Volume 58: Sir George Macleay correspondence, 1848-1880: No. 264
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[Page 264]
to your directions wh. I sent him.
We have had a dreadful winter, frightfully cold & destroyed playing the very mischief with plants which had I [indecipherable] for 3 years [indecipherable]. The Summer promises to be as bad in its own way. We have now [indecipherable] by hot weather & no rain. We are in trembling for the hay crops. I have been very much [indecipherable] lately & have left myself but a few hours for writing. Indeed I only came from London this morning whither I went to attend [indecipherable] wedding. It came off yesterday, a grand affair, a crowded Church & choral service!! where I saw the sea of faces all turned upon the unhappy couple. I would not but care to mind the expenses of Ld. Kilmarnock to house the [indecipherable] who attended him when he saw upon coming out on the scaffold the enormous mass of gazers. "Howi this is terrible". In what had [indecipherable] more matters are managed within modern times. Except for the [indecipherable] I do not know [indecipherable] time in Roman's life than the hour of his marriage & to be made a [indecipherable] of at such a time! It was dreadful.
[Beginning of letter turn sideways]
Pendell Court, Surrey
May 14.
My dear Friend
Let me first congratulate you upon your recovery from what might have been a prolonged & most troublesome & painful illness. From what you say it seems to have been the result of the bite of some insect, probably of a Spider. It is a great pity that you did not ascertain the fact by catching "the Cuss" at first. What others might be in these [indecipherable] such a venomous beast. by the St. Osyth which sailed last week you will have received - I write in the belief that she will make as good a voyage this time as her last - a case packed most carefully by Green. [indecipherable] containing a very firm lot of established well grown Orchids.
[At top of page}
I do not like Arthur's going to New Guinea but I wd. have gone gladly myself had I been in Sydney.
With kindest but [indecipherable]
Fr. yr. affect. Friend
Geo: Macleay
[Note at bottom of page - Lift here carefully]
Sir W. Macarthur