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8, Grosvenor Crescent, S.W. - The hard weather has 'carried off quite a group of [Sir George's] old London friends', leaving the same sort of gap as was left in his college circle by the deaths of Bowen, [Henry] Sidgwick and Edward Young. Goschen, Davey, Godfrey Lushington, and Allendale ([Wentworth] Beaumont) have all died within about a fortnight. Caroline and Booa [Mary Prestwich] much enjoyed their visit to the Shiffolds and meeting Paul. Was very lucky not to break his hip; is still lame. The Lords have 'a reform bill of their own House'; the "Times" seems not to think this is the business of the Commons, which is 'all very well if the same theory is adopted reciprocally' but they threw out the Plural Voting bill last year.

Welcombe, Stratford on Avon. - He and Caroline are 'very much affected' by the death of Elizabeth's cousin [Ambrosius Hubrecht]; he was a 'fine, rare person'; always remembers his speech at Elizabeth and Robert's wedding dinner. Thanks Elizabeth for sending Somerset Beaumont's letter; he was a 'man of society' of a kind which does not exist any more, and 'the new times were too much for him'. Fifty one years ago Sir George made a 'great, even frightful sacrifice' which was proof of friendliness to Beaumont; it was of no service to him but he never regretted it, and Beaumont and his 'important elder brother' [Wentworth Beaumont] always appreciated it.