Letter from George du Maurier, Freshwater, to Tom Armstrong, 1874 September : autograph manuscript signed with initial.

Relating news of family and friends on his visit to Lorne Villa, Freshwater on the Isle of Wight; saying "Here we are and have been these 10 days, pretty comfortable and surrounded by pleasant friends - all the kids well & brown and May with an appetite and good spirits. It is a very quiet place of course and if it weren't for Wattses, Prinsepses. Camerons and others, and a very delightful chap called Andrew Hitchens, we should find it rather slow...Watts' house is very jolly and he seems very well & happy - Mrs. Cameron is without exception the greatest character I ever met; I find her delightful but dont think she would suit as a permanent next door neighbour for the next 30 years or so unless one could now & then get away. She is going to photograph May - also the Misses - also me. She says I have a fine head - (I had always suspected this) - May Prinsep is down here looking very sweet - A.K. Hitchens has quite lost his heart. AKH. is a very good looking chap of 40 with loads of tin - He has hired a yacht of 64 tons & is going to take us cruising about the island ...Watts and I resumed our conversation here just where we left it off in Earls Terrace - it was about the beauty of the Elgin marbles and the desirability of growing as like them as possible...Tennyson coming back in a fortnight - He & I are to become bosom friends & spend the rest of our lives together - He does not know this. - I think I have now told you what little news there is - Send us a line to say where & when and how you are, and give my love to Cammy. You might come here for a week. Val comes back in 4 or 5 days - There are lovely walks and lanes - Love from all & take care of yourself - Mrs. C. wouldn't photograph you, old cock, on account of your mutton chop whiskers."