Newport, Rhode Island. - Success of The Scarlet Letter etc in England; Hawthorne has enhanced unpoetic life of New England with a romance of its past; Hawthorne's reclusive habits; encloses an autograph [no longer present]; is sending Hawthorne's last volume, and a pamphlet of his own, via Chapman in the Strand. Report of poor American display at the Great Exhibition will be a timely blow to national vanity, but it does demonstrate America's lack of an underclass 'to produce luxuries for others, while they starve themselves'; hopes the same can be said in 1951 or 2051. Would like to revisit London. Has read Mrs Browning's noble new poem [Casa Guidi Windows] and Companions of My Solitude [by Arthur Helps]. Postscript: letters should always be addressed to Cambridge, Mass.
Printed notepaper, The Critic and Good Literature, 20 Astor Place, New York. - The Critic of 30 August is to feature congratulations to Oliver Wendell Holmes, 'the Autocrat', on his 75th birthday. Requests contribution from Houghton. Postscript: Holmes is unaware of the planned compliment.
Interview, reprinted from San Francisco Chronicle, denouncing Miller's work as lacking in true feeling. Accompanied by envelope addressed to 'Lord Houghton, Chairman, Newsreaders Benevolent Association'.
Illustrated volume to ommemorate the centenary of Sir Walter Scott. Presentation inscription by Messrs Ballantyne on flyleaf.
5 The Grove, Boltons, S.W (on embossed notepaper for Boscombe Manor, Bournmouth, Hants, this address crossed out). - Jeaffreson's book The Real Shelley apparently slanders the poet: should her husband respond, and in what way? Professor Dowden was given private papers and could refute Jeaffreson's statements, but his biography is not yet published; reviewers are mostly against Jeaffreson.
Printed notepaper, City Library, Bristol. - Urges adoption of second proposal in Wordsworth Memorial Committee's Resolution; it would be a 'peculiar and condign tribute in the region which he has almost sanctified' to commemorate Wordsworth in a Lakeland mountain sculpture of the type suggested for Alexander by the ancient Greek sculptor-poet Dinocrates. Sir Francis Chantrey 'had a strong desire to become proprietor of a mountain' for this purpose'.
16 Upper Brook Street [on embossed House of Commons notepaper]. - Would like to see proof again; Mr. Cheney's papers must be sent for revision immediately.
94 Finborough Road, S.W. - Fryston fire; has obtained interview with Lord Salisbury's secretary; hopes for success when momentous European events are settled; seeks further letter to Committee of Council on Education.
Graham's Town, Cape of Good Hope. - The new Governor Sir George Grey mentioned that Milnes had offered to do Knight a favour; has been seeking home leave on urgent private business for 18 months; scarcity of officers now relieved but the current General Officer [James Jackson] is 'the most implacable old gentleman that ever held command'; he will only allow home those who sell out; refused Knight's claim though it was supported by Grey and others; would Milnes urge it with Lord Hardinge. Jackson's nephew has enjoyed long periods of leave; believes he may have influenced his uncle adversely owing to jealousy of Knight's Indian service.
Thirlestane, Selkirk, N[orth] B[ritain]. - His son Mark seeks the office of Remembrancer for the City of London, which Mr Robartes [sic: Charles Henry Robarts] is to vacate after quarrelling with the authorities. 'Mr Robartes was so ingenuous as to desire to reform some of the Corporation. I am confident that Mark would not have been so simple. Solicits Houghton's influence in 'the Land of the Turtle' and asks him to advise Mark. Postscript: will remain at his current address until the Land Bill comes before the Lords.
Re portraits of Thomas Crew, 2nd Baron Crew of Steane, and members of his family: his daughters Armine and Elizabeth, his brother Nathaniel, 3rd Baron Crew and Bishop of Durham, and Nathaniel's second wife Dorothy Forster.
Reference to 'This Perugia business' being 'a bloody affair' [either the seizure of the city by Austria in May 1849, or the uprising in June 1859?]
With black mourning border [perhaps occasioned by the death of Milnes' mother on 1 May 1847?]. Address printed is 26, Pall Mall, but this has been crossed through and 'Membre du Parlament Brittanique' [sic] added in ink.
With additional note from A. Borghi.
Includes:
CB/173/1/43/2: Letter from Alexander William Phillips to his nephew Talbot M. M. Griffiths, 20 Jan. 1881.
CB/173/1/43/3: Letter from Ann Elizabeth Phillips to Talbot M. M. Griffiths, 20 Jan. [1881]
and letter from Rev. E. T. Mortlock
Is sending her book in return for Milnes' superior one. Her maids were shocked by 'The Brownie': 'They evidently took it as an obscure & vague calumny on the race of housemaids generally'. The Songs are proper ones and should be set to music. ''The Northern Knight in Italy is bad for young men - I mean to cut it out of the copy belonging to your Dedicatee [the Hon. Sidney Herbert]. Milnes' beautiful compression of ideas is in Rogers' style. Milnes and Fonblanque have cut her this Spring. No signature: adds illustration of a hanged man, 'Fate of those who attend yr parties & wear black crape masks'.
Written to Milnes in Italy. Enclosing verse in imitation of Tennyson [no longer present].
Embossed notepaper, Reform Club, Pall Mall. - Encloses invitation to Conversazione of the London of the London and Scottsh Literary Institute, to be held at its rooms, 11 Chandos Street, Cavendish Square. on 23 Jun. 1874. Asks whether Milnes wll consent to be one of the Institute's Vice-Presidents. Printed list of Directors also enclosed.
Black Swan, York. - Recommends Mr Noble for Governorship of York Castle; own incarceration there; domestic news. Adds postscript: will send a work of his nephew [William?]’s; flood at Ferrybridge; cordial reception by R. P. Milnes.
Castle House, Pomfret. Mr Skipwith of the Leeds Post Office seeking civil service post; local testimonials; petition against Sir James Graham's Bill; opposition to Milnes; family and farming news.
43 Queen Anne Street. - Hopes Milnes will address the Association for Promoting the General Welfare of the Blind; existing institutions for the blind will not admit them above the age of 21; receipt of selling price for goods would benefit blind workmen; hopes to found institutions for teaching trades to the blind; decreased isolation will lead to greater self-respect.