Transcript
Letter
2 - Page 1
[Croydon]
August 8, 1860
My
dear Chief Justice
In
[return] for your picture (which as I told you hangs low down
in over drawing room [the word "I" has been crossed
out] close to, and just on a level with my eyes, as they repose
in elbow chair) I must [send] you, in a few lines, a photograph
of my old A.D.C., your John. But first and foremost
I must tell you that in [Croydon] there is a Mr. Robinson
who kindly buys hay, corn [etc.] for me and who has a large
family, with sons, with whom Lady Head is unacquainted. Well!
We were sitting together in our drawing
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room,
as usual thinking of nothing, when our she-butler opened the
door, and announced "Mr. Robinson."At first I did
not recognize my friend, and when [I] in an under-tone he
told me he was from Canada, and when I had asked him his Christian
name I immediately introduced him to Lady Head, who to my
mortification and surprise, [looked at] him and went on writing!
I could not [demonstrate], but on [the word "repeat"
has been crossed out] observing to her "You remember
John Robinson" her good countenance beamed with joy,
and she then explained to us both, that she had [a word has
been crossed out] considered he was a Croydon Robinson.
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He
will tell you that he spent an hour with us and that he and
Mary Jane [illegible] [illegible] a many happy evening with
us.And now, after their lengthy [illegible], for my photograph.
We were both highly pleased with John. I never saw a more
honest countenance or more open and manly bearing. His character
is as clearly written in his countenance as yours could be
engraved on a marble tomb-stone, with this difference, that
it would take a way-faring man a few seconds to read the [letter],
whereas, in half a second, the former can
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Letter
2 - Page 4
be
scanned by any one, and everyone. I was very much pleased
with him in every way, and we were both glad to renew our
acquaintance with Mary Jane, and I see her in such robust
health. I had the [pleasure recently] that when [on the] 22nd
July tenderly you talk of Mary’s return to you,
but she didn’t know that when she reached you. You will
only get half of her, and that the other half I suppose be
very soon, "half-seas over." To join her at Toronto.
A nicer, tidier, honester better wife, he could not have selected
and I only pray he will make her as happy, as she will, him.
Lady Head joins in [kindest] regards to Lady Robinson.
I
[illegible] [illegible] my [affection].
FB
Head
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[The
following note was later added to the letter] In tearing up
some old letters, I yesterday found the enclosed from Old
John Murray. You know him the [illegible] Governed [illegible]
old [Mother]. To a [illegible] of 2 ½ a year for her writings.
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