Item 76 - Letter from Paul François Hubrecht to Sir George Trevelyan

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Prinsegracht 10, 's Gravenhage:- Acknowledges the receipt of Sir George's letter of the day before yesterday [13/40]; is happy to say that on their side they 'consider the matter [of Robert and Elizabeth's engagement] sufficiently fixed to make it known on both sides of the family'; the 'young people' are very happy at Robert's parents' 'goodness'.

Outlines Elizabeth's personal circumstances: her property may be estimated at a 'hundred thousand dutch florins'. a third invested in 'landed property' a third 'in mortgage' and a third in 'shares and public funds'. She intends once married to 'manage her financial business herself', as she has done since she came of age, giving then [?] a 'hundred pounds a year to her husband for sustaining the household'; in this she is following the precedent set by her sister on her marriage three years ago.

As the "exceptional institution.... the Equitable Mutual" [with whom the insurance on Elizabeth and any children will be settled] is unknown to him, will be happy to have, at Sir George's 'convenience, some printed report of it'

He and his wife are glad that they 'are not completely strangers for one another', as proved by Sir George having come to Holland before, and his 'profound knowledge of Dutch history'. Apologises for 'writing bad English', as he is not at all used to corresponding in it, and is 'very grateful for [Sir George's] present and future indulgence'.