Excerpts from letters received by the British pensions office, quoted in George Lyttelton’s Commonplace Book, 2002:

• Mrs R. has no clothes, has not had any for many years. The clergy have been visiting her.
• In reply to your letter, I have already cohabited with your officers, so far without any result.
• You have changed my little boy to a little girl. Will this make any difference?
• Please send money at once, as I have fallen in errors with my landlord.
• I have no children, as my husband is a bus-driver and works all day and night.
• In accordance with your instructions, I have given birth to twins in the enclosed envelope.
• I have been in bed with the doctor for a week, and he does not seem to be doing me any good. If things don’t improve I shall have to get another doctor.
• Milk is wanted for the baby, and the father is unable to supply it.
• The teeth on top are all right, but the ones in my bottom are hurting terribly.