1 letter, 1 Jul. [1851], Henrietta Crewe to Richard Monckton Milnes; 2 letters, 30 Jun. [1851] and 12 Nov [1851] from Milnes to Henrietta Crewe.
Tiverton. - Thanks him for 'his' letter with the good news about his mother. Will 'keep (or leave behind me) this letter, in the hope that you may be amused some day by reading it'. Was very glad to hear of his birth as she knew it would make his parents and grandfather very happy; hopes to see him next summer. Signed 'Anty Ett'.
Written by his father [? or by his mother Emma Blackburne]. News of his birth. 'My Papa was away when I was born, which I did not think attentive of him, but I hope he will make it up afterwards, by paying up debts, when I leave the University'.
Tonbridge Wells. With news of her children etc.
Taken from Butler's The Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs, and Other Principal Saints. In the hand of Annabel Milnes' sister Henrietta Crewe, a Roman Catholic; she underlines the fact that St. Robert was a Yorkshire native.
Aelred's saint's day is 12 Jan., the birthday of Robert Offley Ashburton Milnes. Taken from Butler's The Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs, and Other Principal Saints. In the hand of Annabel Milnes's sister, Henrietta Crewe, who was Roman Catholic.
Transcript
Dec. 5
Dearest A {1}
This is merely a P.S. to my last notelet to beg you to give my sweet & "blessed little Florey" an extra kiss from poor Anty Ett on her birthday,—; & to beg Richee's {2} acceptance, (ultimately for her) of my Copy of the Hungerfordiana, which he told me the other day he had been trying to procure & could not—
There were never more than 100 Copies printed—only 50 for sale—now six & thirty years ago—so no wonder.
He is to keep it, please, for his beautiful little Florey, as she alone bears the dear dear old name.
Neither Amy nor Robin have anything to say to it!—
I trust the sweet Rob does not feel these changes of temperature, & that you are all "flourishing"—
God bless you, my dearest—Yr most devoted
HMC.—
—————
{1} Followed by a heart containing the letters 'a', 'F', and 'R', for Amy, Florence, and Robin.
{2} The spelling of this name is uncertain.
Enclosing letter from Annabella Milnes to her sister, Hon. Henrietta Mary Crewe, 31 Aug. 1861 (2 sheets). At p. 73.
Tiv[erton]. - Very surprised to get Mrs Blackburne's letter [about the birth of Robert O. A. Milnes] as she had 'no idea' that the due date was so near. A comfort to think Mrs Blackburne is with her sister 'keeping all excitement or mischief away from her'. Has chosen a patron saint for the baby: Aelred of Rievaulx, whose saint's day is 12th Jan.: 'What a pretty name it would be to add to his others'. Good that he is a Yorkshire saint too.
Has written to Richard about Mrs Blackburne's mis-sent letter; she should tell him to write a 'threatening address to [the] Postmaster', Has had 'sixteen Pomfreters [to visit] & expect as many more today'; they had a 'jollyfication dinner [to celebrate the birth of Milnes' grandson?] yesterday of 18', with dry champagne. Guests included [Thomas] Thornhill, 'Dick Lee', [Charles?] Jerdein, Hart, and Mrs Fawkes.
Has 'quite a love for Miss Crewe [Annabella Milnes' sister, see HOUG/BN/3/8]. She would never come to Fryston, when I would have loaded the house with R[oman] C[atholic]s'. Told Annabella she had his 'full permission to make any daughter a RC'... has 'doubt as to the ROAM, or whether Amy could look grave enough'. More details about his guests, hunting with Galway etc.