My dear Irene

Many thanks for your sister’s pretty little poem. I daresay it took great effect at your tea drinking. How much more beautiful Aytoun’s is than Tennyson’s and what a glorious day that was! I could see the bridal train rush by on the LSW, and hear the guns fired at Southampton. Our squire gave beef and beer to each family at home, and there was a grand bonfire on the hill

Thank you so ... continue reading

It is in an appendix to collected editions of Mrs. Hemans’ life and works, where she had made notes of subjects from history suitable to write poems upon, unluckily without saying where they came from. I have watched for this story for years . . . I will write to the friend who owns the copy of Mrs Hemans from which I took it.

My dear Mr Macmillan I think Miss Sewell and I pretty well came to this conclusion that the first of our periods should begin with William the Conqueror and end with the absolution of King John, so as to make its leading idea the great strife for supremacy between Church and State. I believe we have plenty of materials for a volume. She under takes the compilation of the materials, and I am to write the ... continue reading