Charlotte Weale to Frederick Chesson, 4 June 1884, G99 Vol. 1 – 21

Additional information

Correspondent

Weale, Charlotte

demographic

metropolitan

Date (YYYY-MM-DD)

1884-06-04

City

Whitechurch Canonicorum

region

England

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https://www.darrenreid.ca/aps_database_files/CharlotteWealetoFrederickChesson4June1884G99Vol.1-21.pdf

Archive

Bodleian Libraries

Call number

MSS. Brit. Emp. S. 22 / G99 Vol 1 – 21

Transcript:

Churchhouse
Whitechurch Canonum
Charmouth
Dorset

June 4th

Dear Mr Chesson,

I see by last Monday’s Standard that Tawhiao and his companions have arrived. I hope you have seen them. I long to have their address, albeit I know none of the party yet Te Wheoro and Wiremu Patara were always called ‘faithful and true’ and Mr Gorst in his book ‘Maori King’ specially praises both. I am sorry that one of the party shd be so aged and afflicted with rheumatic gout. My friend the Revd Herbert Lloyd, … St George’s School, is ready to be friendly when he knows their whereabouts. Dr Liddon writes me word that he shall not be in town until Sept. Mr Gorst ought to come forward and be friendly. What is wanted is that they shd receive pleasant invitations to one house and another so as to get into good intercourse with people and see the best side of English life. It is a pity they have come but as they are here, they shd be cared for. But how often everyone seems already too busy or too non caring to come forward to show hospitality. Prompt kindness wd have the happiest effect wd I know how to bring abt it.

Even as regards letter writing hands but little but when I hear from you as to them and have their address I will write to all I can. I took many days to recover from the suffering brought on by my little journey from Torquay. I suffer fm several disorders besides the heart wh the Drs day make it important I shd move little and attempt no exertion, indeed I find I cannot walk abt except on the level a short few yards, but the warm sea air strengthened me at Torquay and I quite hope in the course of the summer to make a goodly effort to … to see the Maories. My heart yearns over them and they are much in my thoughts. I longed to have been in London and able to give them a welcome. I long to hear from you abt them and to know if they really have sufficient funds and are bent on making a long stay.

I see none of the names of those who wrote of hoping to come. I expect sufficient funds failed, or that a split in the camp caused Sidney not to accompany them. Do these Maories profess to belong to the Ch of England? I am glad that they are avowedly on the side of temperance. The Bishop Abraham I hear intends to ignore them for the present by way of showing them that he disapproves of their arrival. My thought is quite contrary to his, to show loving kindness always must do good and they wd the more heed ones words as to the foolishness of the expedition after they had experienced ones hospitality and unless good people come forward they will be exposed to a thousand evils. These are great chiefs and ought not to be ignored and if very imperfect Christians then by our loving deeds we must win them … as regards them for you will long to see them cared for and I am very sorry to be quite unable to go and stay in London. Now I am tired … hoping soon to hear from you.

Yrs
C.J.D. Weale