| Description | His mother's telegram is now two days old, 'in all its brevity and suddeness' [the death of Sir John Frederick William Herschel]. There may be more in the mail arriving in two days, before they write with 'weak words' on the event. He gives words of comfort and writes that the telegram arrived while he was in court on Friday 12 May, serving its purpose in anticipating the newspapers, although there was nothing in the Saturday papers. Emma sent word to him to return home to read it. He has had kind words and messages from neighbours, speaking also of the public loss. Emma will forward some of these. He has sent a telegram to Johnny [John Herschel] and asked him to forward any other telegram he might have received if different. [From 16 May] He has had no letters yet and must go to court. He notes some of those who have sent letters and hopes that Alick [Alexander Stewart Herschel] was at home. By the second post there are still no letters, and therefore he closes. |