Item 10 - Letter from Mary Elizabeth Wilson Sherwood to Anne Benson Procter

1 folded sheet.

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'.