Dabton <1>
22nd Dec. 1876
My dear Papa,
I am afraid you must again have had a fearful storm at Bournemouth. Here it was a perfect hurricane on Wednesday night, & an enormous quantity of trees were blown down in all the woods around, including a large beech tree not far from the house, which fell right across the avenue, & all yesterday & today a lot of men were employed cutting up and removing it. we have had a little snow today for the first time though the hills have been white for some days, but down here it does not lie. Tomorrow we are all to go to Carruchan & remain till Tuesday. It is such an large party that I much wished to remain here, with Miss Robertson, going over only on Christmas day, which would have been quieter altogether, but Tilly<2> would not agree. She has sent you today 4 pheasants, and a hind quarter of roe-deer, which latter is most excellent roasted or stewed, and does not require keeping like venison. I hope it will not be delayed on account of Christmas. Major Bowden was here yesterday shooting for John<3> has taken quite a sporting turn since Jack’s<4> arrival, and they keep the house and their friends well supplied.
We were all much interested in the extracts of T. Schliemann<5> letters, but what surprises me most is that such enormous treasures can have remained undisturbed for so many centuries, and then were simply dug out where they were expected to be found. Are all these really to remain at Athens?.. It seems a great pity in a country which is often so unsettled. –
My hands are cold, as it smoked so in my room I was obliged to let out the fire; but I hope you will be able to read this.
Please tell Mama<6> I don’t think there is any need to disturb Lowe’s mind at present – & Ela that I have written to S. Spedding.<7>
Love from all
your most affectionate daughter
R.
Notes:
1. Dabton, Dumfriesshire: home of WHFT’s daughter Matilda.
2. Matilda Caroline Gilchrist-Clark, ‘Tilly’, née Talbot (1839–1927), WHFT’s 3rd daughter.
3. John Gilchrist-Clark (1830–1881), Scottish JP; WHFT’s son-in-law.
4. John Henry Gilchrist-Clark, ‘Jack’ (1861–1902), WHFT’s grandson.
5. Heinrich Schliemann (1822–1890), German archaeologist, excavator of Troy, and Mycenae in 1876.
6. Constance Talbot, née Mundy (1811–1880), WHFT’s wife.
7. Probably related to John James Spedding (1834-1909), JP.