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Welcombe, Stratford on Avon. - He and Caroline are also 'sorely exédés [exasperated]' by the way the King's death is treated by the newspapers, in which 'real emotions and sentiments' are 'overlaid and vulgarised by the perfunctory gush of writers who do not care about the matter at all'; like Elizabeth and Robert [see 46/170], wishes to return to the 'truths of life'. Even the comet [Halley's] has been 'made ridiculous'; has seen no mention that it has been growing smaller and more distant since it was 'a terror to the Turks in 1457'. More concerned about Elizabeth's trouble with the nurse, and Julian's progress. He and Caroline have been reading [John Lothrop] Motley's correspondence - the volume published in 1888 and the new one this year - which makes them think of Elizabeth and her family; there is a 'delightful picture' of his house at the Hague which was lent him by the Queen of the Netherlands [Sophie of Wüttemberg] when he was 'going downhill in body and in his diplomatic fortunes'. He himself, if not as good, is at least 'a healthier historian'.

Hague. - Condolences on the death of Lady Houghton.