| | | 1891 |
28 Mars
Ma bien chère Amy,
Je viens vous demander de vos chères nouvelles.
Les miennes sont excellentes et je continue à mener la vie la plus heureuse. Nous n'avons guère bougé de Knole cet hiver, malgré le froid rigoureux; mais nous sommes si confortables dans notre vieille maison que nous y sommes restés malgré beaucoup de projets de voyage. Amalia est la seule qui ait pris son vols vers le midi; elle a passé 6 semaines à Cannes avec des amis; du reste, elle vous a peut-être écrit. Elle vient juste de retourner à Paris, où elle passera quelsque temps avec flora dont le petit Lionel croit en âge et en sagesse! -- Moi, je n'ai pas de petit Lionel en vue, et je ne m'en fait pas d'ennui pour le moment; je suis tellement heureuse avec mon mari que je ne désire bien de plus en ce monde.
Nous venons de passer 10 jours à Londres chez Mr. et Mrs Cheston (Miss Howell, de Washington.) J'ai toujours été liée avec elle, mantenant plusqu'autrefois, et c'est une bonne aimie d'Amérique, ce pays que je n'oublie pas. Nous avons été au théâtre tous les soirs et nous nous sommes vraiment bien amusés à Londres; mail il n'y a pas de danger que ns allions à Londres pour la "Season".
Je deviens de plus en plus sauvage et n'aime guère le monde; ce qui est agréable est d'avoir nos amis en visite à Knole, et nous en avons presque toujours des Samedi au Lundi. De cette manière, nous avons revu beaucoup d'amis d'Amérique, des deplomates aussi.
Mrs Amory Lawrence m'a donné des nouvelles de Boston derni]`erement; j'ai toujours le plus grand plaisir à recevoir des lettres me donnant des "news". Donnez-m'en de vos enfants; comment vont vos parents en Corée? Sous seriez bien gentille de m'envoyer des timbres de Corée, chère aimie; j'ai commencé un collection quand j'étais toute petite et je n'ai pas un seul timbre de ce pays-là; quand Vs en aurez des Américaines à m'envoyer même des timbres de 1, 2, 3, etc ents, donnezles moi; voulez-vous? Ceux-là ne seront pas pour ma collection; j'en ai besoin de beaucoup pour autre chose. Ainsi, veuillez me mettre de côté tous ceux que v. pourrez, Américaines ou autres?
Papa me demande de le rappeler à "Amy"; il fs appele toujours comme cela.
Bien des choses aimable à votre mari, et "much love" from me.
Votre sincère amie
Victoria Sackville West
28 March
My very dear Amy,
I recently asked you for your cherished news. Mine is excellent and I continue to enjoy the happiest life. We have scarcely budged from Knole this winter, in spite of the rigorous cold; we are so comfortable in our old house that we remain there, in spite of many planned voyages. Amalia is the only one who has taken flight to the South; she spent 6 weeks in Cannes with friends; she has perhaps written you of the rest. She has just returned from Paris, where she spent some time with Flora whose little Lionel grows in age and in knowledge! - Me, I do not have little Lionel in view, and I am not bored for the moment; I am so so happy with my husband that I desire nothing more in this world.
We just spent 10 days in London with Mr. & Mrs. Cheston (Miss Howell of Washington.) I have always gotten on with her, now more than formerly, and she is a good friend from America, this country that I will never forget. We went to the theatre every night and we were very happy in London; but there is no danger that W will go to London for the "season."
I become more and more savage and scarcely like the world; what is agreeable is to have our friends visit us at Knole, and we have them nearly always from Saturday to Monday. In this manner we have seen again many friends from America, some diplomats also.
Lastly, Mrs. Amory Lawrence gave me news of Boston; it is always the greatest pleasure to receive letters giving me "news." Give me some of your children; how are your parents doing in Korea? You would be very nice to send me some Korean stamps, dear friend; I began a collection when I was quite small and I do not have a single stamp from that country; when you have some American stamps to send me, even the 1,2,3, etc. stamps, give them to me, will you? Those will not be for my collection; I need many for something else. Thus, would you please set aside for me all that you can American or others?
Papa asks me to remember him to "Amy"; he remembers you always like that-
Best wishes to your husband, and "Much love" from me. Victoria Sackville West
Notes:
Alsop refers to visits by Victoria's American friend Molly Cheston in January 1890, before the announced engagement of Victoria to her Cousin, Lionel Sackville-West, her father's namesake and heir. She refers to another visit by Cheston in early 1891 (as well as to visits by Mrs. Cameron and the Joseph Chamberlains.) Her sister Flora's son Lionel was born in March 1890. Victoria and her Lionel were married on 17 June 1890 at Knole. Amalia and Victoria became increasingly estranged as Amalia became more bitter at being unmarried and unloved.
In a letter to the London Times dated 31 January 1956, Victoria's daughter Vita wrote that Victoria during her pregnancy with Vita in 1892 amused herself by papering a small room at Knole with stamps arranged in strips and patterns. During a 1985 visit to Knole I inquired if the room still existed with Victoria's stamps, but I was told that the stamps had been removed when the room had been renovated a few years earlier. It is somewhat sad to consider the destruction of bits of history with a personal connection. I would have varnished the stamps to preserve them!
| | | 1891 |