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(notation in pencil "18837"; top center of page 1)
(notation in pencil "33"; top left-hand corner of page 1)
May 21st London
Dear Jervy - Since the receipt of your dispatches I have been in dread lest the news should reach Edwina - as yet she knows nothing, the blow will come soon enough. The first dispatch stunned me - but I concluded to wait a day & the next morning your second came (then in Paris) which relieved me. We arrived here last night & this morning your sad letter came and a paper (the [Iron, ?] I think) from some one else. The poor girl was cheerily packing in preparation for our departure next month - overhauling a great
number of trunks which require at least a weeks' work -- and I destroyed the paper quickly & hid yr. letter till I had a chance to read it privately. In a day or two she must know all about it, & I feel very writched about it. Of course You did what was right, but oh, if the publicity cd. have been avoided, if a day longer had been held in suspense till he came back. She begins to worry about the length of time since she heard from Downing -- I hope he has been able to write since his return. I long for another letter explaining his conduct & telling me he is all right.
I did not deem it wise to tell Edwina anything till I knew the worst -- for her health is not strong enough to stand the shock & till it is necefsary I shall keep the knowledge from her. I feared - when I learned that he was at office - work - that he could over - work his brain, and Edwina wrote to him on that subject; I dread now to think of the consequences of this affair. How will it end? Will his brain be ever restored? Who can tell! None of you seemed to see what was apparent to me before Edwina in great grief told me the sad change in him towards her, and consequently, you could not think it unsafe for him to do
anything that would tax his brain. It was natural, for he seemed to improve so rapidly. Poor fellow! I do hope that relief will come tomorrow or the next day. But what is to be the future of these two -- on whom we all set such hope! God help them! We are here only to get our things in order. I have taken the earliest pafsage pofsible & on the 9th we sail by the Gallia.
God blefs you, Jervy. My dear love to all.
Ever Yours
Edwin