MS King Edward VI School, Southampton.1
My dear Mrs Harrison,
I begin to fear that ‘Katharine Charlotte’’s photograph could not have taken effect, but you see I send her (or you) one of her godmother – It was done by one of my cousins, and if any of the kind friends at Whitburn care to have the like, we are selling them for a shilling apiece, our mercenary spirit being roused by the desire to build a school for the new Church at Eastleigh. I am told I ought to charge /6 more if I write my name on it but I have not made up my mind to be so rapacious. I am afraid this early sudden cold must be very trying to Mrs Collinson, I hope she is in her warm house at Elrig. I suppose you and the children are in the north, I hope I may see you next year. For the present I am going into Devon, hoping to return just before Christmas, but I shall be at home all next week I do not fancy travelling in the middle of the elections.2 What a state of things it is! And shall we be the worse or the better for it. I am tempted to end my letter as emigrants do – ‘with love and respects to all enquiring friends’
yours very sincerely
C M Yonge