Reference
X955/1/159
Title
To Mrs Sarah Colenutt
Date free text
February - March 1906
Production date
From: 1906 To: 1906
Scope and Content
The Cottage, Groombridge, Kent
My dear friend
I am glad you have the Swinburne Tragedies . I bought them also, for in this collected edition there are some I have not read. I cannot recall the Orchard. I must have been there, for I know Niton.
This winter has been rather a trial to me. Molly has been away for three weeks and has just come back. The weather has been for the most part, sunless, favourable perhaps for toadstools, although I think even toadstools like warmth, but not favourable to happy thoughts or to health.. However, no murmuring; patience, patience.
I did marvel at Baker's ambition to be returned again for Portsmouth. He is older than I am. My friend Bright (1) is like him, only he is much younger. I should have said that rest is the one thing needful for him. He has his business at Rochdale, he is a director of the London and North-Western Railway, he has a wife and children, a delightful wife, and he goes into Parliament for Oldham. He can do no good there. No good can be dome there by anybody. I am in despair when I look round and see the monstrous evils of society waiting for redress and reflect that the House of Commons is going to waste weeks over that is called the „religious question.. Walk up Whitechapel, as I did the other day, and then read Lord Halifax to the effect that the matter which is of urgent importance is instruction of children in the doctrines of apostolic succession sacramental efficacy and the Trinity!. Not even savage decency, and sacramental grace is the remedy! The awful absurdity is just as glaring at the other end of town, in Bond Street and Hyde Park. The Dissenters are as bad with their Bible without not or comment.
I hope Charlie is going on well. I think often of him. When life becomes a watch on symptoms and diet it is apt to be a burden.
5th March 1906
So far I have written more than a week ago. Last Monday I was suddenly seized with influenza, went to bed and here I have been for days. The temperature has gone down , but a cough has been left which
prevents rest at night and I am weak. – of course I am not as well able now as I was ten years ago to throw off an attack of this kind.. When I can move I should dearly love to get to the sea There were some
wonderful lodgings at Bonchurch right on the shore, but I am not sure what the effect of the sea would be on a rough night. Molly send hers best love. So do I. The stranger has not yet reached Rugby. The
authorities are altogether out in their reckoning.
Most affectionately
W. Hale White.
(1) Swinburne, Algernon Charles, 1837-1909. Tragedies / A. C. Swinburne. Chatto and Windus 1906
(1) Bright, John A. son of Bright, John (1811–1889), politician
Level of description
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