Letter from S.C. Hall, London, to Mr. Rose, 1868 July 25 : autograph manuscript signed.

Concerning the failed efforts on behalf of Mrs. Hall to secure her a pension; saying "I do not think there is a single Irish author or person on the list : that is not politic : and as far as I can make out, the services of all those who receive pensions are such as have been rendered to what is called the Liberal cause in politics. I was weak enough to fancy that my long and ardent Labours for the conservative cause might have induced consideration from Mr. D'Israeli - even if Mrs. Hall's claims had been very much less than they are. I verily believe that her claims (whatever mine may be) will be recognized by Mr. Gladstone or Mr. Bright - whichever may be Mr. D'Israeli's successor : And I feel humbled to the dust that this boon should have been asked of Mr. D'Israeli for Mrs. Hall by so many of her personal and public friends. What has Mrs. Oliphant done compared with what Mrs. Hall has done? She has written good books - but that is all her claim : she is perhaps 20 years younger than Mrs. Hall. But most likely her memorial in her behalf was signed by a score or two of Whigs - for she has been and is, though not a politician, a whig writer always. My dear Rose, I pray you make allowance for our mortification and deep disappointment : you are yourself much the cause of the latter - for you more than once told us 'it would be granted by Lord Derby - or if he went out, D'Israeli would come in and then it was sure.' I did consider it 'sure!' At 68 years old, there cannot be much more work in us : we have saved nothing : what we have earned has never been spent for ourselves : and I will not believe that God will find means to sustain us to the end. Meanwhile we must toil as hard as we did when we were forty. This news has filled me with sadness : and I pray your pardon for intruding my sorrow on one of the few friends remaining who have known us long and, I will hope, esteemed & respected us always."