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To Charlotte Fortescue Yonge
Elderfield
July 29th [1885?1]

MS Harvard University, Houghton Library

My dear Lottie

Many thanks for the Water Soldier who came in excellent order.2 Fancy Arthur Yonge being like Julian. He was in a very different style in his younger days being very dark and always carrying his chin rather in the air but I think his beard must have made a difference and I know there always is a tendency in us to be more like the Duke Yonges than anyone else. My mother and Aunt Duke were alike though no relations. Did you see Arthur’s very pretty daughter who is living with the Masons to go to the High School at Winchester3 The Moberlys are quite uncertain what will become of them, as they have not yet been able to find a house. We hoped to have the Bowleses here in August, but they cannot get their duty done, and have had to put it off. Joan is still with them. Mrs Beck is staying here till she goes to the Christening of her poor little grandson, who happily is a fine prosperous child4

your affectionate cousin
C M Yonge

1This letter clearly postdates the marriage of Louisa Alethea Yonge to the Rev. Henry Bowles in 1884 and since Arthur Duke Yonge’s only daughter was born in 1870/1 is unlikely to be later than 1888. It seems most likely that it was written immediately after the death of the Rt. Rev. George Moberly on 6 July 1885 and the death of Mrs Beck’s son Edward Walter on 5 May 1885.
2A specimen of the plant stratiotes aloides.
3Alethea Yonge (b. Italy 1870/1).
4Gertrude Walter’s stepmother Caroline Beck had two children, Edward Walter (1854-1885), an army officer who died in an accident, and Herbert Simcoe Walter (1855-1897). The grandson was perhaps born posthumously.

Cite this letter


The Letters of Charlotte Mary Yonge(1823-1901) edited by Charlotte Mitchell, Ellen Jordan and Helen Schinske.

URL to this Letter is: https://c21ch.newcastle.edu.au/yonge/3587/to-charlotte-fortescue-yonge-2

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