Letter from Frederick Greenwood, Porthmadog, Wales, to Kate Greenwood, 1888 October 4 : autograph manuscript sign.

Confirming receipt of the letter and newspapers she sent him and noting that copies of the St. James's Gazette have not reached him for several days; discussing possible payment that might be forthcoming for an article written by his son Edgar for the St. James's Gazette, and remarking that "if your review came to about 10/s.1 that would make 5/s for Edgar"; mentioning his itinerary over the next few days; writing that he agrees that Sir Morell Mackenzie "makes a great mistake on the very first page of his book, 'Frederick the Noble!'", and expressing his hope that there isn't "much of that sort of thing" in the book itself; discussing the Geffcken affair and observing that he thinks it likely that Geffcken is the source of the excerpts and that "He is not a man of very good judgment in practical affairs, though he is a sound lawyer, and cool and telling in controversy. That he published without hint or permission I find it hard to believe; and he is in frequent communication with some members of the royal family here, as well as the Prussian royal family. So that if the Empress Frederick wished to give Bismarck blow for blow, you see how it could be managed with out the Empress's own direct action."; adding that he believes that "the consequences of the publication will extend very far" in their impact on both foreign and internal affairs in Germany, as "A 'wild' Bismarck (you know what I mean) already anxious to make things more secure, and to establish his own work more completely, works with a headstrong, selfwilled, military young cub like the present Emperor, becomes more dangerous than ever: and one result in all this is to deepen the dislike of England in Germany and wear away its disguises."; expressing sympathy for the publisher (Henry) Vizetelly (who was being prosecuted at the time for sell the works of Émile Zola), but remarking that "he should do a more decent trade"; descrying the "contemptable stuff" appearing in the newspapers "about these murders!" (a reference to the reporting on the murders recently committed by "Jack the Ripper").