25 June 1873 • London, England (MS facsimile: Bauman Rare Books catalog, accessed 12 August 2021, item 112329, UCCL 00932)
Pardon my dilatoriness—been running the Shah. July 8 being one of the dates which Mr. Charles suggests, we beg to take that for our visit to—to—I have forgotten the town’s name, but no matter as long as we get there. HoweverⒶemendation, upon referring to my wife I learn that the town is named Hepworth—& I see that she likes the ring of Mr. Charles’s invitation, as expressed by you—& so do I, after so many solemn funereal ◊◊◊◊◊◊◊– Ⓐemendation “Mr. & Mrs. Arthur Reginald Jones’s compliments & request the pleasure, &c”—precisely the language they used to use in Missouri when I was a boy in private invitations to funerals.
I date from the Langham, because we remove to that hotel today. My wife likes Edwards’ Hotel, & so would I if I were dead; I would not desire a more tranquil & satisfactory tomb.
Good bye till we see you tomorrow night
MS facsimile, Bauman Rare Books catalog, accessed 12 August 2021, item 112329
L5, 387–388, where it was mistakenly identified as a letter to Ellen D. Conway.
The MS belonged to Moncure D. Conway’s son, Eustace Conway, when it was sold by Anderson Galleries in 1920. It was again offered for sale by the American Art Association in 1925 as part of the collection of businessman William F. Gable (1856–1921). The American Art Association catalog was the first to misidentify the letter as one addressed to Eustace Conway’s mother, Ellen D. Conway. Its whereabouts until the 2021 sale by Bauman’s Rare Books are not known.