Our Family History
The Genealogy of the Story Family
Lt. Col. Robert Story
1854 - 1924 (70 years)
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Lt. Col. Robert Story - Letters from India 1877
Deprecated don't use
February 1877
Agra
Feb 29th/77
My dear Mother
Since I last wrote the summer has been coming on apace; as I write this I believe the thermometer is over 70 in the shade and goodness knows what in the sun, but still we are able to go about as usual and enjoy life comfortably enough though if you have nothing to do it is as well to stay indoors during the heat of the day.
I have just come back from a very pleasant trip into the Dholepore states where I camped out with Henry Gahan.
I got up at 5am on a Sunday morning and sent off my bearer with my bedding and traps on a Bile Gharry (bullock cart) also a syce to take back the horse I was to ride.
After parade I rode off (on Cranford's horse) to Shamshabad 12 miles where I found my bearer syce etc. waiting for me asleep & half drunk with opium or Bhang, but the horse which Henry was to send was not there so I sent away Crawford's horse and started off with my gun. After walking for an hour I met the horse accompanied by one of the Rana's cavalry so I rode the rest of the say to Raja Khera (12 miles from Shanshabad) there I found a neat camp occupied by Henry Gahan & Mr. Contouly a special correspondent to the ';temps' newspaper - a most amusing man and capital sportsman: their retainers consisted of ten Sowars (cavalry) & twenty Afghan soldiers of the Rana's body guard, besides bearers, Kidmatgars. syces, grass cutters etc. our beasts were about 8 horses, 2 elephants & 6 camels.
I spent 4 very pleasant days at Raja Khera going about the country on the elephants with Contouly while Gahan rode his horses round the various villages he had to inspect; we saw no black buck, but quantities of Chicars, or ravine deer, these were so wild that we could not get near them; however we got plenty of sand grouse, partidges etc. The second day we went to a village called Nuggur on the Chambah where we shot wild geese & Brahmini ducks & Cantouly and I killed each of us one Muggur (crocodile) but as the bodies sink and do not appear for a day or two we did not recover them, however they are no novel sight. The Chambal is such a fine river that I was tempted to bathe & consequently was a little the worsw for it that evening, I shall know better nect time. From the Raja Khera we moved on to Pahari about 12 miles, shooting on the way, seeing as usual plenty of Chicara & other small game. The next day (Thursday) we shot through some fine jungle full of Chicars, Black Buck, Nilgai, hares, partridges etc. I got one good chance at a good buck and missed, but as usual found the Chicara too wild to approach. One could shoot any quantity of Nilgai, but they are sacred, & they seem top know it, for the blue bulls afford one often the most tempting of shots.
In the evening I rode to Dholepore 12 miles with one of the Sowers to carry my rifle (all the rest of my things being sent on). On the way I got one shot at a buck and again missed. I found Major Denneby the political agen and virtual king of the state most kind, the little Rana also did his best to amuse me & gave me all sorts of invitations to come and hunt with his hounds etc. winding up by insisting on my having his photograph.
I dined with the Dennebys, a most kind but peculiar couple, 1st cousins, both educated in France one in a convent the other in a Jesuit college, the Major having lost all his "Frenchness" in the service and Madame being all French.
At 10.30pm I set off for Agra (about 30 miles) in the Rana's Talk Gharry with three changes of horses & arrived at 4.30am in good time for parade at 7am.
Thus ended a trip where, without much shooting, I had great fun. All ideas of "roughing it" were soon dissapated, as I never saw such excellent cookery as Cantouly's Rhidmatgar Abdool Rhadar produced. In a few minutes after we halted for lunch, some clay was made into fireplaces about 6 inches high and in about ½ hour we had a lunch of about 5 courses of fish, fowl, mutton, beef, pudding etc.
The native customs and produces amuse and interest one in proportion as one begins to understand them. I caught a lizard the other day & was holding it in my hand when my bearer came into the room, I asked him the Hindustani name for it & when he saw it he became greatly exercised beseeching me to throw it away, telling me that it was "No good" & "Very Khrab" (Very bad) & when I did, after some time, let it run away, nothing would satisfy him but that I must wash my hands; My Muushi explained to me that the ignorant natives consider these beasts of ill omen of the Mithar (=Sweeper) or very lowest caste and have an elaborate scale of penances to be performed according to what part of their bodies the animal touches.
The other day came two great "Poojah Din" or holy days among the Hindoos, during the first of which they throw a fine yellow powder "Tumeric" over any friend when they happen to meet & during the second a fine read powder of ground "Sapin" wood, also during both days they drink a good deal and many get very drunk; My bearer and syce both got leave out & the syce was found in the evening incapable, while my bearer was "Cocked" - I therefore fined the Syce 8 annas or 1/- & wigged the bearer; the former of course making horrid faces as he prayed with clasped hands to be let off calling me "Garipour" - "most high" & "hezeer" - "your honour". His excuse was amusing - he said "You gave me leave to go to the festival" and much as to say you gave me leave to get drunk too - this latter I mildly remarked I had not done. His small comprehension took it in and he collapsed.
The other night we witnessed a sight that few , if any, of us will see again - a total eclipse of the full moon at the Taj Mahal. It was the night appointed for our band to play there, and the whole scene was beyond description. I did not go to bed until 2.30am when the moon was almost quite uncovered.
We were to have had an assault of arms & great sports today but the Brigadier General after our invitations had gone out not only to all the Europeans within miles but to all the Native Rajahs, made us put them off "sine die" (which at this time of year is equivalent to "for good") for the most frivolous pretext; this is certainly not encouraging.
I am sorry to see that Mr. Middlemist is dead, I heard the news some days ago & Carlisle who was head of Harrow when I was there said that it was unfortunately true; Carlisle is here travelling for his own amusement and thinks it about time to return when the thermometer comes up to about 80 in the shade; but still with even ordinary precautions one does not feel the heat in the least, but we all can see that a very hot summer is coming. When I began my letter 2 days ago I heard of nothing hotter than 70 in the shade.
I am writing against time to catch the mail, so must conclude rather abruptly.
With best wishes for all
Believe me
Your affect son
R. Story
March 1877
Postmarked Naini Tal April 2, Bombay Apr 17. Bristol May 12.
Agra Fort
March 26th/77
My dear Mother,
Your letter reached me this evening just as I as reflecting what a very bed correspondent I had been & was determining to write at once. I shall almost begin to dread your letters if they bring such frequent bad news - there is one great consolation for Aunt Emily - She has a firm trust in Heaven & I pray it will give her strength to bear her sorrow for it is indeed terrible.
I have been on detachment here for the last week & I am now detailed to march a party to the convalescent depot at Naini Tal about 170 miles via Bareilly to which place I fancy I proceed by train, but I have not yet got my final instructions although I leave on the evening of the day after tomorrow.
I take 21 of our men from here and pick up some of the 10th Huzzars at Hattras Road. The worst of it is that I cannot find out for certain whether I am to remain with my men or return to Agra although the latter seems to be what I shall have to do.
Naini Tal is a most levely place (Meaning the "Eye Lake") in the hills with a lovely lake by it which the natives call the Eye of the world - I shall in any case spend a few days there when I shall be able to give yoe a description of its beauties, meantime I shall look forward to them. In the hills we got no shooting but passed through some magnificent scenery, & and are now on the top of one of these great hills (one of the spurs of the Himalayas) from which the perpetual snows can be seen, the lake lies in a little valley itself many hundred feet above the plains which I can even now see from my tent & behind the lake (as all round us) rise mountain upon mountain one after the other from the plain to the snows, tropical vegetation being below where the heat was even 120 in the sun, while here among oak and fir trees & great rododendrons 40 feet high all in full bloom with the thermometer at 57 & stormy gusts of wind & rain coming eveny moment, I find I am to spend the summer and possibly a portion of next winter.
In spite of the beauties of this place I am not so well pleased with it as the walking is difficult, except on the cut roads, the hills being like the sides of houses, & also this is the close season for game, however I am not going to condemn the place untried especially as I am in very pleasant company. I am going on the move again on Monday (this is Wednesday) to Raniket with a party of married soldiers, calvalry & the 18th Regt. I am unable to start before as Lord Lytton is here at present and takes up all the carriage.
Raniket is only two marches, but as the road is impossible for either carts or camels, I can bring no tents for my party, so I have to get them all in somehow into a little Dak bungalow, the women are carried in Dandies (carrying chairs) & the menare provided with ponies for themselves and coolies for the luggage. At Raniket there are detachments of the 14th and 22nd Regts who of course must put one up. I shall return from Raniket at my leisure.
My address for some months will be Naini Tal "Convalescent Depot" would find me as I have not yet got a house.
The mail is just leaving.
With love to all etc.April 1877
5 Rodney Place
Clifton
Bristol
April 18th 1877
My dear Robert
we were much interested in you letter and your shooting excursion in the Dholepore State, which must have been a charming one, so new in its scenes, in the game & style of travelling - & I am glad to see you say you will be careful about bathing, as I hear so many say that a man may keep his health well in India with common prudence.
It must have been a beautiful sight the eclipse of the moon at the Taj, friends saw it here. I was so sorry I forgot to look out for it. Our life must be very slow indeed after your more stirring one, but today I write to tell you that we have succeeded in getting a house, one very suitable in every respect with regard to aspect, rebt etc. & much nearer the college than this. I fear you will not know the locality it is the other side of Christ Church which stands about equal in distance between this house and the new one we have taken. There was a large sugar failure in Bristol and the owners of our new house were involved in it & obliged to give up the house, the entrance of it is so dull, I did not think it worth my while at first to look at it, but was advised to do so, as it is so complete inside, the view from the windows too is bright with a SW aspect - we have a good diniong room, morning room and study for the boys on the ground floor, upstairs a double drawing room opening into a large conservatory, a beautiful bathroom & bedroom on that floor, above 3 rooms and above again 4 goot attics - then we have a small square of garden, not enough for tennis, but where we can have a few flowers. The lower part of the house is very curious and there is a summer & winter kitchen & below that no end of arched cellars, the occupants had been growing mushrooms in one, a capital place.
I was obliged to take it 8th May & having this house till the 13th it will make a great hurry to move, but unless this house is let, I shall take it on for 1 week more. I propose bringing over bedding etc. from Bingfield & a few articles of furniture, leaving the house so that we might find it possible to fun over for the summer months. I propose bringing the plate chest, it is at present in the cellar at the bank, it will only get very spoiled there, & I thought you wd prefer my doing so, of course when you come home for good you could have what plate you require & arrange what you like about it.
We are having such bitterly cold weather, colder than we had it all over winter, a perfect storm of east wind with sleet and hail showers. I dread trhe damp and cold of the house at home.
I received a letter yesterday from Oswald telling me that we might expect him home about July or August, the "Modeste" is not returing to England but is to be recommissioned in China, & the Tamar is going out to bring back the present officers and crew - the news seems almost too good to be true; I fear the war which seems inevitable will make many changes, so I mus not set my heart too much on seeing him so soon.
This holiday time now, both Arthur & Francis did very well in their exam: the former will get his remove. Evelyn is not doing as well as I could wish, & when Francis leaves his preparatory school he will enter the college above him which will be a pity for both boys.
Edward had had a very long holidays, six weeks, he had a pleasant fortnight at Bilbow Hall belonging to a family of the name of Lamb, he was asked there by one of his school fellows - a great house for hunting - now he is at Blyboro' & I expect him in about a week's time. The entrance exam begins on the 1st I hope much he will get in, otherwise I shall place him under a tutor & let him try again in Sept.
I hear your Aunt Emily is wonderfully well, she is at Bath today on her way to Plymouth to stay with the Roches. I wanted her to come here for a few nights but fear she will not be able to make but her visit.
Mr. Tatlow was at Manchester for some time being telegraphed for, as George was very dangerously ill with conjestion of the lung, caught after getting a chill at cricket, I am glad to say he is recovering, but the father flew back to Ireland as quick as thought, without letting me know he was so near, which is rather provoking. Mr. Flemming often comes to see us, he was in Ireland for the Assizes & made his maiden speech as a ????. I fear this horrid man will make many changes, & very likely as his battery has been here so long he will be moved to other quarters, which I shall be sorry for as he is the only young I know here.
I do not remember any more of interest to tell you so conclude with love from all, ever your affect Mother
Louisa wishes to know whether you are going to continue to subscribe to the Bath school for officers daughters.Caroline Story
May 1877
To his sister Louisa
Naini Tal
May 4th 1877
My dear Lou
Your letter I found waiting for me here on your return from a shooting expedition in the Terai - my adventures I think will amuse you so I will give them from beginning to end. My last letter was written from my tent about a mile from my present house where I am living with 4 others of the Depot of various regiments.
I reached this on the 12th of last month & expected to go to Raniket the next Monday in charge of a party of Cavalry but the Governor General having taken all the coolies in the place away with him we had to wait for his return - my things were packed an ready on Tuesday morning but neither then nor on Wednesday could we start - on Tuesday evening I received a telegram from Hutton of ours asking me to join his party in the Terai on Friday morning at a place called Machiepoore which I afterwards found out did not exist at all however he gave me some further directions. I therefore intended to hurry back from Raniket & catch my party as quickly as I could but finding that I could not start till Thursday from Raniket, I got leave for another officer to take my party - Now my adventures begin.
On Wednesday morning I rode up to Barracks to see if there was any chance of starting & on return found that my bearer had gone more than an hour before with my things - I at once sent my Bhistie (water carrier) after him to recall him while I did what work I had to do - The Bhistie returned without having caught him so I abused him well and sent a coolie after the bearer; finding he did not turn up - I mounted my pony & rode after him myself. Through some grand mountain scenery as hard as I could go along the narrow pass with a precipice on one side and a wall of rock on the other passing snow drifts in places 10 & 12 feet deep in shady corners of the Khuds - I found my bearer just beginning to return from Rerua about 12 miles from Naini Tal so I sat down by the side of the road & ate some bread and half cooked cold eggs to prepare for the heavy pull back; this was about 6pm. After eating we started - I leading the way on foot, but we had not gone far when I found that my bearer was very drunk so I told a spare coolie to look after him & with my Khidmatgar proceeded - night came on pitch dark & with a fearful storm of rain, thunder & lightning - but we had to go on - so I lit my lantern which a grasscutter was carrying & led the way. Great stones came crashing down from the mountains above us & trees were blown about in all directions, & once as we were all crossing a small bridge a flash of lightning showed me the railings strewed across our path - at last we came to a small native hut & shed into which we went - there to relieve the coolie I slung my provisions on one side of a pony & my box on the other - here also my bearer became helpless & refused to go on, a bottle of rum fell out of his shawl, which I threw away & we proceeded leaving Mr. Lowchum as follows: 1. Myself with a lantern, 2. Pony laden (Boanerges) 3. Two coolies carrying my bedding. 4.Led pony (Solomon). 5. Coolie carrying Picketing pegs ropes etc. for ponies then the unemployed coolies whose loads were on the pony & my Khidmatgar Azmat Ali (who turned out a regular trump) bringing up the rear - thus we went on until at last in a dangerous spot the lantern went out! All my matches were with my bearer & all the coolies tinder was wet through. As we were debating what to do one of the coolies said "I see a fire at the bottom of the Khud & will go for a light" - he and I groped our way to the bed of the torrent below us, & scrambling over rocks & bushes found some hill natives sitting over a fire so we lit our lantern & went on, stopping only for a few minutes at a hut to get some Choor (sweet stuff) for the coolies, that & a smoke probably the only food since early morning; when we got half way (7 miles). I remembered having seen a tent on a small flat space above the road, so as my candles were running out & the worst was still before us, I groped my way to it and put my head in - I was saluted with "Who the devil is that? Holloa is that you?" it was a man in the firest service whom I knew so I got my mattress on the ground in the tent, had my ponies picketed, put the coolies etc. in the Cook's tent (Bawachi Kharna) & walked into a good supper which his Khidmatgar had ready in about 10 minutes (tinned soup).
At about 6am next morning I rode to Naini Tal with the documents for the Ranikhet party (they were to start about 8am) & handed them over, I also saw the party off after having great trouble with the coolies. On returning to my house I found my things had arrived so after breakfast (I.E. about 12 noon) I got ready my things for the Terai, got fresh coolies, dismissed my bearer who had turned up & was drying his clothes & about 4pm started for Kaladougi. As I was descending the hills I felt it perceptibly getting warmer though above it was almost cold enough for a great coat - I dined off bread & eggs by the roadside & reached Kaladougi about 10pm, it was a lovely night with a fine moon so I had no unpleasant adventures about lanterns etc. Next day I got a Dalk Gharry from the hotel where I slept & drove to Manpoor 28 miles, thereafter making enquiries I found that my party were about 7 miles off at a place called Jogeepoore on a Cutcha Road (a common country road) - therefore took the horses out of the Gharry & put in a pair of bullocks the driver of whom was very surly ( a rascally Rohilla) but alternate threats & promises of large Baksheesh brought me to Jogeepoors about six in the evening. There I found Crawford & Hutton with 6 elephants and two tents the formerhad had a narrow escape a short time before out pick sticking Wells had given him a deep spear wound in the back - how he missed running him through was a wonder as they were both at full gallop & a spear will go through a man or a pig as I have seen (the pig not the man) like a knife into a pat of butter. I spent a very pleasant 10 days with these two changing camp nearly every day in search of Tiger - Crawford & I came across one in very thick cover & each fired two shots into the long grass (we could not see the beast) without effect & on our pressing him hard with our elephants he gave one bound from his cover & was gone into the thick jungle - all I saw of him was his tail and hind quarters - of course we were greatly disgusted - we had (Khabbir news of several more & found fresh kills in their tracks nearly every day but could never meet the beasts themselves however we saw numbers of Cheetah, Para (hog deer), Jarow (Sambur) & a few black buck besides any quantity of pig, but being after Tiger we did not always fire at deer - however we shot 5 Jarow & one fine Cheetah which fell to my lot & we ought to have shot more but the unsteadiness of the Howday Elephants made shooting very difficult.
The elephants are wonderful beasts they can do almost anything but speak - the Mahouut steers them by touching them on the cheeks with his naked feet, makes them stop, go on, lie down, get up, break & clear away trees, pick up anything etc. by word of command; a sore place is kept open at the root of each ear into which the heavy (ankoos) iron hook is driven deeply on the slightest ign od disobedience, they are also sometimes beaten with a heavy mallet just above the root of the tail, but good elephants seldom require this. A Para once, being hemmed in, ran up against my elephant who promptly went plump down on its knees to crush it but only threw me hard against the front of the howdah. Another elephant got into a deep drain for irrigating & the bottom being soft could not get out again till the other elephants & ourselves threw in logs for him to stand on when he got out with such frantic exertion taht next day he was sick & the day I left also my elephant was laid up with Rheumatism one leg being like a great black pillar quite stiff.
What they really enjoy is their bath - they lie down in the water & and are scrubbed all over with a good rought stone! as hard as a man can do it with both hands.
I left Hutton & Crawford on the 28th and reached this on Sunday last the 29th. They ought, before they leave off, get at least one Tiger if not more. I am sorry to say things have been going on most unpleasantly at headquarters our Col. having been behaving in a most extraordinary manner, so much so that one or two officers will certainly leave the Battalion - the general discontent has now extended to the N.C. officers & men even to a great extent to the native servants; besides that an irrepairable breach has been opened between us & the 10th Hussars who are a very nice set, so that the state of the Battn. will soon be known all over the presidency - this is a great pity as we have a very nice set in the Battn. all gentlemen and men of good family with the exception perhaps of the Col. & Senior Major who have made all the mischief.
You seem to have a queer notion of the language I am learning - Tamil is the language spoken in Madras - Hindustani or Ordoo which I am learning is understood nearly all over India but is most common in Bengal & is a mixture of Hindi, Persian & Arabic for instance one book which I am reading in the Devanagari Character is nearly all Hindi (Line of script) Hindustan Ka Bayan (the history of Hindustan) while the Bagh-o-Bahar (The garden of spring script) has a great many more Persian & Arabic words and is written in the Persian Character from right to left (the other goes from left to right). The Persian I find hard to read because it is so very scrawly most of the letters being known only by the dots above or below. For instance this is the Mossulman creed Bismilla ul Rahunan ul Rahim, In the name of God most might most merciful
Printing (line of script)
Writing (line of script looks very similar)
Here is a sentence written in a second hand book which I bought (he then goes on for a page showing the different examples of script & explaining the difficulties of reading them etc.)
The photos arrived a few days before I reached this, but I did not get them for some time, as they had been sent to old General Phillip Story who lives here & had a son Robert who I think is tea planting in Assam - he is one of the Leicestershire Storys & has been in this country all his life except during occasional visits home; hiss ons are Cols and Majors in the Indian Army & tea planters. Of course I called there as soon as possible after my arrival & was most pleasantly received by the old couple. He must be near 80 & his wife very little younger. You must know that the custom in this country is to call upon people first (i.e. not wait till they call on you) & send in your card - if they mean to receive you the bearer comes out and says "Salem" & you go in, if they don't I suppose they say they are out, but about that I don't know for certain. You must also never call except between the hours of 12 & 2 unless you are very intimate with the people.
May 10th
Hutton & Crawford have come up having seen some 3 more tigers but failed to kill any; they had a most shocking catastrophy - one of the elephants a very great "Bobbery Wallah" seized a man in its trunk & killed him. He was a servant of the Rajah of Rampore to which place they had to send his body. Crawford I am sorry to say is in bed from a severe attack of fever brought on by bathing in the lake.
The warlike telegrams are causing no little excitement, Hutton will get a transfer to another Battn. to enable him to be at the seat of war, should it break out. I have made the acquaintence of some very nice people (a rarity for India) among them two of the prettiest women out viz a Mrs Lydiard a Prussian & a Miss King from Agra so I am beginning to enjoy the place more.
With love to all
I remain etc.
Here is a good long prose for you, by the way, whatever happens we have no chance of distinguishing ourselves - our Col. is ordered home, it is the end of him.R Story.
May 1877
5 Rodney Place
Clifton
Bristol
May 14th 1877
My dearest Robert,
I received your pleasant letter of March 26th two days ago & congratulate you on your move to the hills which must be very agree-able and healthy a one for you & especially as the situation seems so pretty. It is a despicable the row you have had, & I dare say the youn gentleman in question did require a good deal of sitting upon, but at the same time it seems to me a very string measure for the young subalterns to take the matter in their own hands, & so punish the offender themselves. The same day I received your letter one came in from Oswald. His ship is to be commissioned in China & he and his men return to England in the Tamar so he hopes to be with us about the beginning of August, & wish you could come too & just join in our party for a short time.
Since I last wrote to you I have been over to Bingfield with Roe. I do not know whether Louisa told you I have taken a very pretty small house I rather think she did, and I went over to bring what I should require for the new house, iron bedsteads & bedding, & some articles of furniture. I have also brought over all your nicely bound books - in spite of constant fires a thin coat of mould was forming over the binding, I packed them most carefully & will take care of them till you settle down. I thought you wd like me to do so. I also got the plate chest out from the bank, took what I should require, & got Mr. Murray to come over & pack it nicely, & then I sent back the chest to the bank, putting a card on it that it was your property & deposited there by me such & such a day.
I have removed the crayon picture from the drawing room & brought it over, & wish to retain that for my life. Mr. Smith, Lady Rivers & the two pictures in the hall still hang in their old places. You remember I was allowed to select what I shd like to retain, I considered it would not be fair to you to take any but the one - but if you take my advice you will allow me to take care of the others for you, Bingfield is so damp without constant fires in it, the pictures will not improve hanging there. It is useless thinking about it but I know I can never live there again with the family I have to bring on - the place looked so tempting & lovely with the first touch of spring, one had a longing to stay, but it was like going through the house of the dead, every place so still & silent I do not feel the better for the pain it gave me - I looked over your things, & came only just in time to save them from the moth. I have removed them from yr case, brushed them, peppered them, & placed them in my cedar wardrobe, telling Mary to shake them out from time to time. I papered the livery buttons or they wd soon have marked the cloth. I put a label on every key I could and left them so labelled in my bureau - it will save so much trouble in years to come.
I have lent the harmonium to the Roes, I was afraid of the mice getting into the bellows. I did not leave until I had put the house in order, so that it will be easily kept now, & I have left 3 beds, so that we can run over shd we be required to do so. You have no idea how very nicely Lord has drained the 5 acres along the back lane & it now filling it with turnips etc. it is fit for laying down & I told him he might do so - it is a great improvement taking away the trees, one good fir tree is quite enough there. I only regret you did not mark the Scottish fir in the wood it requires thinning & I have not time to do it - & ???? wd cut it wholesale. I was sad to see the distress of the people at my leaving Mrs. Fitzpatrick is nearly bent double, & Mrs. MacSherry weeping bitterly for the loss of her Charlie. Scamp you may be sure paid me a visit, & a few of the old beggars too. I saw a good deal of the Roe party, Mr. R. looked very unkempt - the ladies being the most presentable of the party. Mrs. Burrowes also came, I never saw anyone so broken down, she has been ill all winter & my impression is that she is in a very bad state of health.
I am sorry to tell you that Edward failed for his entrance exam, so hopelessly that tho' he may go up more there is little use in his doing so - he does not know as much as Francis. I have placed him at school here as a day boy with Mr. Pritchard recommended by Dr. Percival. The boy will never get further than the a b c of anything - the rest are doing first rate, especially Francis who sits plodding on till all hours of the evening & never leaves off till he is sure his work is finished. Little Florence is ill in bed with congestion of the right lung, she gave me a great fright yesterday, the Dr. looked grave last night, but says she is going on all right today, yu can remember the old attack she had, it was sad to hear her breathe with such distress again.
These n.e. winds have been very trying & she has a very delicate chest. I do not think of anything more to add that wd interest you, but
With much love from all
yr affect Mother
Caroline Story
June 1877
Salisbury Lodge
Lower Hurley Place
Clifton
Bristol
June 14th 1877
My dear Robert,
I received your interesting letter of the ?? May two days ago & especially pleased I was to receive the photos of yourself, nags etc. only I feel the image of you was so minute I wished for one that would show me your precious self as you now are. I think that some day you might treat me to a real photo, I sd like one of decent size to hang in my room - by the weeny one, you appear broader & the headress was an object of great interest to your little sisters. It must have been a wonderful storm, such a one as does not take place in our colder climates - but the word storm as I write it makes me think of our wearily unsettled climate here. You see the date of my letter, & the only warm weather we have had was in April, when the air was lovely clear, bright & sunny, succeeded by such cold, & a wetter summer I never saw, when it gets in the least warm, then we have thunderstorms, & I despair of getting any nice dry days for sitting out. You know how stationary I am in a usual way but I am looking forward to a change from this for a month in August.
I have not felt at all strong lately, just a total want of strength, & I propose moving to Weymouth - you know all that part well, I wish you were at Portland, it would have been such fun for us all. The college breaks up on the 30th July & I think the change will be just delightful & the boys seem to like the idea of bathing & fishing. I have not been away from this for just two years, only that one week I was in Ireland to pack, so I think I have earned a holiday.
I have had the pleasure of a long visit from your Aunt Fanny, she is looking well, & has grown much larger than when you last saw her, which improves people as they grow older & some days she looked very handsome. She left me about ten days ago with our Lou, to go to Oxford where they wpent a few days, neither of them had been there before, & they seem to have been much struck with the place. I hear Keble College looks awfully new besides the old buildings, & it will take time before the bare new red brick tones down at all - however the college will be a great boon to poor men. I wrote to the Warden the other day to put Arthur's name down for it but he will not do so for the next two years when he is 16 - 3 years before he goes up, I think 19 quite young enough & the boy begs to be allowed to stay at the College here till that time. I think £100 a year will clear everything, & parents have no expenses of furnishing rooms, it is all done for the new comer.
Your Aunt & Lou have been with Uncle T (?) the latter returns here today, & I am glad to have 3 "At homes" in prospect for her - Not that those crushes are at all agreeable to me but they amuse Lou, so I take it all patiently.
I have taken off my deep mourning so as to enable me to be of more use to her, & I trust a fresh supply of strength will also be given to me. She is well enough now but now as strong as she used to be in Ireland, this place is often hot & stuffy, & a much more bracing air suits her.
Tour Aunt Agnes has also been staying at Barrow, & goes today with your Aunt Fanny to Torquay, poor little thing she has borne up well, but it will be a long time before she recovers from such a shock. I heard from your Aunt Clara yesterday from Brunswick Gardens - a few days ago she had had Mrs Geddes out driving, she had seen her helped out of the fly & going up the steps of the house & in a moment the old lady was a heap at the bottom. The fly men puicked her up and carried her in in quite an unconscious state - a Dr. was sent for & he says she will recover this time but she may go off at any moment, of course it makes your Aunt very anxious, & the old lady is so restless, it is one person's business to watch her.
(?) Mr. Tatlow tells me that John has gone to live on the sand holes foolish man - he ought to have gone where he could have found a livelihood for his family.
Agnes Murray is to be married on the 18th of this month, & in August goes out to Penang I believe for two years.
I am sorry about your music sent out, that what comes of not having a musical mother, but I will try again for you, tho' a friend here, Lou & I only make a guess at what might suit you.
Heard yesterday from Oswald still in the Gulf of Xeros, he passed on the 20th as a sub lieut & says he likes his ship better & gets on much better with the Commander.
I will see & get the pictures over, Mr. Smith was a great friend of Handel, the picture is painted by Hobbimer - the account of the picture was in the glass bookcase in the library, bound in bluish boards. I cd not see the book the last time I was at home & intended hunting for it, but time failed - yr father when he was ill took the books out one day, & I have not seen it since but it must be in the house. You know the pretty lady who hung in the drawing room - she married 1st Honable Mr. Leigh - drawing in crayon by Coates, 2nd Mr. Coxe father of Archdeacon Coxe, 3rd Mr. Smith in her old age. She was very beautiful and Pope sung oif her. I have her in my room here as an old lady - a small picture - it used to hang in your father's study.
I hope I have made no mistakes in writing, but I suffer from weak eyes & will not read over - I am with much love
Yr affect Mother
Caroline Story.
July 1877
Salisbury Lodge
Lower Harley Place
Clifton
Bristol
July 15th 1877
My dear Robert,
looking over my pocket book the other day, I see a date that I had written to you, but it is some time ago, & I only hope that I have written since, I know I did so after I returned from Ireland. Since then I have had a great deal to do, & a great deal of trouble in settling myself down here. I am glad to say that this is really a charming house as a residence, it is bright, cheerful & warm & having belonged to nice people it has so many more comforts & conveniences than you find in most houses. I am very anxious now to be settled down for the rest of my life and have no more changes. I have this house for certain for 6 years, the estate is in Chancery. & I want to get a promise for 7 or 10 years beyond that, to be fixed at a certain rent now - property is rising fast here the College bringing a great number for the benefit of education, & later on I might be asked a rent such as would make residence here impossible - the minor is a young lad of 17 - so he is at an age to know his own mind.
I have got nearly all the furniture back in, & the small piece of garden looks very gay & bright, the conservatory is a great pleasure to me - we have a promise of a good supply of grapes, but these I shall sell this year to help to pay off some of the expenses.
Louisa says she has written to you since she has been away, she returned to me a few days ago & seems to have enjoyed much her time away, though it was spoilt by her Aunt taking this new complaint german measles, & preventing her going out to several places which had been planned for her.
My life has jogged on as usual, seeing the boys to & from school, & taking a little drive which is a great delight to me - the summer has been a very broken one a week of really dry hot weather in June & then so cold, in Ireland they had fires, & here I was greatly tempted to light one.
I had about ten days ago the pleasure of a visit from your Aunt Harford. She had come over to be in London while her boy Walter went up for his exam for the Navy. I am sorry to say he failed, my opinion is he ought to have been sent to a proper school to prepare for the Navy, but his parents thought differently, & unfortunately it was his last chance. Then your Aunt Fanny came merely for a few days, she is going abroad for some months, so I shall hardly see he again this year. The old house at Annavarra (?) is being pulled down almost all of it - leaving just the sitting rooms - Mr. Vesey is going to build for the Hartfords another house and better arranged - they will take it on a 21 years lease, & I doubt that now they would ever live in England - I think they have a most obliging landlord as Mr. Vesey gives them £500 to plan & lay out on the house as they think best.
I cannot get over the pleasure it will give me to see Oswald on or after the 25th - only one long week to wait for him, I wish & wish that you were here too, but patience, I must wait for another meeting with you, & then you too will be a sun burnt man - but you I shall be able to recognise, where I shall be quite a stranger with Oswald, voice & all having changed. I heard from him from Aden, greatly disgusted at not finding a letter from me, but he told me to write to Suez, & there he will find one. In a former letter I am sure I told you how Edward had failed for his entrance exam for Clifton College, I was in a great puzzle what to do with him & placed him pro. tem with a Mr. Pritchard who has a school near this but like all places of that kind there are a number of "cads" & Ed did not like it. I was advised to place him at Malvern College - I had a letter of introduction to one of the nicer masters there, & a few days ago went there. Malvern is about 3 hours from this - I was most fortunate in both my weather & mission , as to me great comfort, I found Mr. Estridge at home, & with a vacancy to offer. He seemed such a nice man, & his rooms looking into a well kept garden full of roses - the College too is nicely situated on the slope of a hill looking over a valley not to be surpassed for beauty, the hills being a shelter at the back of the College. Edward will be in clover there, & he is booked for Sept 24th, & I hope to keep him there till he is ready to enter a profession - he is growing up such a handsome boy - I only wish he could get on in his studies.
The other boys are doing remarkably well, especially Francis, who works & plods away keeping at the head of his class, & will beat his brothers hollow. Evelyn has been the most difficult to manage, as you know is surly temper is against him, & his love of teazing also, but I have found the plan excellent of sending him out in the eve. to prepare his lessons with a tutor, he is now head of his class, & will get his remove next term. The great change in the house is Roe having left, she took an affront at what I did, & left me at a few days notice - her temper had become very troublesome, & strange enough after having lived with me so many years no one regrets her & we have much more work done & peace in the house - she has gone to her brothers who keep a public house at Weymouth, & I sd think she would find the change very great.
I hope you are keeping well, & continue to enjoy life as you did by your last letter - & how is your study of languages getting on? This is all the paper I had by me, & did not want for black edged - we all remembered you on your birthday 11th - the children said you spent your previous one at Cork - I think you were at Fermoy.
With much love from all
Believe me
yr affect Mother
Caroline Story
August 1877
Salisbury Lodge
Lower Harley Place
Clifton
Bristol
August 6th 1877
My dear Robert.
I write at once to tell you that two days ago you very welcome box arrived, so well packed that everything received quite safely. We were at lunch when the parcel came, & very eager were the faces as I took out each little parcel neatly folded up. I think the miniatures are beautiful & I intend taking them to a neat handed man here, who will put them in a frame for me, & then we shall hange them in our drawing room. I suppose they are painted on ivory by the natives who I have heard are so clever with their fingers. The native jewelry is curious - the silver bracelet is a beautiful piece of work. I mafe Lou keep that for herself & we shall send half of the bangles to Teenie - put together they are quite enough for one bracelet - it is very good of you to have sent us so many pretty things, & we have quite a "Show" to exhibit lately.
Oswald returned on the 25th bringing a collection of pretty things - china etc, & we have a pretty cabinet to put them all in. It was such a pleasure seeing Oswald again, he arrived the evening of the 24th the Tamar having made a quick passage, there was a delay in getting his things through the customs house, so he could not start till the even. of the 25th & arrived at 1am. Louisa & I sent the maids to bed , spread a supper, & sat up for him. Of course he is much grown, & I should say broader across the shoulder than your are, he is 5'7½" in height, & is growing now fast - just what all of you boys do, grow late - I think so much the better. He speaks exactly like you, so before I saw him when we were unlocking the hall door, I said "Well you have exactly Robert's voice". He is very little changed to what he was as a boy only the boy face more manly - he has leave up till Sept 5th, & one more year to serve as midshipman, & I hope he will be sent to the Pacific or the Mediterranean - for though he is well he needs a little nursing & care - the hot climates have told upon him a little & I wish I could have sent him and Lou to Scotland where they might have had some bracing Mountain air - as it is they had hoped to have started for Ireland on the 3rd but have been delayed owing to the painters being in Lisnamandra & the house not fit to receive visitors. I had written there first hoping Mrs. Roe could take them in - failing in her, I wrote to Mr. Tatlow equally unsuccessfully as his family were absent & he is on the eve of starting for Scotland to attend the wedding of Evelyn Mackeness - so on Sunday I wrote to Mrs. Burrowes & offered a visit there, I hope to get a favourable answer in time for them to start on the 10th & when they have paid a visit there I ho
| Date | 1877 |
| Linked to | Lt. Col. Robert Story |
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