2017-02

Letters of Hidden Love
Can you guess who wrote the
following fragments from
letters and to whom they were
addressed?
1. Victory, October 19 1805
My dearest Angel... I rejoice to hear that
you are so very good a girl, and love my
dear Lady Hamilton, who most dearly loves
you. Give her a kiss for me... I answer
your letter, my dearest Horatia, to mark
to you that you are ever uppermost in my
thoughts. I shall be sure of your prayers for
my safety, conquest, and speedy return...
Receive, my dearest Horatia, the
affectionate parental blessing of your
Father.
2. When she bolted to Scotland the
writer gave her father a parcel directed
to the addressee containing her keys
and accounts. It also contained her
wedding ring and the letter attached to a
pincushion.
My dear Mrs Ruskin,
...you will fi nd enclosed my marriage
ring which I return by this means to your
son with whom I can never hold further
intercourse or communication...
The Law will let you know what I have
demanded and I put to you and Mr Ruskin
to consider what a very great temporal loss
in every point of view, your son’s conduct
has entailed upon me for these best six
years of my life. My parents have entirely
approved of the steps I have taken and my
mother accompanies me to Scotland.
I remain yours truly
Euphemia C Gray
3. The Athenaeum, July 4, 1904
Darling Chuck; I sends my love; I left the
new nest early this morning & have tried on
my velvet clothes & sword & am going to
see the King tomorrow - SO you may think
of Buckingham Palace about 12 o’clock. I
shall go home very quiet cos I’m building
a nest for zu! I sits in zu’s chair ... & smile
& sinks about my baby, such a silly goosy
faser. Zu’s Faser.
4. Brinkwells, Friday May 17, 1918
My dear Windfl ower; ...It is divine (here)
just now but I fear the fl owers will have
vanished, the primroses will have gone but
the woods are still carpeted with bluebells
- but the heavy rain of three days ago
tried them severely and they looked rather
faded. I have been down the wood and told
them YOU are coming and asked them to
remain for your loved visit. ...but the thing
is to bring yourself and rest; there will be a
full moon and all lovely and nightingales.
Love EE
Answers:
1. From Admiral Horatio Nelson’s last
letter to Horatia Nelson, his lovechild
daughter by Emma Hamilton (said to be
Nelson’s adopted Godchild).
2. From a letter by Euphemia (Effi e)
Gray/Ruskin/Gray/Millais to her motherin-law
Margaret Ruskin (mother of
John Ruskin). Trapped in a loveless,
unconsumated marriage for seven years,
Effi e had escaped to Scotland where
she later married John Millais, the Pre-
Raphaelite painter. They had eight children;
the third daughter, Alice, married Sir
Charles Stuart-Wortley, MP for Sheffi eld.
3. From a letter by Edward Elgar, on
the eve of receiving his knighthood, to
his daughter Carice. Although his wife
(another Alice) kept Carice well hidden
at boarding school or with relatives, she
could not prevent a deep bond of love and
understanding developing between father
and daughter.
St Chad’s Church, Linden Avenue, Woodseats
Church Offi ce: Linden Avenue, Sheffi eld S8 0GA
Tel: (0114) 274 5086
Page 20
email: offi ce@stchads.org
website: www.stchads.org