visit at Townley, the residence of Colonel Townley, Lady O'Hagan's father. Though they have always been Catholics the estate has been in the family since the time of King Alfred, and the Castle, which is a massive one, is older, the Colonel is fond of saying, than the Protestant religion.
I make a few extracts from Marcus Clarke's correspondence at this time:
April 10, 1875.There is nothing new here save that Kerferd is still Chief Secretary. I mention this as news because "news" is something strange! We have just heard of the case of poor Aspinall, and to-day the paper contains intelligence of the death of his wife whom you made post-mistress of Emerald Hill.
I suppose you know that my cousin Andrew Clarke, after generally slaughtering pirates in the Malay Peninsular, has been named Minister of Public Works in India at £9,600 a year. Lucky fellow he is, to be sure. I would take his work for half the money, and sustain the dignity as royally as in me lies.
November 30, 1875.Very many thanks for all the trouble you have been at on my account. It is rare indeed to find any one who will really "work" for a man who wants help. I hope that it may one day be my good fortune to aid you in something which you want done.
I have received from London the "Natural Life" in three vols., and have written to thank Mrs. Hoey; I have told her that she is a "brick" the only word in the English tongue which cannot be applied to any person having a hint of selfishness in them.
June, 1876.The Boston Review speaks very favourably of the book, and Harper, who has republished it, sends me £15. Why this curious sum I don't know. I suppose it represents something in dollars—Harper's conscience, perhaps!
I hope that you will like the book better in its amended condition. I have I think followed your advice in all particulars.
I now turned my face to the new country; a letter to Lord O'Hagan specifies my intentions.
Hotel de Paris, Monaco, December 20th.My dear O'Hagan,—The latest train by which I can conveniently reach the steamer at Brindisi leaves this January 12, at nine o'clock in the morning and it is by it I propose to go. The sculptor has been here and made a successful bust, but there would be no advantage in my going to Rome, as he will not have it in marble—so as to take a last sitting for the marble—till long after I have left Europe. By the time they are lighting bonfires at Townley for the nouveau né I shall probably be a couple of months in my Australian home. I hope to arrive early in March. As a r friends never do what we wish them to do, and perhaps they are right with their better knowledge of what suits them. But ever since I have known Ms ben gn souten climate I have greatly wished you to get a villa where you would spend three or four of the worst winter months every winter
