Michael D.Heath-Caldwell M.Arch.

1892

File PB130091

Bill from Wiesbaden

D.B.Fol. Wiesbaden, den 8 June 1892

Rechnung fur Mrs Marsh-Caldwell, Hockwohlgeboren

Von Gebruder Wollweber

Langgasse Netto comptant

2 Figuren a 21.- 42.-

[next line unreadable German]

Fr GebrWollweber it Heil

Portound verpackung 4.-

Envelop

Mrs Milbourne Marsh

Rocklands

Brisbane

Queensland

Postmark

Worcester

XI

Feb 13 92

Powyke

13 February 1892

My dear Grace,

I have to thank you for a photograph of Brisbane received some little time ago, and now for your nice long letter of Dec 10^th. No doubt you have heard that beyond the fright and the inconvenience little harm was done by the fire at Linley Wood. It might have been a much more serious affair had it occurred at night instead of mid-day. Nothing then could have saved it. As it is only the dining room and two rooms over it were burnt. And the pictures, china, valuables and furniture were saved with very little damage to the latter. Posy was staying with us. Her room was quite burnt and she lost everything except her jewels which, wonderful to say, were all ultimately recovered from the debris which had fallen into the dining room below it. But the Insurance has behaved very liberally so it really will be a case of exchanging “old lamps for new” and all her best gowns were safe in another part of the house. So only that round bow looking to the [flower?] garden has to be rebuilt. The other rooms were of course more or less damaged by the water with the windows destroyed to get out the furniture which was done for precaution, as there was no telling how far the fire would extend. As it happened none of the rooms from the drawing room and breakfast room upwards need have been disturbed. Everything is to be restored as before I believe. Of course the whole dear old place presented a scene of devastation grievous to behold but my dear sisters were none the worse for the shock and are very comfortably settled in London for the time. They expect to be able to return home in June I think. I will tell them of your wish about the Marsh Portraits. The suffrage our household has happily totally escaped so far. One of the four houses I know where it has not paid a visit. Duke [Crofton] had it rather severely but has now recovered, also Lady Lefroy, the children slightly. Maude bravely “stood to her guns” and nursed all the invalids. She and Duke [Crofton] are coming to town on a visit next week and come to us on their way home.  They will meet Amy who is taking her two girls to London for a weeks sight seeing whilst Edie, the eldest goes to Heathyfield, Harry’s house[?]. May, their sister, is now at Algiers for the benefit of her health. Amy’s youngest boy has now gone to school and it is generally a very small quiet party at Brighton now. A great difference since you were here. We hope Harry’s sight is rather better than otherwise but whether or no he is perfectly independent and thinks nothing of walking all the way alone to Aldershot and back and lunching at the Artillery Mess. I do not think any one can be happier than he is in spite of his great misfortune which would quench most people entirely. He has an excellent, devoted and talented wife. [Helen Milman, Mrs Caldwell Crofton] She is bringing out a new book and drawing all the illustrations for it. They have constant visitors and are very popular in the neighbourhood. Dick is well and content. I think your prognostication will not come true in his case. He seems quite satisfied to remain a bachelor and his Battery in which he takes the greatest interest seems family enough for him, and a very well constructed family too and has just passed a splendid inspection and received no end of praise. We hope he will get leave this summer and that we shall have the joy of seeing him safe and well. You do not give a very bright account of Australian prospects, but what can be expected when the power is practically in the hands of the ignorant and selfish majority whose only idea is self-interest without a gleam of patriotism and absolutely influenced by the wire pullers who think only of place and have no respect for Truth and Facts. I feel glad I have not to live in the 20^th Century. But I may be all wrong and sincerely hope I am and that these gloomy forebodings are only a symptom of old age. I wonder if you would like this gloomy foggy day better than your brilliant sun and the heat thereof. We have had very little of that for the last two years. The rewards for the loss of our dear [grand Prince?]  (Prince Albert) has been very unwelcome he was so amiable and so promising and all the circumstances were so touching and tragic. Lord Dudley married a Miss Gurney, niece of  Val. [Princey, Bing?] the artist. She was brought up by the Duchess of Bedford as her father has been in “hiding” for years. I know not for what offence and her mother does not bear a good character so the marriage was anything but pleasing to his mother. But the young [man?] is doing so very well since his marriage that she must have a good influence. They say he is very clever. Herbert Heath has a little daughter born to him in Valetta. All her family are with her there now.

My dear husband is in his usual health. I am my dear Grace affectionately yours, Frances Crofton  

Expect to be able to