Volume 80: Lady Sarah Macarthur letters to Elizabeth Macarthur-Onslow, 1863-1890

bad colors Your uncle & the coach man the greatest sufferers – Edward's a bilious cold – & the other a Quinsy but luckily all were ailing at the same time so – here we are all right again – we have only been once at Richmond – tho' we often see them here – they have almost; indeed I may say they have made up their minds to go to Rome Naples – and other places leaving England as near the 7- of Febry as possible – and I fancy that it will be the "merry month of May" before we see them again – both are very well – one day about three weeks ago – we had a call of Adl [Admiral] Erskine – and were very sorry to hear from him that the day before Poor Gvnr Wynyard had died suddenly – the day after we went to make enquiry – and found he had been taken suddenly ill on Tuesday night – & died early on Thursday – luckily his son was

at home we have called frequently since of course not seen Mrs W – I was told yesterday by yr Aunt Emme that as soon as they could manage she leaves her present house – and goes to one in Gt George St. Westminster Lady C Arbuthnott and Lady Gipps her only two neighbours we have in Chester Street much lament her leaving them – and all so regret the death of the old Gvnr – he seems [to] have been much, and deservedly loved – one more will much miss them when she returns Emmie Leslie – I wonder what she will say to the marriage of her friend Mr George Fitzroy – I see it is gazetted as one of the fashionable alliances to be in the Illustrated Times of this week Mrs Macleay told us of it yesterday – he had been accepted last Saturday and as said newspaper tho' dated Saturday is on yr table on Friday – he had not allowed the world to be long uninformed

from my picture – so there must be a likenes – yr gd [good] mothers picture they have not yet [original text crossed out- finished] done with – when they have quite finished your picture from it we are to have one done – & your Aunt E: is to superintend & give hints – your copy was too nearly finished for them- to receive any further advise – not that your Aunt proposed to give any but when she said some things Miss Day regretted that she had not heard so – & so before –

of his happiness – the Paper calls her Miss Eugenia Chapman – daughter of Mr David Barclay Chapman of Rockhampton – Mrs Macleay told me she had between 80- & £100-000 so Master George has done well – some thing prevented me askng if it had been a rapid affair – or the lady difficult to bring to terms – for he had all arranged to start for a winter at Rome when this cheerful termination changed all – the Marriage takes place soon, & they are to live in London – I hear of Emmeline at Nice (I think) she writing to say she has met with some pleasant people – one a Mrs Hamilton I know her she finding her – "a kind old Motherly person such as she values – one she "can lean on" – &c &c &c – I was amused at the description as I much doubt if Mrs H- looks on herself as quite so grave in years – however Emne writes home of good health – and enjoyment so her journey has been a successful one hitherto – I heard of her from Martha

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Anne Davidson as well as from her sister Mrs P Leslie – The Davidsons wished to go there to day but – I resisted for 2 reasons – one – there is at least 2 inches of snow on the ground – and secondly it is Sunday – and I dare say I may add – another reason & one I made use of – that tho' we would have driven to – & from in a cab – and not been actually exposed yet – from our's & their's (warm room) – into a damp cab – he wd have been sure to have woo'd back his cold – tho' I dare say Mr D- would have welcomed us – such a day yet I am not quite sure – that M- A- likes Sunday visitors – the poor thing looks very deplorable – she does not say she is ill – yet looking back on this almost day two years when I first saw her – I see her so – changed – Mr Davidson looked when I first saw him wonderfully well – he one day in calling here, and he seems to have

pleasure in doing so –- he seem'd that day very pre-occupied – and in leaving the room he said to Edd I have seldom out of my mind – her who was last here with me – but he is very cheerful too poor Man – & M- A- seems a very devoted daughter – The reason he looked less well after our first sight he had cut his hand badly & tho' it is I believe healing in a wonderful way – both the loss of blood – for it wd not quite stop bleeding for 24 hours – & the pain – had made him look less strong – it was a wonderful escape, he must needs get on a table to open or shut the upper Part of his window, the table gave under him & his hand went through the glass – Mrs Winham is to be with them as soon at [as] their Xmas duties are over – she from fatigue and excitement after Mrs D's death – was very unwell – her illness a great disappointment to all – but she has become much stronger lately – We were at a very gay Marriage lately indeed not more than 4 days ago – the bride groom young Leslie – Mr Patrick