Lord Randolph Churchill – The Amazing Paulin(e) Family

August 18^th 1884

My Dear Fred

I am afraid the letters to you have not been so numerous as they should have been lately. It is not for want of my telling your brothers to do so, if the letters have been few or scarce you may depend – we have not heard of you since Dr S informed me he had received a letter from you in which you said you were well. We are anxiously looking for a letter daily from you and trust it will soon arrive telling us you are still well and any other news you may have to write about. We have a grand spell of truly harvest weather, the heat is unusual, some days have been tropical, and the farmer is looking up cheerfully at the prospect, and he needs all the help the weather can give to him. Trade, will that which is called so is as bad as it well can be. I as in Sheffield last week and the old traders there say it never was so wretchedly unremunerative as business

Is there at the present time. I still begging away at the British Mercantile Gazette which produces a fitful return. On the whole up to now it has not been so bad. The advertising process is however in every way affected of course by the state of trade, and as August is the month between the seasons – a sort of off time in the calendar it is just now difficult to keep the ship moving, whilst the expenses of home do not diminish as the members severally increase in size and years. The garden is well stocked, the peas were very fine, ditto broad beans, the runners are not quite ready but the potatotes are clean healthy and good size and most of the spaces filled in with [illegible] produce. The flower garden secondary in importance, has yielded us a goodly show the roses are nice and the cardinal gladioli are now brilliant and beautiful. We are pretty well. And Mrs Paulin is still with us. Louise has returned from Henley and is looking out again to assume an independence of home and thus make one less to lean on the exchequer. Geo keeps to McLelland and Ernest to Wright and Brothers. I never see ant of the Collins’ people so do not know how poor Smith is, but spose he is driving along well as he can. The “Green” is much the same. I don not remember a new feature to record and the Choir makes no progress, we are one principally a stagnant composition. Great stirring is now the order in the political world, parliament is prorogued until Oct when the franchise Bill is to be again sent up to the Lords, who will doubtless reject it again, if without the redistribution scheme. Lord Randolph Church holds a foremost place in future conservatism and if he lives

Is destined to lead the party. He is a powerful speaker and agreeable to hear because of his moderately paced delivery without hesitation or trip. The organization of the Conservative party is being perfected throughout the country and will, whenever the general election comes, make a goodly show. A young man who was with you in Deritend Factors Warehouse met me a few days ago and wished to be remembered to you. He is at Martinson & Smiths. I see by the papers today Hanlan has been beaten in Australia by 7 lengths. I do not remember anything else to say so will finish with the hope that you are alright and that we shall soon hear from you soon

Your very affectionate Father

This goes with one from your Mother.

[Cheat Sheet: Mrs Paulin is likely Frederick Paulin Sr’s mother Sarah Clements Paulin. Hanlan is Ned Hanlan the Canadian rower see here for more information on him ]

Transcription Letter to Frederick A Paulin from Frederick Paulin Sr and Mary Cutler Paulin, July 5^th [no date – estimated 1884]

[1]

Henley Lodge, July 5^th

Dear Fred

I sent last week “Truth” + Weekly Post + “Bell’s Life” with the 2 days’ Henley Regatta which seems to have passed off splendidly.

No one went from here – Ernest, George + Herbert visited Henley at Whitsuntide which probably they have already told you about – Louise is still at Henley but I believe she may now return home any day as the old folks have an old stayed attendant – and can now do without her. We have grand summer weather here for fully a month, great heat, unusually fine weather, enough to set the grumblers sighing for rain which has only arrived + probably those with hay about will complain now. They hay crops are light, corn crops look very well, turnips are a very thin crop this the dry time + the busy fly. Our garden is promising we have quite a stretch of potatoes (Magnum forns) not ready yet – a promising crop of raspberries just ripening your young gooseberries + currants have both distributed what they can

[2]

The pear not nearly fit to gather and show well broad beans ditto. The scarlet runner embrace the whole width of the bottom of the garden and are climbing as fast as they can, whilst the spaces are all filled in with plants for [illegible]. The flowers are plentiful and the roses to which I have before refined are doing quite as well as expected. I + Dr Simburne had some chat about you yesterday Sunday in vestry. He hoped I should remember him to you. The choir is the same. They went by invitation to the vicarage last Friday week. I did not go, didn’t care about it, so the Doctor asked me today to come in at any time, he [illegible] be glad if I would. He is well but his health is weak. The annual children’s white dress service takes place next Friday your mama has the usual work to get on contingent ready. The sermon is entitled “Weeds + Flowers” + 8 hymns are to be sung. George is going back to McClelland’s they want him + he would prefer being there

[3]

I am working away on “The British Mercantile Gazette” still, it is difficult business sometimes, but then up to now it has paid. Ernest keeps his place at Wright + Butlers and seems to suit them. Referring to politics a dissolution would not surprise most people at any moment. There is the franchise bill the Egyptian financing business as well as the Soudan knot which stand right in the way of Cabinet and the Election for N Warwickshire just limited resulted in a larger Conservative majority than ever has been known. Lord Randolph Churchill is unwell from overwork he is effected shortly in Birmingham with Col Burnaby and I have arranged with the Town Hall Curator for admission on the occasion. We are all pretty well Aunt is with us from London as you may know + is better for the change in health. The Henley folks are very well but feeble. I should have been in Manchester +c this week but can’t get away before next week now. Mama will finish this morning [illegible] I hope this agate writing will stand let me know.

[4]

My dear Fred

Your father says I need to finish this, but I thought he had told you all the news you will I fear have much trouble to make it out – don’t think it unkind I seldom write. I am always at work, thinking and talking of you many times a day hope with all my heart to see you home next summer. George wishes very much to join you and if he does you must journey home. Bessie, Amy + Florence are all at work nw but not getting any money for two years from the time they started. Your father is doing better or we could not manage this latter two are at Miss Bostons the dressmakers in the village come home to morrow.

Kindest love and wishes your Mother

Tag: Lord Randolph Churchill

Letter to Frederick A Paulin from his father, 18 Aug 1884

Letter from Frederick and Mary Paulin to FA Paulin, c1884