Item 22 - Letter from Venetia Stanley to Edwin Montagu

1 folded sheet

Tilstone Lodge, Tarporley, Cheshire.—Refers to the result of the South Somerset by-election. She and Oliver are staying with neighbours to hunt.

(Dated Friday.)

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Transcript

Tilstone Lodge, Tarporley, Cheshire
Friday

My dear Mr Montagu

I enclose 10/ which unfortunately I owe you for Somerset {1}. At one moment I thought I should be glad if Aubrey got in, and was prepared to be most sympathetic if he lost, but I’m miserable that we should have lost another good seat. He wont keep it tho’ I’m sure.

Oliver and I are staying away with neighbours {2} (not the Pride of Cheshire {3} tho’ I saw her to day) to hunt. It isnt very amusing and I regret the peace and chess of Alderley which is replaced by endless bridge and inane conversation about our other neighbours. Oliver frets under it too, even more than I do as he is less well socially trained. Alderley looms like a haven tomorrow.

Dinner now, I’m far too sleepy and tired for it.

Yrs
Venetia Stanley

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{1} Venetia and Edwin had apparently had a wager on the result of the South Somerset by-election on 21 November, in which Aubrey Herbert, the Unionist candidate, defeated Henry Vivian, the Liberal, by the narrow margin of 4,878 votes to 4,730. The seat had previously been held by for the Liberals since 1892 by Sir Edward Strachey, but it became vacant on his elevation to the peerage.

{2} Tilstone Lodge was the home of Charles Threlfall and his family.

{3} Barbara Tomkinson, daughter of James Tomkinson of Willington Hall, Tarporley.