8, Grosvenor Crescent. - Glad that the Hardys [G. H. Hardy and his sister?] have arrived. Caroline mentioned La Croiz to the Arthur Elliots, as they are going to the Riviera at Easter, but could not tell them whether there were 'good drives' which is important as he is 'very lame'. The last days before [George and Janet's] wedding are most exciting; the Wards are 'wonderfully energetic' and their arrangements go well. Went to see the presents yesterday; there seemed to be almost as many as C[harles] and M[ary] had, though there were fewer presentations and large things. Janet had 'some very nice offerings from her girls, & many servants & poor people'; lots of books, silver, cheques; Janet's trousseau was 'nice and useful'. Hopes the weather at Oxford will be good. Caroline, Sir George and Booa [Mary Prestwich] are going down before the special train to be at the registry. She and Sir George have not been well; thinks Sir George was doing too much, so he is resting. The Duke of Cambridge has died, so there will be no question of going to Court tomorrow; is glad as it 'seemed so inappropriate'. Has a note from [Bramine Hubrecht at] Taormina saying that the things have been sent; hopes they will arrive soon. Hopes the concert went well. The H[enry] Y[ates] T[hompson]s 'would be sorry not to be able to stop'. They [the Liberals] have won another [by] election, and 'the Gov[ernment] are in a poor way'.
Trinity Lodge - Invites H. R. H. the Duke of Cambridge to dinner during his visit the University for the installation of the Duke of Northumberland as Chancellor.
Embossed notepaper, Osborne. - Will consider claims of Major [Hon. Horace Manners] Monckton if there is a further increase in the Cavalry.
With a few copies of verse by others.
128: Letter from Robert Pemberton Milnes to William Constable Maxwell, [summer 1857]. enclosing verse, 'Ode to the Queen', written in 1854. Feared Indian Mutiny for years; Duke of Cambridge and Princes should have been sent to the colonies as rulers. Postscript: has acquired a book called The Convert through letter from Constable Maxwell's wife.
130: Poem by Robert Pemberton Milnes on the loss of Captain Wyvill's fortune in States Bank failure. [n.d.]