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Gathering the Jewels features over 30,000 images of objects, books, letters, aerial photographs and other items from museums, archives and libraries throughout Wales.
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![According to the 1871 census, Emily Ann Lloyd lived with her
parents, older sister and uncle, above the National Provincial
Bank in Lampeter, where her father was the bank manager. A
native of Hay, Breconshire, William A. Lloyd had moved to
Lampeter with his wife, Elizabeth, who was born in Margam. At
the time of the census, Emily was 9 years old and her sister
Hessie 10.
Emily has carefully copied out the letters she has sent to various
friends and family between 10 March 1871 and 24 September
[1872] . This may have been an exercise set by her
governess, Sopia[sic] Humphreys from Aberystwyth.
Emily writes of her day to day activities and has much to say
about her pets, including a monkey. Unfortunately, all the
animals seem to die during the period covered by the letters. Although most of the letters are written from Lampeter, the family move to Conwy and the later letters are written from there.
These letters provide an insight into the life of a middle- class child
living in Wales during the late nineteenth century.](http://www.gtj.org.uk/storage/thumbs/batch_1003/GTJ08132.jpg)
![This is contemporary copy of a letter, written at Newport by Lady Elizabeth Dayrell, to her husband [William Morgan of Tredegar] shortly after leaving him.
She thanks him for his gift of the chariot [a small four-wheeled carriage with only back seats], a small thing compared with all his other generosities, which in her mean condition she can do no more than remember with gratitude. She hopes that he lives to discover their mortal enemies who have caused their separation. She asks pardon for the great presumption of writing, among the 'other failings of her that once you were pleased to desire as a wife'.
In a postscript she says that she hopes to come to London with 'the originall deeds of disposition of my smale estate in my owne power' [ie, her marriage settlement?], that he may burn it with his own hands.](http://www.gtj.org.uk/storage/thumbs/batch_4005/GTJ30175.jpg)
![This letter was written by William Morgan from Tredegar, to be delivered to the house of Mr Evan Hopgood, merchant, in Lothbury near the Royal Exchange, London.
William Morgan is sorry to hear from many sources of his wife's very bad distempers [medical or mental illness]. He would not want anything that could be done, not to be done, and asks that his brother take the advice of physicians. He advises that, before anything is put into execution, his brother consults with and has the approval of her own relations.](http://www.gtj.org.uk/storage/thumbs/batch_4005/GTJ30177.jpg)
