Letters from 4th Earl (son), together with 3rd Countess's replies.

Items 1-137 have been left essentially as they were found, both sides of the correspondence being arranged in a single chronological sequence, 1869 - 70. Items 138-157 form a separate bundle concerning annuities paid to Alan and Auberon Herbert, and the latter's marriage settlement, 1871 - 72. Items 158 - 159 (Jan 1869) were not found in a bundle

Subjects include travelling arrangements, social engagements and health (passim); 3rd Earl's journal of his 1839 travels through Greece, published by 4th Earl in 1869 (items 2-3, 11, 17); charity for support of masons' widows (items 4 & 10); his servant Parsons (item 5); collapse of the Dover & Chatham Railway Co (items 8-9); death of Mary Morton, nurse to 3rd Earl's children (items 12-13, 24); use of Pixton Park by Dulverton Cricket Club; death of Mr Lecomte in Paris (item 16); building of new church at Highclere (items 17, 19, 38); mines (at Teversal, Notts?) including inquest on Molyneux Colliery accident (items 18, 22-23); 3rd Countess's proposed gift of bells or tower to the new church at Highclere (items 20, 34, 38-40, 108-9, 112); proposed gift of font for Highclere Church in memory of Mary Morton (item 24); their travels in Germany, including visits to Wildbad (with reference to 3rd Countess's help in building of English Chapel), and Enghien and the baths there (items 25-33); visit of Prince and Princess of Wales to Wildbad (item 27); Auberon Herbert's sprained back (items 28-29, 41); 'good old ... old-fashioned' Dr Cooper of Teversal, Notts (item 36); fire at a Highclere farm (items 38-39); proposed glass portico on arch at Pixton (item 42); 4th Earl's speech in Manchester (items 41-44); restoration of Bath Abbey (item 46); Auberon's resignation of his fellowship (item 48); capture of Edward H C Herbert by Greek brigands, and his subsequent murder (items 49-66); 4th Earl's motion in the House of Lords concerning Greek brigands (items 67-70); request of W Brace MD to be presented at a levée (item 70); 4th Earl's speech on the Irish Land question (item 71); death of Henry Charles Dudley Long (Jun 1870) Long (item 72); Auberon's activities near Bingen, Germany (items 74, 79-86, 95); situation of Alan Herbert in Paris during Franco-Prussian War, engaged in hospital work (items 75-136 passim); Arthur Long's affairs (item 77); improvements to Carnarvon Castle (items 78-79); proposed infants' school at Blackwell (near Teversal?) and likely effect of Education Act 1870 (items 87-91, 94); children's silence at meals (item 90); birth of daughter to Eveline (5th Countess of Portsmouth) (item 92); proposed pits at Blackwell (Derbs?) (item 105); 3rd Countess's proposed gift of clock for Highclere Church (item 109); enquiry about Mr H D Shrine of Warleigh Manor, Som (item 111); proposed market at Exebridge (item 112); request of Mr Klitz, former music teacher to Lady Gwendolen, for help in obtaining position of organist at Dulwich College, Surrey (items 112-3); choice of names for 4th Earl's daughter Margaret (items 112-3); glebe lands under control of 3rd Countess, perhaps at Teversal or Blackwell (item 119); consecration of new church at Highclere (items 123-5); Auberon's proposed departure for France (item 124); news from Lizzie Herbert in Dieppe (item 128); foreign affairs, mentioning Bernstorff's letter (item 137); annuities paid to Alan and Auberon Herbert, and marriage settlement of Auberon to Lady Florence Cowper (items 138-156); sale of Christian Malford estates (item 150); 'Specimen of a Framework Knitters Speech under the Household Suffrage Act', annotated (on envelope) as having been given by Lady Estcourt to Lady Suffolk (this contains a townsman's speech opposing the establishment of a school board at Hucknall, Notts, referring to 3rd Countess's endowment of the room in which the meeting was taking place, and to Auberon Herbert's concern for the locality: it is not immediately apparent whether it is a genuine speech, or a parody designed to mock the widening of the franchise) (item 157); speech at Bath and membership of Ritual Commission (item 159)

Note: item 106 includes a postscript dictated by 5th Earl