Peter Rabbit at the Turnbull Library

Turnbull Library Record, Volume XVIII, Issue 2, 1 October 1985, Page 97

Peter Rabbit at the Turnbull Library

SHARON DELL

Beatrix Potter.

In 1930 the Turnbull Library was offered a collection of four letters from Beatrix Potter by William Ferguson of Wellington. His letter to Johannes Andersen, the Librarian, explains both the provenance and nature of the collection and associated items:

In going through the treasures of my late wife I found a bundle containing the Correspondence which the late Miss Beatrix Potter had with, and about, my infant daughter, Louisa Sefton Ferguson, who died twenty years ago. As Miss Beatrix Potter was well known as an author & illustrator of Children's Books It occurred to me that possibly you might like to have the autographed books and the letters for the Turnbull Library. I therefore enclose for your Consideration Ginger & Pickles autographed Jany Bth 1910 Letter from Miss Potter of the same date The Roly Poly Pudding New Year 1909 A Framed Illustrated Letter from Miss Potter 26th Feby 1908 A Framed Post Card Photo of Benjamin Bunny 21 Novr 1907 Letter Oct 12th 1910 from Miss Potter to my wife on hearing of the death of her little Correspondent Peter Rabbit's Painting Book Sent to Mrs Ferguson Oct 1911...'

The collection, which was accepted, is an example of the type of correspondence Beatrix Potter had with children all over the world. Her published work had its origin in small illustrated stories which she sent in letter form to the children of friends and relatives. The letter to Louisa Ferguson of 26 February 1908 demonstrates fully the way she infused into her sketches and stories an acute observation of natural life in a way which, though imaginative, always remained true to the character of the animals depicted. These letters belong to the period between the purchase in 1905 of Hill Top Farm, at Sawrey in the Lake District, and her marriage some eight years later at the age of forty-seven to the country lawyer who assisted her in the purchase of it and other farm properties in the area. During this time she was at her most prolific and wrote some of her best work, most of it filled with local scenes and characters. Her method is well described in the letter of 8 January 1910, in which she also mentions her one involvement in politics. Convinced of the necessity of tariff reform after her unsuccessful attempts to have a 'Peter Rabbit' doll made in

England, and the arrival in the stores of pirated rabbit and squirrel dolls made in Germany, she printed an argument in favour of protection, and drew hand-coloured posters illustrating her point of view. 2 After marriage, Miss Potter the authoress was heard of less as she gained increasing satisfaction from the life she enjoyed for another thirty years as Mrs Heelis, farmer. Although Beatrix Potter's reply to Louisa's initial letter was no doubt influenced by the standing and personal connections of her parents the news of her death in August 1910 aged eight elicited an immediate and unmistakably warm response. In October the following year a copy of Peter Rabbit's Painting Book was sent, inscribed 'For Mrs Ferguson from B.P. with kind remembrance'. The letters (MS Papers 461) are transcribed below, with the one illustrated letter reproduced on page 99.

Nov 21st 1907 With best wishes for the New Year to little Louisa Ferguson from Beatrix Potter. This is a portrait of the real old original Mr Benjamin Bunny! Many thanks to Mrs Ferguson for her kind appreciative letter.

On Frederick Warne letterhead: Feb. 26 1908 Dear little Louisa, It is a dear little bag and a dear little photograph! When I saw the bag I said "This is for Peter Rabbit to carry his pocket handkerchief in!" But when I looked at it carefully I said —it is a great deal too nice for Peter, and he would bite holes in it, as it seems to be made of flax or grass. So I shall keep it for myself, & hang it up on a little brass hook in my parlour, it will look very pretty against the dark wood. I have got a bellows hanging up and a pen wiper and a kettle holder, and some other photographs of little girls that I have never seen! When they send me photographs, I send back a photograph of Peter or Benjamin —I don't write letters to all of them; but you look such a little dear and your Mamma has sent me such a nice present, I am quite pleased. I hope that you are very well and I remain with love yrs aff

Beatrix Potter.

Jan 8. 1910

Sawrey Ambleside

Dear Louisa Ferguson You will think lam very naughty —l have never written to thank you for that lovely pen holder. It came just when I was starting on a journey. I think it is beautiful, and such a length—we have greenish agates that are made into brooches but they are only little pebbles. Now I am sending you a a[sic] new book to make up amends — It was not ready in time for Christmas in New Zealand, so I don't think you have got it. It was all drawn in the village near my farm house, and the village shop is there. Only poor old "John Dormouse" is dead —just before the book was finished —I was so sorry I could not give him a copy before he died. He was such a funny old man; I thought he might be offended if I made fun of him, so I said I would only draw his shop & not him.

And then he said I had drawn his son John in another book, with a sow and wagging his tail! and old John felt jealous of young John. So I said how could I draw him if he would not get up? and he considered for several days, and then sent "his respects, and thinks he might pass as a dormouse!" It is considered very like him. Also it is very like our "Timothy Baker" but he is not quite so well liked, so everybody is laughing. I think I shall put myself in the next book, it will be about pigs; I shall put in me walking about with my old "Goosey" sow, she is such a pet. I am so busy over the Election my fingers are quite stiff with drawing "posters". Yr aff friend Beatrix Potter.

Hill Top Farm Sawrey Ambleside

Oct 12 . 10 Dear Mrs Ferguson, I scarcely know how to write to you in your terrible trouble. One can only hope that you are given strength and patience. Dear child —she has been taken away from a world of troubles —troubles which it is useless to question or try to understand. I heard you are not very strong, it makes the loss greater. I made acquaintance with Mrs Hadfield from Wellington and I asked her about Louisa —

indeed that was the beginning of it—for without that inquiry I don’t suppose we should have done more than exchange two letters; but she wrote so pleasantly about you that I thought I would like to see her and send a message to New Zealand. It does seem so strange that when we were talking about Louisa, it was all over. I was very much shocked when I heard from Mrs Hadfield last night. She had evidently had the paper by the same mail, my copy came this morning forwarded from the publishers’ office. I had the child’s nice little letter and the photographs last August, I had been intending to answer when I got back to London, & could send her a doll & a new book. And now it is too late. I think I have little friends all over the world, I am glad if my books have given her pleasure. Her little grass bag is hanging up in the house-place here, my house-keeper (the farmer’s wife) was so sorry when I told her — we have a handful of children in this house—but not one to spare; and to think that you have lost your one little ewe lamb is dreadful. I hope she did not suffer much. With sincere sympathy for you and your husband believe me yours sincerely

REFERENCES 1 Letter, 16 November 1930, William Ferguson to Johannes Andersen. ATL Correspondence files. 2 Margaret Lane, The Tale of Beatrix Potter: A Biography, revised edition (London, 1968). 3 William Ferguson was Engineer, Secretary and Treasurer of the Wellington Harbour Board, and later Managing Director of the Wellington Gas Company, and Chairman of the National Efficiency Board. Mary Louisa, his wife, was the daughter of William Sefton Moorhouse, who had been Superintendent of Canterbury and Mayor of Wellington.