Dear Mr Macmillan I wish to consult you on a matter that I am taking in hand.

Hursley - beside the recent association with Mr Keble has a good deal of local interest connected with it. It has the remains of an old Castle destroyed in Stephen’s time, and the customs of the manor’ are all complete

There are a few curious local anecdotes connected with the place, and there is correspondence in Cromwell’s life about his son ... continue reading

My dear Bea, No doubt this extract is what Carlyle went upon. Oliver Cromwell’s - or the Commonwealth Great Seal as figured by Knight has the map of England and Ireland on one side, and (apparently) parliament sitting on the reverse. The authority for it is not given. Rapin’s history however says that Richard had a new Great seal made for himself, and this must be the thing that was hidden, as it was an awkward ... continue reading

My dear Edmund Thank you for the result of your audacious bit of sacrilege, and also Mr Hardy. Mr Bowland’s epitaph, I am glad he was a keeper of the parks and not of the swine! Duthy read the name Bockland and Marsh Bowland He must have been a man in good odour with employers and tenants I wonder whether his eulogy is the work of a Bishop’s Chaplain or a ... continue reading

Dear Mr Macmillan I hope to send off the illustrations - or the material for them on Saturday.

I will write to Mr Portal, the Chairman of the Quarter Sessions for permission for the portrait of Sir Wm Heathcote

Two books are with them - one (Lady Heathcotes) for the sake of the old views and plans - it is the original book by Marsh.

The other belonging to me is the Revd J.F. Moor’s written about 1860.

The ... continue reading