Autograph letter signed : [London], to William Wetmore Story, 1874 June 9.

Telling Story that he had seen James Russell Lowell at a party the night before, and that Lowell had mentioned that Story would not be coming to London that year; chiding him in a friendly manner: "Can it be? Here is Story a regular member of the 'Athenæum,' & all for nothing!"; discussing the dispersal of books and artwork belonging to Ernest Benzon after his death, including one of Story's sculptures, "Semiramis"; sending the news that Pen has been studying painting under Jean-Arnould Heyermans: "from Pen's letters, which are unremitting, I can see that he is happier than he ever was in his life. What a load this lightens me of, who can judge better than you?"; discussing holiday plans, and the health of himself and his sister Sarianna; mentioning Lady Louisa Ashburton: "I see every now and then that contemptible Lady Ashburton and mind her no more than any other black beetle -- so long as it don't crawl up my sleeve"; asking for news of the Story children; mentioning that he had had dinner with Major-General Robert Schenk (the United States Minister to Great Britain) the previous evening; adding that Beatrice Trollope was also present and noting her singing: "[I]t only seemed yesterday when Pen and the little lady cantered about on ponies side by side like two butterflies. Well, some good things remain. My true love for you all -- take it!"