Pakenham History : Joseph Alfred Hardcastle MP And Nether Hall

Part 7 - Nether Hall : Visiting Rights

31
Mary Scarlett Hardcastle to Maria Hardcastle
Nether Hall, 12 December 1870

Original
My dear Maria, I am so sorry that in the confusion of our all leaving Nether Hall the same day I forgot to send your tea caddy by Winnie, as I had intended. We came down on Saturday evening only and no one was here, as Emily went to the vicarage while we were at Felixstow, fso your request could not be attended to last week; but I will now make up a parcel of your possessions and send them to Thurston.

We were nearly snowed up at Thurston and the sport suffered very much from the weather, but it was a famous large house to be shut up in, with halls and saloons worthy of Dizzy's describing powers, and all warmed with hot air. It felt dreadfully cold when we came back here; and, though it rained all this morning, the horrid snow refuses to disappear.

We think of coming to town the first week of January and our present plan is to return here about 20 May and spend Whitsuntide here and not come at Easter. And we should like you to turn over in your minds and let us know as soon as you can whether you would like to come here during all or any of that time; that is from the beginning of January to 20 May.

I dare say the house will be empty and available to you during a good part of June and July, tho' we cannot say anything decided about that till nearer the time. It is already a great stretch of imagination to carry ourselves on to 20 May 1871, tho' we have made that effort in order that we might have something settled to propose to you.

Of course you cannot answer by return of post on so grave a matter, but I shall be glad to have your reply as soon as possible, as sundry arrangements in the house depend upon it.

The new suit is not pale coloured, but the darkest and most sober brown. I must confess, however, that it is very handsome and becoming.
Yours affectionately, Mary Scarlett Hardcastle

***

32
Joseph Alfred Hardcastle to Henry Hardcastle
Nether Hall, 13 December 1870

My dear Boy, Milton, Paradise Lost, 4, about 150 lines from the end. The two seraphs, Ithuriel and Zephon, find Satan, etc, etc. I have not got an annotated Milton. Happy thought, will steal Greene's. I daresay there could be a reference to Dante, who by the way was not much better a churchman than Milton.

Have you heard of Mr C.'s adventure with the bicycle?(112) I am afraid it has spoilt his best horse. I believe Mr C. is returned to his London house.

Mary wrote to Maria yesterday. I hope we shall be able to arrange the times and seasons to our mutual convenience. There seemed to be a suspicion that Jinage might have something to say to Maria's servants.(113)

We enjoyed our Adams visit as much as we could, considering that it snowed hard at the time. Lots of hares, no rabbits, few pheasants. Very fine house and they say 32,000 acres of land, not between all in a ring fence but in twenty parishes.
Your affectionate father, JAH.

(112) Possibly John Corsbie.
(113) Jinage, unidentified and name uncertain.

***

33
Maria Hardcastle to Mary Hardcastle
13 December 1870

Copy
My dear Mary, I think I can fully as well answer your letter today as a fortnight hence and you may like to hear before we go to Collingwood for Xmas. We have no present intention of letting our house next spring, and if no unforeseen event occurs shall probably continue in London till summer. We could not, however, pledge ourselves that between the present time and twenty-fifth of May we may not wish to go to Nether Hall. If any of the children were ill, or seem to require change, or for any other reason we were obliged to go out of London, we should naturally prefer going there to going anywhere else. And if there is no particular reason why we should not go there when we wished, during your absence, we should very much prefer not to tie ourselves to times and seasons.

I quite forgot to add yesterday, as I had intended doing, that I am only too happy to say that no 'unavoidable fate' awaits me this summer, which would make a fixed point in the year for us. I did not mention it solemnly before, as of course you would have heard long ago if such a troublesome event was likely to occur this spring, but Mr Hardcastle's letter this morning seems to shew that you are not certain of it, so I write at once.

***

34
Mary Hardcastle to Maria Hardcastle
Nether Hall, 15 December 1870

Original
My dear Maria, I congratulate you on the happy announcement conveyed in your letter this morning. But I had not anticipated any 'engagement' on your part and heartily hope for you that the whole year 1871 may be one of rest and holiday.

We do not wish you to pledge yourselves not to come between this and 20 May. We have only given you due notice that during those four and a half months the house will be empty  and at your service; and, if you had taken a fancy to feel what January and February are like in Suffolk, I should leave down some carpets for you. However, as you do not seem much inclined to desert London, I shall proceed to put the house into winter order.

Your book is found and I am going to make up a parcel of your tea caddy etc tomorrow. I hope 'Conny' enjoyed her first play. I remember quite well the first time I went and the intense delight and wonder it was.

A dinner party at the Gages has been our only dissipation this week: twenty people; a great man cook, who refused £400 a year, down for a week to dress dinner etc.
No more time, your affectionate Mary Scarlett Hardcastle.

***

35
Joseph Alfred Hardcastle to Henry Hardcastle
Nether Hall, 20 December 1870

Original
My dear Boy, One line to wish you many happy returns of your birthday, which ushers you into the thirties. I think I shall send you one or two letters which I found the other day announcing your birth.(114) Every day makes me feel more and more how short life is! Our best love to Maria and the babes, your affectionate father, JAH.

(114) Writing from Writtle, Joseph Alfred Hardcastle reported the birth of his first child, Henry, to his stepmother, Eliza Hardcastle, on 24 December 1840. 'My dear Mother, I have just been called in from the counting house, where I began this letter, to lift my dear wife out of bed and to a sofa, while her bed is being made. This will I hope convince you that she is going on pretty satisfactorily. I believe nothing could be better than her state. The boy does well and sucks to admiration. Mr Fletcher came down last night in spite of mine and Barlow's repeated hints. As he very naively expressed it, he thought it would be better as we should thereby get a quiet day on Wednesday. You see from this how much he cares for Fanny's welfare. However, she did not find out that he was come till today. I must own the particular description of the boy for a future opportunity. Perhaps if mother and child go on well I may pay you a visit on Friday, as I expect very much to come up to town for a day. Your affectionate son, J.A. Hardcastle.' Templehouse Papers, N69. Barlow, unidentified, was probably the obstetrician.

***

36
Thomas Usborne to Henry Hardcastle
Writtle, 8 January 1871

Original
My dear Henry, We are of opinion that the most correct thing under the circumstances would be for Maria and the Honourable to settle the matter between them; but, owing to the fact that one lady is very strong-minded and the other a little excitable, we fear that a correspondence might arise in which the latter would get the worst of it. We therefore think it better that you should write to your father requesting him to forego his visit to Nether Hall in May for the following reasons and no more:

1. You would suffer much more inconvenience than he would.
2.  You would be put to a great expense.
3. Ladies do not like a different doctor each confinement.

Both Blood and Mr Woodhouse think that it is for me, not either of them, to say whether you can take another house. I think you had better not.

1. There must be a certain expense attaching to it.
2. You would be playing your father's game exactly.

His sole desire is that you should take a cottage of some sort or another – or any sort – near Nether Hall, so that he should get rid of the idea of your ever going to Nether Hall, any more than Edward and Winnie or Alice and myself. And you would find that, if you did take a house, you would never put your foot inside Nether Hall except by special invitation.

Love to Maria, who must not be excited at these times, your affectionate brother Thomas Usborne.

***

37
Henry Hardcastle to Joseph Alfred Hardcastle
9 January 1871

Copy or Draft
My dear Father, As Maria has discovered that she may expect to be confined about the beginning of next May, I write to ask you a special favour to allow us to go to Nether Hall again this year, in the same way we went last year. You have already given us notice that you wish to have the house to yourself by 20 May, and I would not trouble you in this way if it were not for the following reasons:

1. Maria is desirous of employing Jinage for the event.
2. That if we go elsewhere it would put us to a great expense.
3. That you will be put to much less inconvenience in foregoing your visit there in May than we shall be if compelled to go elsewhere.
If you will accede to this arrangement, Maria and I shall both be exceedingly obliged to you.

***

38
Mary Hardcastle to Maria Hardcastle
Nether Hall, 10 January 1871

Original
My dear Maria, I do most sincerely condole with you, as you do not seem to enjoy the prospect of this fresh addition to your nursery; but after all, as you must have a certain quantity, they may as well come as quickly as they can and then you will have done with nursery cares. It certainly is very unlucky for us this year, as we wished to come here ourselves in May and hoped to have been able to let our London house for some weeks; but we cannot refuse Henry's pathetic appeal to let you come and be under Jinage, and save you and him all expense and inconvenience.

We are very busy packing up. The house is already three parts dismantled. Carpets and curtains have disappeared and fourteen boxes have gone off to the luggage train. We dine tonight at Barlow. On Friday we go to Writtle to dine and sleep, and hope to be at No. 54 on Saturday night, dining at Curzon Street on our way there from Shoreditch.

With all good wishes from us both that No. 5 may be quite as darling as the other four. I remain, dear Maria, yours affectionately, Mary S. Hardcastle.

***

39
Joseph Alfred Hardcastle to Henry Hardcastle
Nether Hall, 10 January 1871

Original
My dear Boy, The quiver appears likely to be very full, but you can't well have too many like the present little flock. Of course we must give up our intended little visit of Whitsuntide, but it can't be helped, as I should be very sorry to prevent Maria coming under the sphere of Jinage, and Chesham Street is not a pleasant locale for an invalid, particularly in May. I send you another compliment of the season, not a long one, enclosed with mine, of somewhat (but not much longer) dimensions, JAH.

***

40
From Maria Hardcastle to Mary Hardcastle
11 January 1871

Original; with previous letter
I must send you one line before you leave to thank you for your letter of kind condolences on my unlucky prospect … However, I do thank you very sincerely for allowing me to go to Nether Hall for it, as this house would be simply intolerable, having no bathroom; and I derive a gleam of comfort from thinking that, after all, it must not practically interfere with your plan of coming down at Whitsuntide, as I devoutly hope to be quite halfway to recovery by 20 May. Pray thank William Herschel particularly from me.

***

41
Thomas Usborne to Henry Hardcastle
Writtle, 12 January 1871

Original
My dear Henry, I am glad to find that the question of Nether Hall in May is settled to your satisfaction. Your father's letter is just what you might have expected. He is not fool enough to do a gracious thing ungraciously. As to the other letter, I confess I do not understand why it was written except in answer to one from Maria. However, I consider it as a sign of unfriendliness, great unkindness and marvellous stupidity.

I believe Alice has written to Maria to the effect that we look upon your letter as an invitation to the metropolis and accept the same. You must, however, explain to Maria that I hope she will not invite a score or more of old ladies to drink tea, sit up late and sing 'O for a closer' or 'Abide with me' after I have gone to bed. My health would not stand it.

I should like to see the pantomime on Tuesday evening and go to any other theatre you like on Wednesday. I must go home on Thursday. I shall get to your house about 8 o'clock on Monday, as I dine with the publicans at Rochford on that day.
With love to Maria, your affectionate brother Thomas Usborne.

***

42
Sidney Lidderdale Smith to Frances Mary Smith
Nether Hall, 13 November 1871

Original
Nether Hall, Bury St Edmunds, Wednesday night, 11.30 p.m., 13 November 1871
My sweetest darling, My only pleasure is in writing to you. I have just come up to bed. I have never felt cold till now, since I was in Suffolk before! Oh, you are snug at bleak Brampton.

We got here about five. I wrote to you, and to Mrs Dent of Cambridge to say I doubted it that I could come to see her husband en route. Unpacked and put my things straight; down and talked and read the paper till 7.30. Dressed. Dinner at eight on account of 'Thomas', Mr Usborne, the near Chelmsford brewer (oh! he just is a snob; some little humour too about him), but to him 'Henry' is the refined gent.

We went into dinner at eight, I taking Mary, and Mary Hardcastle on my left. 'Thomas' arrived at 9.20, dressed remarkably quickly, I must say, and drank beer and told brewers' jokes. She creamy and good looking. 'Peace and Plenty' her father calls her. Mary, 'our' Mary, looks quite out of character among the lot and must feel it, I am sure. He, Joseph, is very kind, I am sure, but has a spice of the vulgarity enjoyed by his 'Henry' and 'Thomas' and female connections.

We had roast codfish and leg mutton, etc; all very fairly done. Table not exquisitely adorned, one glass presenting a leaf of ivy and a hip fruit. The Joneses are gone abroad for six months. Tomorrow we are to shoot, if shoot we can. I am horridly pained and distressed. Oh, my darling, my darling, if I were but with you. I have a good wood fire, but the temperature is that of an icehouse.

Joseph told me he had 800 acres altogether:(115) must let for £1600 a year at least (good land):
£800 Emily
£600 Mary
£3000
So he must have bread and cheese at present. They came from Hawley the pastryman's this morning. I believe the Usbornes roll in riches; and is not 'Henry' a partner? The two cousin Hardcastles are not striking; have lived at Freiburg.

I don't think the Henry Hardcastles and Usbornes seem to notice Mary. Mr Joseph in an old velvet suit, knickerbockers, brown stockings and shoes with small buckles. Why? Must turn round and try to warm myself. No blankets to the bed!! Mary says she wants to show me a church or two on Friday, so I suppose I must stop till then. It is doubtful whether I can reach Harboro' before five on Saturday. The trains are so awfully slow. I hope I shall have time to add to this tomorrow after we come in from shooting.

Thursday, 5.45 p.m. I have come up to put off my wet things and dry and dress myself. It has been a terrible day for our job – snow, sleet and rain, and so bitter! If fine, it would have been a nice day. Lots of rabbits. Our bag is about three hundred head: 193 rabbits, seventy-five pheasants, two woodcocks, fifteen hares etc. Ourselves and Mr Tom Thornhill, Mr Rodwell, and a Mr Lofft. I was so bad all day in my inside, I was unsociable. It is a case of many days' constipation. I could not touch a bit of lunch and would rather not eat a morsel. To see them eat and drink was astonishing!

I must say they all seem very kind, so I have not the heart to say a word against them; and Mr Usborne is an Irishman, so I forgive his vulgarity for the sake of his humorous face.
[End of letter missing; no signature]

(115) This may have been land rented but not bought, as Nether Hall itself had only twenty-five acres.

Frances Mary Smith (Mary Scarlett Hardcastle's cousin)

***

43
Mary Hardcastle to Maria Hardcastle
Nether Hall, 8 January 1872

Original
My dear Maria, Being left in solitary possession of this noble mansion, I have time to think about it and make plans, and I may as well impart to you the latest form of our plans, in case it should have any effect on the fashioning of your own.

We do not propose coming down here regularly at Easter, which is early this year (31 March), but then do propose coming on a little before, at Whitsuntide (19 May), and then probably staying on here as our headquarters and, if possible, letting our London house for a few weeks; in fact what we intended to do last year, but gave up doing on account of you and Mira.

As you have not announced the approach of another Mira, I hope no such engagement awaits you, but if it does, while we are here, we will gladly install you in the best room and wait upon you with all care and attention; but I fear we could not undertake to have the rest of the small tribe. If you wish to come with them, the house will be at your disposal from the time the little Usbornes go away till the month of May, very likely till 15 May, unless we have to let our house from the first.

It is horribly cold here, though we are lucky in having no snow or frost, and the sun has been so kind as to shine with all the vigour that he is capable of in January.

***

44
Mary Hardcastle to Maria Hardcastle
9 January 1872

Copy
Dear Maria, Thank you very much for giving us such a timely sketch of your own plans for the year, as we are also beginning to think of our movements . I suppose that, as you think of making Nether Hall your headquarters after 1 May, we had better not, after that month, count on coming there at all till 1 September. Could you answer me this as soon as possible, as it affects the terms on which we let this house and this is the right time to fix such things. Etc.
You will have to adopt the motto.(116)

(116) The Hardcastle motto was 'Deus mihi munimen', 'God is my strong tower'.

***

45
Emily Hardcastle to Henry Hardcastle
Nether Hall, 4 July 1872

Original
My dear Henry, I have been thinking a great deal about the conversation we had the night I dined with you and Maria, when I think I understood you to say that Father receives £1000 a year from you. The impression upon the mind of the family at large here is that the sum is £500 a year. Did you not also say that it would be cheaper for us to live nine months in the year in London and not come down here at all? If you think these questions impertinent, don't answer them, but believe me ever your loving Emily E. Hardcastle.
I am so sorry we cannot come with you to Ireland. I should have enjoyed it so much.

***

46
Henry Hardcastle to Emily Hardcastle
5 Paper Buildings, Temple EC, 5 July 1872

My dear Emily, I don't consider your questions at all impertinent; on the contrary, I very much prefer giving information than withholding it, which is usually the family tactics. In answer to your question, it is quite true that only £500 actually passes from me to my father in hard money; but in addition to that I have agreed to indemnify him against the £500 a year which he is bound by our marriage settlement to pay to our trustees, so that if I were to die tomorrow (and in fact when I die), or if the agreement were to cease to be acted upon, he would be a loser to the extent of £1000 a year. There is an agreement in writing about this (and it also contains other matters) which my father has, and which he can shew to you if he likes, and then you could understand the whole matter.

The answer to your second question, which I intended to convey to you last Friday, was that if you settled to live at 54 Queen's Gate Terrace for nine months in the year, and let the other three months take their chance, I thought you had between you an ample income to live comfortably on, that is to say, you have:

Mary	£600
Emily	£400
Mother	£600*	*i.e. £542 5s. 7d. rent free and £100 besides
Father	£400

It is perfectly clear that on this income you cannot afford to keep an establishment both in town and in the country. (This was pointed out to my father three years ago, but he determined to try the experiment.) Therefore the question for you to decide, which of the two you should make your home at. You know that I am willing to enter into almost any arrangement you may like to offer with regard to Nether Hall. I cannot offer any suggestion because I don't know what your wishes are. Hoping to see you and Mary on twenty-sixth, yours etc

***

47
Joseph Alfred Hardcastle to Henry Hardcastle
54 Queens Gate Terrace, 4 July 1872

Original
My dear Boy, I am sure Maria knows how keenly I felt your and her kindness in wishing Mary and Emily to go with you to Ireland. I did not even know that an answer had been sent; and of course to say they can't afford it is not literally true. But I suppose what was meant was that they could not afford it by the sacrifice of something which they preferred to it. Of this I am certain, that they felt it to be very kind in you to ask them – and that I did so too. And I have not the slightest reason to think that there is any hidden cause preventing them from going.

As far as I am concerned, I should like them to do anything they liked themselves, and I do my best to avoid all unnecessary expenses on my own account, so that I can't blame myself with spending money on myself which might be spent on them. I confess, however, that I had rather not ask for money for Emily, and I don't think she would like it herself; at all events not to be spent on her own amusement, while other people had to deny themselves. But it is hard for me to have to talk about these things and all I beg of you is not to think that any reason except the wish to avoid expense has dictated Mary's letter. I do feel that it was kind of you to ask them and so do we all.

I daresay Jenks will tell you about the Reform Club row on Lord Aberdeen. It is too long a story to write, but I will tell you when we meet. The letter in the Times today, signed a 'Member of the Police Commission' is mine. The letter was published yesterday in the Daily News without the last paragraph. So much for honesty. Yours affectionately, JAH
There is nothing in the House this week, so I go today to Nether Hall.

***

48
Draft by Henry Hardcastle, No date

Copy or Draft
My idea, when I wrote the letter you refer to, was that you were agreeable to what had taken place in previous years should be taken as a precedent for what would be done in the future; and that no particular day should be named for our departure.(117) Term does not begin till 2 November and I have never wanted to come up to London till about a week before. I said 'say 15 October' because that is the day when quarter sessions usually commence and often that day my movements are necessarily uncertain.

***

49
Maria Hardcastle to Mary Hardcastle
4 Chesham Street, 30 July 1872

Copy or Draft
Tuesday(118)
My dear Mary, Before we talked together on Thursday evening I never had any other idea that that Henry and I would come to you(119) with the children and their three nurses (who would quite take charge of them), but your speaking of our coming thirteen strong, and your thinking of 'turning out' in consequence, completely puzzled me, as it had never been suggested before, and so I hoped that five minutes' talk would have explained it all and saved time.

I should like to bring Houseman very much.(120) (Of course in that case we would hand over his board wages to you.) But I should prefer(121) to have our housemaid here to housekeep with the cook, and, if you want it, to hire a 'girl Burton' or someone down at Pakenham. It has occurred to me that you mean by 'turning out' that you might wish to be making some visit about then and that our having a competent staff of servants would of course make it easier for you to take away some, if you wished it. That could easily be done, any time you liked. At any rate, we can certainly bring Houseman and send for the others if you found it necessary.

Your answer to my note asking to see you on Friday was addressed here on Saturday, so I didn't get it till Sunday. I did not answer it at once because I thought it would have been better if I could have seen you.(122) Yours affectionately, Maria S. Hardcastle.

(117) Initial paragraph of draft crossed out. 'My intention when I wrote the letter to you was to fix 1 September for certain as the day for our coming (but to leave open the day for our departure); but not to bind myself to any particular day, what has taken place in previous years being taken as a precedent for what would be done in future.'
(118) Envelope. Addressed to Hon. Mrs Hardcastle, 54 Queens Gate Terrace, SW. Memorandum on it by Henry Hardcastle. 'This letter was shewn to my father by me at 14 Curzon Street on 31 July at 10.30 p.m. but not sent to Mrs Hardcastle; but on the next day the letter dated 1 August was sent, N.B. My father called at Chesham Street on 1 August and had a conversation with Maria.' Henry and Cecilia Vaughan Johnson lived at 14 Curzon Street.
(119) Crossed out, 'on 1 September or about'.
(120) Crossed out, 'I suppose you really would like me to bring the housemaid and Houseman'.
(121) Crossed out, 'like to know decisively about it, as that will  only leave our cook alone here, and I have just forty-eight hours to secure an "elderly party"'.
(122) Crossed out, 'and because I besides hoped to see you. As it is, I don't know when I can get an answer to this. In great haste'.

***

50
Mary Scarlett Hardcastle to Maria Hardcastle
54 Queens Gate Terrace, 31 July 1872

Original
Wednesday morning
My dear Maria, I have refused all invitations for this year and I had no idea of suggesting your bringing servants 'to make it easier for me' to go away.(123) Of course we count upon Houseman coming. If he did not come, I should have to hire another man. I suppose he won't object to cleaning the shoes and boots of your party, including children and maids, and to helping in the pantry. I fancy he is an obliging man.

For the rest of the work I shall get extra help in the house and in the kitchen from 1 September to 15 October, as of course a second family makes double work, but I can find two women for this without troubling you to bring your servants from London.

But what I want you to write about is your ideas of putting up the children and nurses, and how and when and where they are to be fed. You must remember that your party is larger and older than when last I entertained them two years ago. If you will tell me what suggests itself to you, I will do my best to meet your wishes so that everything may go smoothly and comfortably during those six weeks.
I am just off to Bethnal Green. Yours affectionately, Mary S. Hardcastle.

(123) Note added by Henry Hardcastle, 1 August 1872.  '"When I pay visits I don't usually take a cook and housemaid with me". NB My father told me he had scratched out these words from the original draft lest they should offend Maria.'

***

51
Joseph Alfred Hardcastle to Maria Hardcastle
No date

Original
Two cots are enough; or even one.
My dear Maria, We have been proposing, or rather we are, doing up the east north room, which we think will take some of your party in as a night nursery. The Peacock Room will be the other night nursery and Dangerfield's room the day nursery. I think I said something about giving them Gillingham's room upstairs, but the stairs leading to it are not very fit for young children, so we have moved Dangerfield instead. We will try and make you as comfortable as we can. Yours affectionately, JAH.

***

52
Maria Hardcastle to Mary Hardcastle
No date

Original or Copy?
My dear Mary, I have jotted down all I can think of now about the children, so they are entirely kept in order, rooms and all, by the nurses. It only leaves out one bedroom for the servants extra and I can't quite imagine it requires another housemaid for that. But if you have extra help in the kitchen, as I said before, we will gladly pay for it. I am sorry I did not know before Thursday that you had counted on Houseman. We did not think of taking a man servant or any unwelcome domestic, without arranging it especially with you; but, as you said on Thursday, he was indispensable, we will bring him. I am glad that it will suit you.

You have unfortunately (and unnecessarily, I think) misinterpreted the spirit of my letter. But it appears then that your phrase of our coming as a party of thirteen, and your thinking of 'turning out etc' was said merely for the purposes of wounding me? I had no other motive in suggesting about the servants than the hope of pleasing you by trying to make you feel less tied by our presence, but you curtly reject my well-meaning effort to understand you. I will try to be more formal in future, although I cannot help trying to do all in my power to please you. Yours affectionately, Maria S. Hardcastle.

***

53
Maria Hardcastle to Mary Hardcastle
4 Chesham Street, 1 August 1872

Original
My dear Mary, I am sorry to have left your letter so long unanswered but could not quite help it and, as we start almost directly, cannot write a long letter even now; so excuse a little brevity.  I find that you have seen the memorandum I have jotted down about the children; and, as I believe, it entirely answers a big question and I don't think there is anything now to explain, except that I hope you will allow us to pay for the extra help in the house which you mention, as I said before.

We are thinking of returning here for the last week of August, as Henry has promised to attend the Mendicity Society then and I like to come to Nether Hall on the 31st (Saturday), if that day will suit you equally well? But perhaps you would allow me to write again for certain when we come back from Ireland. Our address till Friday week will be at Clifton, Cork, and Killarney for a few days. I am sorry I could not say goodbye to you. Yours affectionately, Maria S. Hardcastle.

***

54
Joseph Alfred Hardcastle to Maria Hardcastle
54 Queens Gate Terrace, 3 August 1872

Original
My dear Maria, Mary is hard at work packing as I write a line to you to say that we will do the best we can for your accommodation in September. We have not yet quite settled where to pack you, but a little squeezing will manage it all. Pray do not think of offering to pay for any extra help, as we can on no account consent to that.

Let us hear how you got on and how Essex holds its own against Ireland for cricket. I don't know whether you have been to Bantry Bay; but, if you haven't, don't lose the opportunity; and if it had some trees it could be perfectly lovely. Let us know later on whether you stick to Saturday 31st.
Yours affectionately, JAH.

***

55
Maria Hardcastle to Mary Hardcastle
Collingwood, Hawkhurst, 24 August 1872

Copy
My dear Mary, We came here last night and found all the 'infantry' is good order, but baby is grown positively ugly, I regret to say. I think you will be pleased with Johnny. We shall go up to London again on Thursday and then, if that day will suit your plans, we shall hope to come to you on Saturday, joining the nursery party at Shoreditch and coming to Thurston by the usual 3.30. Would you kindly order the Thurston fly for us and I wonder if Hale has any other vehicle besides? As we shall be such a party, perhaps he has some cart or van for the luggage. I will send down two cots from London as soon as I return. Would you like me to send now? (The nursery has all its own set of linen, quite complete.)

On looking over your letter to me, I see you mention 15 October as the day we should probably leave Nether Hall, but as this is rather earlier than we have left on previous occasions (unless you have special reason for wishing us to go on that day), we should propose to stay till about the 22nd. The elder child would then most likely go to Writtle for two or three weeks and I should only keep baby to London (etc etc about Willie only).

***

56
Mary Hardcastle to Maria Hardcastle
Nether Hall, 26 August 1872

Original
My dear Maria, I am very sorry indeed about your poor brother, tho' I have known so many cases of people being sent away from India frightfully ill with fever and having recovered on the way home that I have good hopes that this will also be his case.(124) I suppose they would telegraph from Suez, so we shall hear something more this week.

We shall be ready for you on Saturday, and we will lay hands on all the carts and flys available to bring your party and luggage. As to the 15th of October, that is the day named by Henry himself when he wrote suggesting that he and you and the children should be invited to stay here 'from 1 September to 15 October'. On the strength of this we have told several friends that we can receive them on or after the 15th of October and I am afraid we cannot undertake to keep the children after that day, though we shall be very glad if you and Henry like to stay on another week.

Many thanks for offering to shop for me, tho' I don't think there is anything I want; or, I should rather say, nothing that I can't do without. You will find Cecie still at 14 Curzon Street, if you want somebody to speak to. I should think you and she will be almost the only occupants of London this week. At the end of it she and her husband go to the Baltic and the children to a cottage in Surrey.
Yours affectionately, Mary S. Hardcastle.

(124) Sir William Herschel, second Baronet, who pioneered the science of fingerprinting, spent a number of years in India as an officer in the Indian Civil Service.

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57
Henry Hardcastle to Joseph Alfred Hardcastle
4 Chesham Street, 27 August 1872

Copy
My dear Father, There seems to be a difference of opinion between us as to the day on which, by our agreement, we are bound to leave Nether Hall. You appear to consider that we are not entitled to stop after 15 October, and you say that I named that day myself. I have just looked at the copy I kept of the letter you refer to, and I find (as I thought) that my expression was not as Mary quotes it, but from '1 September to say 15 October'. By this expression (and as I think the rest of the letter shews), I had no intention of binding myself to go for certain on that day, which is at least a week earlier than we left in 1867, 1868 and 1869, and is also earlier than we left (I think after some little discussion on the subject) in 1870.

I put this clearly at once in order that you may understand my view of the matter. Of course if you ask us as a favour to go away, this year, on 15 October (without prejudice to future years), we shall be happy to do so.(125)

(125) Also crossed out section. 'My view of the matter is that no particular day has been named for our departure. We were clearly debarred from coming till 1 September, but that no particular date has been named for our departure.'

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58
Joseph Alfred Hardcastle to Henry Hardcastle
Nether Hall, 29 August 1872

Original
My dear Boy, I am sorry that our views are different on the question of your letter. As, however, we wish rather to run the risk of inconvenience to ourselves than put you to any, we shall expect you to stay till 'about the twenty-second', the time which Maria mentions.

Please to thank her for her letter and tell her that the packages have not yet arrived, but that I have no doubt we shall hear tidings of them today. The cart and other conveyance shall be at the station at 3.30 on Saturday. Yours affectionately, JAH.

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