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HOUG/A/A/1/10 · Item · 25 Feb. [1886?]
Part of Papers of Richard Monckton Milnes, Lord Houghton

18 W 32 N St, New York. - There was a slight error in the address of Procter's letter, so Sherwood has only just received it. Cannot immediately send Lord Houghton's last letter to his son, though she has always intended to do so; 'it is a most precious autograph, written but a short time before his lamented death saying that he hoped to assist at Westminster Abbey at the services in honour of General Grant'. Many of Lord Houghton's other letters contain 'gossiping details of great persons', which he wrote to her in confidence 'with permision to use them "after everybody was dead"'. Intends to leave them sealed and directed to the second Lord Houghton.

Lord Houghton always showed 'a curious literary and intellectual interest' in her; he told her 'many good stories' which she thinks he meant she should 'incorporate later in some sketch of himself'. Is very glad to have seen him with Lady Galway at Rome in the winter of 1884; 'her devotion was beautiful'. Glad Mrs Procter sees 'so much of Mr & Mrs Phelps, we are very proud of them'.

HOUG/A/A/1/11 · Item · 17 Jun. [1887?]
Part of Papers of Richard Monckton Milnes, Lord Houghton

Buckingham Palace Hotel. - Lady Galway asks her to send 'these precious letters' to Houghton; is 'glad to return to the son, a part of the debt I owe to the father'; knew the first Lord Houghton from 1869 until his death, and he was often a visitor at her house when in America; she gave him his 'first large reception' in New York and had the pleasure of being with him in Rome in 1885, when he wrote her the 'pretty Valentine' she now sends. Has 'never met so curious a combination of wit and tender heart'; thinks Houghton's 'own lines should be his epitaph: "A helping hand to the weak /A friendly hand to the friendless...'.

Has other letters of his at her country home and left them behind when she left hurriedly to reach London for the Jubilee and could not find them; asks if she may send them if she does.