Problems with Archie, the settlements … and propriety
February 1857. Charlotte is still in Brighton, seeing Archie every day. There are problems with the marriage settlements which lead to strained relations between Charlotte and Archie. Matters are not helped by Sholta who criticises Charlotte’s conduct in going about alone with Archie.
7th Saturday
[Archie] talked business to my horror. Gave me an acc[oun]t of the settlements quite different from what I understand them to be; cd not help thinking his father is misrepresenting things to him, but did not like to say so. He says Mr Kerr & Mr Williams are imposing settlements on me wh: are unusual & improper & talked me down completely. Especially, the £20,000 I reserve power over, for the benefit of my Sisters he wants me to keep power over to leave it to any one wh: is in fact, leaving it out of settlement, & consequently, as I have been assured giving it to my husband! He represented things in the wrong light to Mrs K. who, of course was on his side. My speaking was of no use. Herr Kuke called on me, and was as nice as ever. Then Miss K. Mary and I called on Mrs Byam, saw her & her oldest daughter, & the Gen: Every recess seemed to have a girl in it! We were joined there by Captain D. Afterwards he & Self went to walk in a certain place, and were very happy. On returning, Mrs Durham called on me. Saw Mr Reade & asked him to come to Scotland and marry me immediately after Easter, to which he half agreed, but advised me to think of it til I return here. Mrs Kerr and I dined with Mrs Buller and the Capt: Found it rather slow, as the talk was of people I know nothing about now, Tho’ I suppose I shall some day. Madeline & Mary came to tea, I played and nearly went to sleep!
Feb 9th London*
Sorry at the thought of leaving Mary with no maid to take care of her and dress her. Just before starting for London, the Miss Hursts came to see me and Mr Reade walked to the station with us. [Archie] met us there, got a coupé, and went with Jackson & me to London; showed me a letter just rec[eive]d from his father, wh: surprised & displeased me. He mentioned having been to Lady Glasgow, told her his story of the contract, & accused Mr Kerr to her of interested motives and bad things he has heard about him. Lady Glasgow had told him that she took the most kind interest in my welfare, &c. & advised him by no means to give in to such unreasonable demands, I told [Archie] that I did not think he understood the settlements, as at any rate that there was something very wrong; to wh: he agreed, but said that Messrs Logan were not likely take the trouble of writing what was not true. He proposed that I shd ask Mr Kerr for a copy of the proposed settlements, & that he (Archie) and I shd peruse it together. This idea rather horrified me, so I put it off by saying that Mr Williams would explain it better than I cd: & he had better talk it over with him. I said, I thought some one had been maligning Mr K. to his father in a way that shd not be done. After that, I felt rather relieved & we talked pleasantly all the rest of the way. Captain Dunbar saw us safely into a cab, and took leave of me. Arrived here about six Think C & S looking very ill. [Archie] came in the evening. We were all rather stiff!!
10th Tuesday
Captain Dunbar came about eleven. We sat together in the dining room till about half past 12. Mr Greg came in upon us, and asked us all to dinner, for Thursday. We accepted . [Archie] Sh: & Self went to walk in the Park. In the afternoon we drove & shopped.
12th Thursday
Went to dine with the Greggs (Sholta & self) The company, besides Mr & Mrs G. and ourselves, consisted of Lord Talbot, about whom the law suit is going on about the succession to the Shrewsbury property,* Mr Cardwell (M.P.) and his wife,* both of whom seem charming, a clever & agreeable W Thomas & Col: Gordon* (Gordon’s Battry before Sebastopol) & Capt: Dunbar. The latter took me to dinner & Lord Talbot sat on my other side. Did not speak much, but was interested & amused with the conversation round me. Had a very pleasant evening.
13th Friday
Went out in the morning. Sholta had told me, she did not think it was etiquette for [Archie] & self to walk arm in arm; so pretended to be cold & capricious & would not do it. He dined with us, & when alone with me sat down in front & called me to acct for my conduct. Thought it best to tell him the truth, hereupon he seemed to think it very nonsensical & oldmaidish, said, if it was proper at Brighton, it must be so, here, & said he w write to his father & ask if he ought to walk at all with us!
14th
Mr Williams paid me a visit at my own request, to read over the Contract with me. I found I understood it quite, & it was as I thought & wished. Told him of Capt: D’s errors, & that I had advised him to to call on Mr Wms the latter seemed to think proper behaviour on my part. [Archie] came then & went out with us, but in a very low humour, with the contract, & my not taking his arm. Felt very sorry to vex him so. He declared his intention of going to Brighton on Monday (to talk over Gen: Byam, again) When alone with me, he was in a terrible state about anything wh: he thinks tending to break off the match. He said that he could soon end the disputes by saying something to Mr Kerr that he would not like, & wished he he had taken a part in the matter from the beginning. He told me that he would write everything to Douglas, he ought to see Mr Wms & a draft of the contract, as he says he has never seen it, & understood the matter thoroughly. I said that from all he had said, I supposed that perhaps I did not understand them, and as far as I could see, they were “all right” “Oh! then, if they are all right there is no necessity for my going to Mr Wms” I told him still that if he was going to write to D. about the contract, he ought to understand it, himself. He half promised to go; but was evidently annoyed; & wd not stay, but said “goodbye” very coolly, & did not reappear.
15th Sunday
Sholta & I went to Eaton chapel (Mr Rashton) and heard a beautiful sermon. Mr R’s great charm is that he seems to feel what he preaches. Capt D. came to lunch, & seemed rather more composed than yesterday, tho’ there was something not quite comfortable. After lunch, he walked with us in the Park; Sholta asked him to come to dinner; we then went to Belgrave Chapel, & heard a good sermon from Mr Thorpe, met Lady & Miss Anstruther coming out. [Archie] came to dinner, afterwards was very affect: and kind.
Notes
London
Charlotte stays with her sisters Catty and Sholta at 8 William Street, Knightsbridge.
Lord Talbot …Shrewsbury property
Henry John Chetwynd-Talbot, 3rd Earl Talbot (1803-1868). The law suit Charlotte refers to was against three other claimants to the title and estates of the Earldom of Shrewsbury. Lord Talbot’s suit was successful and he became 18th Earl of Shrewsbury in 1860.
Mr Cardwell (M.P.) and his wife
Edward Cardwell, 1st Viscount Cardwell (1813-1886) and his wife Annie (d.1887). He was a liberal politician and a follower of Sir Robert Peel. Some years later he introduced what are now known as the “Cardwell Reforms” to the armed forces, including professional standards for officers.
Col: Gordon
Charles George Gordon (1833-1885), later Major-General, CB, and Governor-General of the Sudan.
