BCARS
Add MSS 412 Box 6 File 2
94 Piccadilly. W.
13th December
Dear Mrs. O’Reilly
I have your letter today, somewhat delayed by an accident which seems to have happened near New York. The mail bags were swamped with water somehow but your letter was still readable.
I am sorry I did’nt make myself quite clear – not doubt when I wrote I was still a good deal upset, and I only remember, when Jack wrote me that my name had appeared in the Victoria paper giving what seemed to me a garbled version. I felt an impulse to write to you (as I did a few other friends) and tell you the facts – – – – I did’nt want you to think I had been making proposals to your daughter when tied to another direction, which I was’nt. You might have thought that this all occurred after my return to England, whilst Miss Kitty would have known differently. so I though you were all entitled to know the truth. I think, with your woman’s wit, you have grasped the position in which I was placed, as you say that I allowed myself to be run away with by “Kindness of heart”, which I believe to be the truth & it’s so kind & nice of you to say so. Perhaps my heart was really still far away in B.C. but no matter. I am somewhat happier than I was – all my relations have been so kind to me, though I still feel I should like to be out of England if I had an occupation. Please forgive me for writing all this about myself. it seems so selfish and won’t allude to this subject any more. I’m sure a change to this country would do Mr. O’Reilly good, you should go on persuading him. I had a visit from Mr. Hunter Blair a few days ago, who gave me the latest Victoria news. It was too sad about the Canadian premier dying suddenly at lunch yesterday at Windsor after having been sworn [?] the Privy Council; poor man, he seems to have been suffering from heart disease for some time.
Thank you so much for your kind letter which I was to glad to get. Please give my kindest regards to all of yours, and
Believe me
Very sincerely yours
Harry Stanhope
Back to 1892 Correspondence
This collection of letters has been digitized from an earlier transcription project and is for informational purposes only. This transcription has not been verified against the originals. Researchers interested in these letters should consult the original documents housed at the BC Archives.