Stuk 62 - Letter from Henry James to Richard Monckton Milnes, Lord Houghton

1 folded sheet

After Lord Houghton’s death in 1885 his library passed firstly to his son the 1st Marquess of Crewe, then to Peggy, Marchioness of Crewe, and eventually to Lord Crewe’s daughter the Duchess of Roxburghe.

The book containing this letter forms part of the bequest of Mary Innes-Ker, Duchess of Roxburghe, 2014.

3 Bolton St. - Thanks Lord Houghton for his note about the book [The American]; agrees that 'the Bellegardes are rather "belated". They would have been more probable under the old régime; but I suppose a novelist has always to force matters a little. But even to modified Bellegardes an American savoring much of the soil would never have been acceptable. The French don't at all like the Americans (according to my observation) - none, that is, save M. [Charles Frederick] Worth; & he, I believe, is English!. But the French, after all, don't like any one but the French!...'

Hopes that Houghton has completely recovered. Will leave town in a few days, but will visit Houghton before he does so. 'Yours faithfully & gratefully, H. James jr.'

Tipped in between the second and third flyleaves of the first edition of Henry James's The American (Boston, 1877) in the Crewe Collection. The third flyleaf has an dedication in James's hand: 'Lord Houghton with cordial regards of H. James jr.'.