Letter from Laura Riddell, Rugby Hotel, Matheran [India], to her daughter Laura [in England]

Confirmation ceremony; her own confirmation; making the most of youth; failure to fulfil all her own ambitions; desire that she marry a compatible husband; desire to go to Europe in September and stay during the winter; possibility of taking George to England in the spring of 1886; inevitability of a war with Russia; fear of a large-scale European conflagration; England’s unselfish and benevolent aims; combat between English soldiers and Arabs near Suakin; superior quality of British soldiers; likelihood of the Arabs surrendering; General Gordon’s loss of life; scarletina outbreak at school; Henry’s inadequate progress and prospects; Easter and summer holidays; Mrs Stone; Mabel Hancock’s illness due to tight lacing; appearance; Henry’s nails; contentment with Matheran

Access will be granted to any accredited reader