[‘There never was a better father and never one more loved’: Lord Napier while British Ambassador to the Netherlands.] Autograph Letter Signed to 'the Honble. George Elliott', praising his father the Second Earl of Minto on his death..

Author: 
Lord Napier [Francis Napier (1819-1898), 10th Lord Napier of Merchistoun and 1st Baron Ettrick, acting Viceroy of India [Admiral Sir George Elliott (1784-1863), son of the Second Earl of Minto]
Publication details: 
8 August 1859. The Hague [Holland].
£60.00
SKU: 24096

See his entry in the Oxford DNB. 4pp, 12mo. Bifolium. In good condition, with slight discoloration along central fold. Large bold signature ‘Napier’. Addressed to ‘The Honble. George Elliott’, with salutation to ‘My dear Elliott’. As he does not know where Elliott’s sister Lady Dunfermline is ‘residing at this moment’, he is placing in Elliott’s hands ‘for transmission’ a letter from the wife of the Turkish ambassador at the Hague. He expresses to Elliott’s family his sympathy at the loss of their father. ‘I can never forget the kindness which he shewed me when I was unequally associated with him in his duties in Italy. He continued the same goodness and partiality to me afterwards.’ Added to Napier’s ‘personal attachment’ is ‘the highest appreciation of his manly unaffected sincere character, and of his great and useful capacity’. He is sure ‘there never was a better father and never one more loved’. He urges Elliott to consider that his ‘distress must be tempered by the reflection that his disorder was incurable and that his life could only be prolonged amidst suffering and infirmity’. He considers that there is ‘no family more united by affection’ than Elliott’s. He concludes in the hope that they ‘may be preserved to each other and see good days and happy homes, and that wherever you go you may be gathered to the banks of the Teviot at last’.