Chelsea A; sent to Trevelyan at Westcott. - Asks to be given dinner tonight, and for a room to be reserved in the village.
Wallington, Cambo, Northumberland. - Glad all in order at home, and that Elizabeth and Robert enjoyed their stay at Wallington; wishes the weather had been better so they could have made more excursions. Now very cold, but yesterday was 'delightful' and they drove in the afternoon to Capheaton for a sale of some of Sir John [Swinburne]'s cattle. Miss Fitch recovered quickly and left yesterday, returning all the books; the good uncle [Charles Augustus Fitch?] will be relieved. Glad to hear the negotiations with the V[aughan] W[illiams]s are 'satisfactory' and that they 'propose a lower rent'; hopes the agreement will be drawn up and the architect will get to work soon. Has been reading Madame de Lieven's memoirs; they are 'amusing up to a certain point', but she thinks her 'much over-rated'. Thinks George has returned from Wales; Charlie has gone to visit the Bells before 'starting his campaign of speaking'. 'Old Anne' is visiting, and Booa [Mary Prestwich] is very happy; Booa hopes Elizabeth got the parcel. Asks whether Elizabeth is having friends to stay, and whether she wants a melon, also whether she is quite well again. Glad she enjoyed the music at Chillingham; hopes she finds a good violin before long but it is right not to hurry. Has been looking through her autumn and winter clothes. A separate sheet says she thinks it is possible to get good dogs cheaply from the Dogs Home in Battersea. If Elizabeth wants a Dandy [Dinmont] 'like Pepper' they can get one in Wallington. Annie [Philips] also knows about them.
8 Grosvenor Crescent, S.W. - The wedding [between George and Janet Trevelyan] is over, and now the family is 'all married'; wishes Robert and Elizabeth had been there as it was a nice, well arranged occasion. She, Sir George, and Booa [Mary Prestwich] arrived by train in Oxford just in time for the Registry, which was 'in a shabby little first floor room', made nice with 'carpet & flowers' but much inferior to the Hague; description of the short ceremony there, with only the 'nearest relations' and some of George's friends. They then went to [Manchester] College to meet the friends who had just arrived by special train from London. The chapel is 'extremely pretty, with lovely Burne-Jones windows'. Order of service originally enclosed; describes the address, in which 'there was nothing the least doctrinal, but it was very high toned & 'ethical'". Many guests, including Meggy [Price], Annie [Philips], Harry Greg, 'a number of Wards & Arnolds & Croppers', the 'H.Y.T.s' [Harry Yates Thompson and his wife], 'the Bell connection, & the Stanleys in numbers'. Also Mrs [Alice] Green, Henry James, 'Ritchies, Freshfields, Sidgwicks, Mr [Hugh?] Clifford, the Holman Hunts, Russells, Muggins Runcimans', many Oxford people and 'an array of George's friends'.
They then went into the library, a 'fine room with beautiful woodwork, & painted windows, & a statue of Dr [James] Martineau' for tea, took the special train back and were in London by 6 pm. Sir George was unwell with a bad cold for two days before, but got through; it was a warm day and he does not seem worse this morning. George and Janet went to 'a quiet place in Surrey' for a few days then on to Cornwall; will then return to London to 'put their house in order & go abroad'. Describes Janet's wedding dress and travelling dress.
Received the box of things from Taormina yesterday [see 11/93]; 'very nice, & just suitable for a bazaar'; will write and thank Madame Grandmont [Bramine Hubrecht] for ordering them. Sir George sends love, and thanks for Robert's last letter; he is reading Lord Acton's letters 'with amusement and interest', having had to stop work for a while; she thinks 'working too long at the B.M. [British Museum] made him ill' and is 'sure it is full of germs'. Charles and Mary were 'much to the front' at the wedding, and Mary looked 'magnificent'; dined with them last week in North Street, where everything is arranged nicely. Supposes Robert and Elizabeth will return to lots of business about the new house and hopes it goes well: 'the old judge [Sir Roland Vaughan Williams] has had plenty more time to think it over'. Sir John Swinburne's engagement has been broken off. Hester Lyttelton and Victoria Buxton are both going to be married.