry to give you a bad account of Ann after my late praise, but a few days ago I discovered that she had been stealing sugar out of my closet constantly, and the artful way she managed it, not to mention the lies, really vexes me - She is undoubtedly very much improved and my visitors think her a fine girl - yet I have long been convinced that she will never be the kind of girl I should love with all my heart. She has great animal spirits and quick feelings, but I shall be much mistaken if she have any considerable portion of sensibility when she grows up. .... ....
Mrs. S. has, at last, brought forth a little girl."

Letters of Mary Wollstonecraft in France, Paris.1

To Everina Wollstonecraft
"Paris, September 20th
Tell Mrs Skeys, who will not fulfil her promised respecting her portrait, that it is was written during my pregnancy"

Death of Hugh SKEYS in Dublin.3,4