Letters and Sketches

Beyond the extensive collection of bird, fish, and flower paintings crafted by Elizabeth Gwillim and Mary Symonds, they often left sketches in their letters. These sketches accompany a detailed history of their surroundings and life in India.

  • The white ant in Letter_006_EG_01-1802 [From Elizabeth Gwillim to her Mother, Esther Symonds, January 23, 1802]
  • A house in Letter_006_EG_01-1802 [From Elizabeth Gwillim to her Mother, Esther Symonds, January 23, 1802]
  • Two kinds of ants in Letter_006_EG_01-1802 [From Elizabeth Gwillim to her Mother, Esther Symonds, January 23, 1802]
  • My dressing table in Letter_007_EG_02-1802 [From Elizabeth Gwillim to her Sister, Henrietta “Hetty” Symonds James, February 7, 1802]
  • Palankeen boys fish in Letter_007_EG_02-1802 [From Elizabeth Gwillim to her Sister, Henrietta “Hetty” Symonds James, February 7, 1802]
  • Another thing very unlike any creature I ever saw in Letter_007_EG_02-1802 [From Elizabeth Gwillim to her Sister, Henrietta “Hetty” Symonds James, February 7, 1802].
  • Pearl beads smaller than this in Letter_008_MS_02-1802 [From Mary Symonds to her Sister, Henrietta “Hetty” Symonds James, Madras, February 11, 1802]
  • Plantains grow in large clusters in Letter_008_MS_02-1802 [From Mary Symonds to her Sister, Henrietta “Hetty” Symonds James, Madras, February 11, 1802]
  • [A flower] in Letter_009_EG_02-1802 [From Elizabeth Gwillim to her Sister, Henrietta “Hetty” Symonds James, February 12, 1802]
  • About eight steps in Letter_013_EG_07-1802 [From Elizabeth Gwillim to her Mother, Esther Symonds, July 16, 1802]
  • Small pearls in Letter_019_EG_10-1802 [From Elizabeth Gwillim to her Sister, Henrietta “Hetty” Symonds James, October 18, 1802]
  • An old marble table in Letter_028_EG_05-1803 [From Elizabeth Gwillim to her Mother, Esther Symonds, May 7, 1803].
  • The Cook in Letter_047_EG_10-1804 [From Elizabeth Gwillim to her Mother, Esther Symonds, October 12, 1804]
  • Large full feathers in Letter_057_EG_08-1805 [From Elizabeth Gwillim to her Sister, Henrietta “Hetty” Symonds James, August24, 1805]
  • Wedgwood pattern in Letter_058_MS_09-1805 [From Mary Symonds to her Sister, Henrietta “Hetty” Symonds James, 9 September, 1805]
  • Beads… about that size in Letter_059_EG_XX-1805 [From Elizabeth Gwillim to her Sister, Henrietta “Hetty” Symonds James, August 24, 1805]
  • A Bramin’s shoe in Letter_068_EG_09-1806 [From Elizabeth Gwillim to her Sister, Henrietta “Hetty” Symonds James, September/October, 1806]