Letters of Christina Rossetti. Christina Rossetti to Macmillan and Company, 2 July 1866

Penkill, 2nd July [1866]

C. Rossetti (age 35) requests that a copy of Prince's Progress be sent to

Mrs Gilchrist

Brookbank

Shottermill

Haslemere:-

and encloses stamps for postage

Letters of Christina Rossetti. 56 Euston Square, N.W.

Friday afternoon, 14th. [May 1869]¹

My dear Miss Boyd (age 44)

Thank you warmly for so exceedingly kind an invitation, concerning which I will only put forward one regret, that Mrs Epps [Note. Not clear who Mrs Epps is since Laura Theresa Epps (age 17) didn't marry Lawrence Alma-Tadema (age 33) until 1871] should lose what might so have refreshed her both in mind and in body. And indeed, if I may, I will say that should it after all turn out that she could visit lovely Penkill you will without hesitation let me know your altered plans to which I shall most readily conform mine. On the other hand if I go, it will be a special indulgence to travel with the Scotts [Note. William Bell Scott (age 58) and Letitia Margery Norquoy] and as you give me so generous a latitude I will even feel housed at the Castle until a companion offers with whom to start south again;-the journey being somewhat formidably lengthy. But this, of course, only in case it brings my visit within not altogether unreasonable dimensions. How very kind you are to me, and how much I should like to make my gratitude obvious to you. Knowing what a Dear Mrs Scott is, I think she will kindly let me know her plans in due course: meanwhile I expect to run down to Gloucester next week on a little visit to my Uncle if he will have me, but to be up again in time for Penkill.

My love, please, to Mrs Scott, and a kindred sentiment to Mr Scott (age 58). We saw [her brother] Gabriel (age 41) last night, but I know nothing at all about his summer plans.²

My [her mother] Mother (age 69) desires her most cordial remembrances to you, and adds her thanks to mine on my behalf.

Always and affectionately yours

Christina G. Rossetti (age 38).

I expect you will find me quite a different order of being this year as regards walking, and I mean to trim up my old hat for possible croquet.

Note 1. Endorsed: "1867." CGR returned to Penkill in 1869, from 9 June to 22 July, not in 1867.

Note 2. DGR (age 41) was at Penkill from mid-August to 20 September.

Letters of Christina Rossetti. Thursday 26th [1876].

My dear Alice (age 51)

William informs us that you are still kindly keeping open to us the road to Penkill; & therefore my [her mother] Mother (age 75) desires me to write & tell you with our warmest thanks that we do not feel equal to so ambitious a pleasure, truly as we feel your welcome. Dear Penkill must remain our "Yarrow unvisited";¹ for age gains upon us, & infirmities do not quit hold.

Please thank Mr Scott (age 65) for me for "Deirdre"² safely received, with a friendly card.

With much love to Mrs Scott

Always you affectionate

Christina G. Rossetti (age 45)

Note 1. See letter no. 1811, n. 2. CGR had visited Penkill twice, in 1866 and 1869, but never returned.

Note 2. Roberts Brothers published Deirdre, by Robert Buyer Joyce, in 1876.

Letters of Christina Rossetti. [Late November 1876]

My dear Alice (age 51)

You will not, will you? grudge me the pleasure of answering your note of loving remembrance. Every word of sympathy & of affectionate remembrance of our dear [her sister] Maria (age 49) goes to my [her mother] Mother's (age 76) & my heart; & such words have poured in upon us, & have assured us that a widening circle has felt the thrill of our loss.

I am so glad you are seeing & hearing from [her brother] Gabriel (age 48) again:¹ every dear person gone out of sight brings out the preciousness of those who remain.

My Mother sends you her love, & I send you mine. And recollecting old Penkill² delights & all your kindness to me always, I claim the right to sign myself both

Your grateful & affectionate

Christina G. Rossetti (age 45).

Note 1. After his collapse and attempted suicide in 1872 DGR (age 48) became increasingly paranoid, suspicious even of many old friends, including the W. B. Scotts and Alice Boyd.

Note 2. DGR (age 48) paid long visits to AB's home in Scotland, Penkill Castle, during the summers of 1866 and 1869.

Letters of Christina Rossetti. 30, Torrington Square, London. W.C., October 23. 1882.

My dear Alice (age 57)

I think you will read my letter with both pleasure and pain. My dearest [her mother] Mother (age 82) sends love to you and hopes it will please you to accept from her a trifling remembrance of your dear friend who so truly admired you, our own [her brother] Gabriel. Among a few things yesterday divided between herself and [her brother] William (age 53) is the brass plate of a sundial-perhaps the very one in the old Cheyne Walk garden-about 5 1/2 inches square. It has its 4 corner-screws all ready to work into stone or tree-stump and is (so far as I can perceive) quite perfect in condition. May we send it you down to Penkill?-and think of it as marking time somewhere in the beautiful place where you and Miss Losh² cared for himself and for his health so kindly.

Send me a consenting word, please. Then my Mother will have the major gratification of presenting, and I the minor gratification of packing.

Always

Your affectionate friend

Christina G. Rossetti (age 51).

Alice Boyd (1825-97) was the companion of William Bell Scott and his wife Letitia until his death. When AB's brother died in February of 1865, she inherited Penkill Castle, which both DGR and CGR visited during the 1860s. AB was introduced to CGR late in 1847 or early in 1848. Their subsequent friendship remained strong until CGR's death.

Note 2. AB's half sister. See letter no. 1299, n. 1.

Letters of Christina Rossetti. 30 Torrington Square-W.C., Saturday 28th [?February 1885]

My dear Alice (age 60),

My Mother & I pay you affectionate thanks-to you & to Mrs Scott-for offering us this time a friendly pleasure we can accept. With your leave we hope to be with you at 2 o'clock next Thursday, & shall be happy to see the Miss Courtneys again, & to look forward to a late view of Mr Scott. Pray observe that your memoria technica has enabled me to spell your sisters' names correctly.¹ It is happy for me that you did not select Thursday in this week, as I am struggling thro' an amorphous phase thanks to a gathering in my nose! but by next Thursday I trust I may be presentable to indulgent eyes. My dearest Mother's health continues, I am thankful to say, good, & she takes her little walks despite various winds of the compass.

With my Aunt's remembrances

Always your affectionate

Christina G. Rossetti (age 54)

Note 1. Actually AB's (age 60) half sisters, born to her mother Margaret Losh Boyd who married Henry Courtney after her first husband's death. AB's brother, Spencer Boyd, thirteenth laird of Penkill Castle, left the property to Alice at his death in 1865 but with the proviso that if she died without an heir it would pass to one of his mother's remaining children. Thus, when AB died on 11 April 1897, Penkill and the title were inherited by Eleanor Margaret Courtney Boyd (fifteenth laird), the eldest of the half sisters mentioned in this letter.