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Montmorency. - Would have enjoyed a visit from Milnes as the train journey from Paris only takes 40 minutes; fears they will not meet again; Vichy waters made him so ill he had to be carried; nearly died of 'gout of the stomach' last month and was burned by an iron in the confusion; only kept alive by his wife's care. Tom's career as a country gentleman far better than a life of worldly vanity; Milnes has been both the 'brilliant political meteor of Bolton Row' and a simple farmer at Thorne, but perhaps neither satisfied him; good reports of Milnes' son's new wife. [Section missing]. Discussion of inappropriate business speculations; Spencer Cowper has sold one of his Norfolk estates. [End missing].

25 Rue Olivier. - Dated 'Sunday - Sept. 29' but the date is a mistake for 'Sept. 28'. On the ill health of his uncle Godfrey: 'he is just like my father in the later stage of his illness'. Godfrey's wife, whom George is 'convinced is an excellent woman & whose devotion to him is intense' thought on Friday that 'every breath would be his last'; he seems much better now. Has had some discussion with Godfrey about his property; expects that Godfrey has left it first to his wife and then to him but does not know the exact terms; does not think she would ever make 'improper use' of it and she is 'much to be pitied'. Asks after the 'fair invalid' [Milnes' daughter in law?] whom Milnes is looking after at Bawtry, and says that Lady Galway's 'commissions' will all be carried out tomorrow. Small postscript conveying Godfrey's love, though he is 'kept very quiet'.

25 Rue Olivier. - Godfrey Bland died this morning around eleven, 'almost without a struggle'. The scene was 'most painful... his poor wife adored him - & all his servants loved him so much'. They discussed his affairs before his death: Godfrey made a will a year ago before the marriage, leaving all to his wife except two hundred pounds to George and the same to Frederick, and something to his servants; he intended to alter it but had no strength left, and has told his wife he trusts her to give George twenty five thousand francs instead of five thousand. She will have a residue of about six or seven hundred a year, which will leave her very comfortable.
Godfrey will be buried as he wished at Père Lachaise, probably on Friday.

Will do all he can to help the 'poor widow'; such scenes as the ones this morning, '& the one at Bawtry - (how is A[nnabel?] poor little girl) - painful tho' they are - tend to make one a wiser and better man'

Made at Doncaster, witnessed by Beckett Denison and Godfrey Bland.

Congratulations on Milnes' son Richard's marriage. Skill of [William] Eyre in Kaffir campaign, gives details. Wyvill will try his luck in Mozambique shortly. British cruisers recently foiled three Spanish slave ships; Portuguese Governors also flout slave treaties. Death of poor Godfrey Bland: 'I wish he had left his money in a more satisfactory manner to his family'.