My dear Miss Smith, I enclose the Greenwich division of Frances. You see necessity drove me into splitting her into smaller fractions than I like, but I could not help it, and I can give you a most notable account of her popularity, everyone is delighted with her, and most especially those who are used to work of her description, which is the very best testimony to her excellent portrait painting. I hope you ... continue reading

My dear Christabel Photography must certainly turn you into a most pensive mood. You are a great contrast to the solid jolly damsel in the old Gosling book. Your Ridge is very good. I will send it round with the answers, but as yet I have had no answers but Cricket and Lady bird, and the Turks cap has been so ill used that she has had neither questions answers nor Barnacle, this time – so ... continue reading

My dear Mrs Donkin, As soon as may be I will get the Summer Vacation sent to the press, but it cannot be before October at soonest that I send it - as all these remarkable events have thrown other M S back. I have a Naval Review just come, to complete the series you began.

By the by, it was a Woolwich cadet’s uniform that prince Arthur wore - as the daughter of the late commandant ... continue reading

My dear Florence

You have a birthday so seldom that one recollects it, so pray accept my best wishes and this tiny book. I am afraid there is a little black speck on its cover, but do not look to reject it on that account I hope you received the second volume of Thrupp on the Psalms. I do not like all of him, though I have learnt a great deal from him, he does not ... continue reading

My dear Florence-

It is a very good story, but I wish it had not been about an election, for I have another election story which I cannot throw over. It is by my poor old friend Fanny Wilbraham, who is so nearly blind that it is a wonder she has written it at all, and it is really very good. It is the conduct of a Cheshire peasant the other day, but she has put ... continue reading