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

Leslies son – the Young Lady the Youngest daughter of a Mr Kerrison Harvey of Thorpe in Norfolk – from Mrs Leslie's note to me wandering our invitation a formal one set us wondering who the K: Hs Cd be the note was dated Brynton – and knowing no one there but the Barlows we fancied it must be Mr Franks future Mama who requested the pleasure of we – so as no succeeding post cleared up the mystery I wrote and said to Mr F Mt Barlow "art thou the man" – and a funny note from Mr B Senr and Mrs Leslie's note came together – one denying all knowledge – the other begging we would say yes – as there were few to represent the Leslie connection – and fewer still the Macarthur – so we went – and really it was not only a pretty party but what is very unusual a very merry one – we found them at St Peter's Eaton Sqre at 11- 30 – and were among the first to leave the

Grosvenor Hotel at nearly 4 – and were really not tired – The Breakfast occupied a long time a party of 70 – we sat down with excellent appetites – and the people of the Hotel had done their part well – The Youth has made an excellent marriage as far as connection for they are a very large family & all seemingly well married – Uncle Aunts Cousins &c – on either side of the ladys family but in the mean time I fancy the purses are not very ponderous – I like Mrs Leslie his mother – she must have been very pretty – but now seems much out of health – Lady Outram was there – she is a very pleasing person – we were especially introduced and spent much of the day together having an endless list of mutual freinds and interests there were 7- bridesmaids – and 2 Grooms men – one a bonnie wee boy a small nephew of the Brides – the real one – Charles Wickham – who is

now Quartered at Woolwich – and to be of our guests for our New Years dinner which is to be on Monday the 2d our guests are this time Lady and Miss Simond Lady Gipps – The Parkers Lady Smith & Miss Woodhouse Genl Bloomfield – Mr Fullarton – Mr Campbell an Engineer freind of mine now at Aldershott – Mr Burnett & Mr Wickham – we dine at Emmelines on the 25 – and stay all night & probably two nights – we are to meet there Lady Gipps & her son – that Hero I have never yet seen – so I wonder how he will get on – should the snow still be on the ground – he cannot go – forth the land in quest of fun and adventure so per force of necessity we must be all amiable and amuse each other –

That little Widow Frisky Mrs Dunsdale is in Ayrshire at present – trying to coil her fascinations round a Mr Mur nephew and successor – in profession to the Mr rich Mr Bairds the Iron

Masters – whose wealth almost sounds a fable – but I think she may smile in vain – I am not very inconsolable that she is not here for I could not have been so cold in feeling as to exclude her from my party – and to say the least we shall get on better without her –

I have not yet seen Mrs Bonham Carter – but as I must go some day soon to her neighbourhood – hope to find her there in – I found Mrs Charles Norman at home – but could only remain a very few minutes – as I was that day from the illness of the coach man walking – he now having a famous assistant in the house a small scotch Page – I had then a horrid cough – and the fog having come on thick I sent him for a cab – and made my visit short found her – and her chicks looking well & blooming in spite of each & all having whooping cough – which was so mild as to be a thing she

could laugh at – Yesterday we had lunch at the Mallorys both were well tho' he had had Lumbago – they received Williams letter which gave as you will know a very unsatisfactory acct of the brother in Sydney – we wished them to dine with us on the 2d but they refused. I see she has many fears what the next mail may tell them of Mr W Mc Leay – I fancied from what she said yesterday that their going out to Sydney were he to continue very ill would not be a thing impossible –

I hear constantly from home – all well – and often speaking of all of you and like ourselves ready to welcome the letter which tells of your safe arrival give my love to William I hope tho' he might laugh at such an account of gossip were he here – that he wont do so so far away – but that as it is in vain to try to fill by the same mail two long letters to the same house that he will listen to this and