Congratulations on engagement.
One letter with addition by Bartholomew Eliot George Warburton.
The verse is prefaced by Matilda Warburton 'Lines sent by my dear Husband to his sisters when he thought himself dying at Dublin'. First lines: 'Gentle Even! thou art dying / As I, ere they return, may die...'
Pencil number '3' added to front.
Junior U[nited] S[ervices] Club - London. - There is still 'reasonable ground of hope' [that his brother Eliot Warburton survived the sinking of of the Amazon in the Bay of Biscay on 4 Jan. 1852]; knows his brother 'was completely dressed on the deck, calm and collected', having heard from Mr [Frederick] Glennie, a passenger already rescued who knew him well. His brother's wife and their sister are here at 23 Savile Row, and 'full of hope, the suspence [sic], however, is little less dreadful than the last certainty'. Knows Milnes will sympathize with them in 'the time of bitter trial'.
Pencil number '2' added on first page.
Dingle Cottage, Ledbury. - Today received 'the cleverly executed miniature which certainly does recall one expression of that most dear countenance [her late husband Eliot Warburton]'. Did not think 'so good a likeness could be produced'. Recognises the added interest the portrait has 'coming to me from the hands of his two best friends'; gratefully accepts the gift 'in memory of an affection which followed my husband through life' and as evidence of continued friendliness towards herself. Is going to stay with her brother-in-law George Warburton and his wife when they are settled in Kent, and will pass through London, but is unsure whether she will see Milnes there, but will certainly 'obey the summons whenever you tell me again "to come and see you in Yorkshire"'. Asks to be remembered to Milnes' wife; will not 'forget her Orphans but all my people will belong to the wrong Asylum'.
Pencil number '2' added on first page.