Michael D.Heath-Caldwell M.Arch.

1892

File PB130091

Bill from Wiesbaden

D.B.Fol. Wiesbaden, den 8 June 1892

Rechnung fur Mrs Marsh-Caldwell, Hockwohlgeboren

Von Gebruder Wollweber

Langgasse Netto comptant

2 Figuren a 21.- 42.-

[next line unreadable German]

Fr GebrWollweber it Heil

Portound verpackung 4.-

Envelop

Mrs Milbourne Marsh

Rocklands

Brisbane

Queensland

Postmark

Worcester

XI

Feb 13 92

Powyke

13 February 1892

My dear Grace,

I have to thank you for a photograph of Brisbane received some little time ago, and now for your nice long letter of Dec 10^th.

No doubt you have heard that beyond the fright and the inconvenience little harm was done by the fire at Linley Wood. It might have been a much more serious affair had it occurred at night instead of mid-day. Nothing then could have saved it.

As it is only the dining room and two rooms over it were burnt. And the pictures, china, valuables and furniture were saved with very little damage to the latter.

Posy was staying with us. Her room was quite burnt and she lost everything except her jewels which, wonderful to say, were all ultimately recovered from the debris which had fallen into the dining room below it.

But the Insurance has behaved very liberally so it really will be a case of exchanging “old lamps for new” and all her best gowns were safe in another part of the house. So only that round bow looking to the [flower?] garden has to be rebuilt.

The other rooms were of course more or less damaged by the water with the windows destroyed to get out the furniture which was done for precaution, as there was no telling how far the fire would extend.

As it happened none of the rooms from the drawing room and breakfast room upwards need have been disturbed. Everything is to be restored as before I believe.

Of course the whole dear old place presented a scene of devastation grievous to behold but my dear sisters were none the worse for the shock and are very comfortably settled in London for the time. They expect to be able to return home in June I think. I will tell them of your wish about the Marsh Portraits.

The suffrage our household has happily totally escaped so far. One of the four houses I know where it has not paid a visit. Duke [Crofton] had it rather severely but has now recovered, also Lady Lefroy, the children slightly. Maude bravely “stood to her guns” and nursed all the invalids. She and Duke [Crofton] are coming to town on a visit next week and come to us on their way home. 

They will meet Amy who is taking her two girls to London for a weeks sight seeing whilst Edie, the eldest goes to Heathyfield, Harry’s house[?]. May, their sister, is now at Algiers for the benefit of her health. Amy’s youngest boy has now gone to school and it is generally a very small quiet party at Brighton now. A great difference since you were here.

We hope Harry’s sight is rather better than otherwise but whether or no he is perfectly independent and thinks nothing of walking all the way alone to Aldershot and back and lunching at the Artillery Mess. I do not think any one can be happier than he is in spite of his great misfortune which would quench most people entirely. He has an excellent, devoted and talented wife. [Helen Milman, Mrs Caldwell Crofton] She is bringing out a new book and drawing all the illustrations for it. They have constant visitors and are very popular in the neighbourhood.

Dick is well and content. I think your prognostication will not come true in his case. He seems quite satisfied to remain a bachelor and his Battery in which he takes the greatest interest seems family enough for him, and a very well constructed family too and has just passed a splendid inspection and received no end of praise.

We hope he will get leave this summer and that we shall have the joy of seeing him safe and well.

You do not give a very bright account of Australian prospects, but what can be expected when the power is practically in the hands of the ignorant and selfish majority whose only idea is self-interest without a gleam of patriotism and absolutely influenced by the wire pullers who think only of place and have no respect for Truth and Facts.

I feel glad I have not to live in the 20^th Century. But I may be all wrong and sincerely hope I am and that these gloomy forebodings are only a symptom of old age.

I wonder if you would like this gloomy foggy day better than your brilliant sun and the heat thereof. We have had very little of that for the last two years. The rewards for the loss of our dear [grand Prince?]  (Prince Albert) has been very unwelcome he was so amiable and so promising and all the circumstances were so touching and tragic.

Lord Dudley married a Miss Gurney, niece of  Val. [Princey, Bing?] the artist. She was brought up by the Duchess of Bedford as her father has been in “hiding” for years. I know not for what offence and her mother does not bear a good character so the marriage was anything but pleasing to his mother. But the young [man?] is doing so very well since his marriage that she must have a good influence. They say he is very clever.

Herbert Heath has a little daughter born to him in Valetta. All her family are with her there now.

My dear husband is in his usual health. I am my dear Grace affectionately yours, Frances Crofton  

Expect to be able to

Congleton & Macclesfield Mercury, and Cheshire General Advertiser.

Saturday 4 June 1892

Bazaar at Odd Rode.

A two days' bazaar and fancy fair in aid of the Odd Rode National Schools was opened in the Tenant's Hall, on Tuesday afternoon in the presence of the leading residents of the district.

The opening ceremony was performed by General Sir Richard Wilbraham K.C.B., who, after briefly stating the objects of the bazaar, remarked that the parish of Odd Rode once formed part of the large parishg of Astbury with its 3,000 souls, but that it had grown so rapidly and so  extensively that it had now a population of its own of about 3,000 (Applause.). 

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Amongst those who visited the bazaar during the day were the Rev. Edward Roydes, vicar of Brereton, Mr and Mrs Chew (Pell Wall Hall, Market Drayton), Mr and Mrs Johnson, the Rev. Canaon and Mrs Egerton, (Myddle, Shropshire), Mrs Moore, Mr and Mrs Hugh Williamson, Dr Critchley, Dr Steel, Mr Meakin, (Congleton), Mr and Mrs Thomas Bibby, the Rev. J. Williams, Misses Marsh-Caldwell, and others.

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Congleton & Macclesfield Mercury

Saturday 18 June 1892

Inauguration of a new Road at Mow Cop.

On Monday afternoon a new road which has been in progress of formation for twelve months was opened to public traffic at Mow Cop. The road opens at what is known at "Brake Corner," Mount Pleasant, and proceeds to Mow Cop, a distance of 800 yards. On either side of the road a rail fence has been fixed, underneath which quick-sets has been set. 

The road has been macadamised with stones obtained from the immediate neighbourhood, and where the declivitiesof the road have been raised, and it has been found necessary to do go, it has been pillared every three or four yards. The inhabitants bought a portion of land known as Plant's ground for the sum of £20 whilst the Misses Marsh-Caldwell gave the Highway Board carte blanch so far as land in their possession was required. 

£1 was given to Mr Antrobus for the land ceded by him. The work has been done under the direction of Mr E. Massey, surveyor, and Mr F. Stonier, waywarden. It may be stated that the road save a tollage which has been previously paid by the inhabitants from having to go by horse and cart through Lear's Yard. 

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West Middlesex Herald
Saturday 18 June 1892

Unionist Meeting at Coldharbour.

On the evening of Friday week a lecture was given at the Institute by Admiral Sir Leopold Heath K.C.B., "on the duty of electors in the present crisis." The chair was taken by Mr C.E. Heath.

Sir Leopold Heath said he thought it right that as Mr Barnes and the Liberal van had recently been in the village, an opportunity should be given to the electors of hearing what was to be said on the other side. 

After explaining that he thought it better in a small village like Coldharbour that friends and neighbours should address the electors rather than the more eloquent professional politicians, he said - Mr Barne's Statements. 

I have observed in the short abstract given in the local papers that Mr Barnes made two statements which were absolutely untrue - inaccurate I believe is the civil word to use.
The first was that the Tory party were in the habit of going to war for the sake of turning the people away from discussing social questions. Why, is the great boast of Lord Salisbury's followers that by his skilful handling of foreign affairs he has avoided war through the whole period during which he has held office, while Mr Gladstone, in his previous administration, not only spent our money in actual war, but wasted £11,000,000 in panic preparation for war with Russia over a dispute which was peacefully settled by Lord Salisbury almost directly he came into office.

Does any one in this room suppose that if Lord Salisbury had been in office the Egyptian war would have been carried on in the way it was carried on by Mr Gladstone? Would that grand hero Gordon have been sacrificed? Would the great commercial city of Alexandria have been bombed and burnt. 

Really if Mr Barnes had not been a reckless speaker he never could have given utterance to the sentence I complain of.

The second statement made by Mr Barnes to which I object was that until the Whigs passed the Ballot Act the electors of Coldharbour were coerced by their employers into voting as they wished. 

Now really, for a gentleman aspiring to represent this great constituency, Mr Barnes is singularly ignorant of the modern history of his country, for the Ballot Act was passed in 1884, so that there were next to no voters in Coldharbour previous to the Ballot Act. 
I now leave Mr Barnes and pass on to the subject of my lecture.
Home Rule.

Home Rule will be the main point on which the coming election will turn, and I entreat you most earnestly to drop for the moment all consideration of party, and whether you be Whigs or Tories, Radicals or Conservatives, to consider with all sincerity and with earnest purpose which way you would vote if the question were before you only on its merits.

It is far too serious and too important to be mixed up with the question of whether Lord Salibury should retain power or Mr Gladstone replace him. Separate it in your minds from these petty party politics. Take it by itself and say whether it is wise or unwise - whether it is right or wrong - whether is is good for the Irish or bad for the Irish - whether it is on the whole good for your country or bad for your country. 

The first thing you have to find out when endeavouring to make up your mind is
What is Home Rule.

Mr Gladstone won't tell you what he means. Sir Vernon Harcourt tells you one thing, Mr Redmond tells you another, and Mr McCarthay something else, but whatever the exact scheme may be it is certain to place the destinies of the unfortunate inhabitants of Ireland in the hands of men whose acts have shown them perfectly unfit to rule - men who invented the wicked and illegal plan of campaign - men who invented the wicked and more uncharitable system of boycotting - men who have allowed their subordinates unchecked to commit murder and other actrocities, sometines firing at unresisting old men, sometimes shamefully ill-treating women and girls, whose only fault was being related to men who had dared to rent the land of evicted tenants, sometimes torturing poor brute beasts in order to punish their owners.

Morever, these men whom Mr Gladstone would establish as rulers of Ireland will be under the control of the Roman Catholic priests, and so distasteful is this prospect  to your fellow Protestants, by whome the great province of Ulster is mostly inhabited,that they are about to hold an enormous meeting to protest against what is called Home Rule in any shape.
An Appeal to "Friends and Neighbours." 

Now, I earnestly ask you as friends and neighbours  - I ask you as Englishmen - I ask you as Protestant Christians - can you with clear conscience give your votes to Mr Barnes, who would use his position as your representative to forward this miserable Home Rule scheme? 

I would urge you who are attached to the Liberal Party to abandon it for the moment. In so doing you will be following the very best and most thoughtful members of the party, the late Mr Bright, Lord Hartington, now the Duke of Devonshire, Sir Henry James, Mr Chamberlain, Mr Jessie Collings, who is emphatically the agricultural labourer's friend, and very many others. 
I will only add on this all-engrossing topic that whatever drastic measures might have been required in the state in which Ireland was when Mr Gladstone proposed the scheme in 1885, none such can now be wanted.

Lord Salisbury at that time named 20 years of just rule between man and man as necessary to bring Ireland into the condition of a civilised nation. At that time murders for agrarian or political reasons were of daily occurance, and the murderers were no respecters or persons, the victims ranging from Lord Edward Cavendish and Mr Burke to the humblest cottagers who had offended against the Land League. 

Let Well Alone.

I ask you to compare the state of Ireland now with the state of Ireland then, and say whether Lord Salisbury  - - - (rest illegible)

West Middlesex Herald

Wednesday 22 June 1892

Situations Vacant.

Wanted, married Coachman; wife as laundress - Apply, Sir Leopold Heath, Anstie Grange, Holmwood, Surrey



Staffordshire Advertiser

Saturday 17 September 1892

Primrose League Meeting.

The annual gathering of the Coal and Iron Workers' Habitation of the Primrose League was held in the grounds of Linley Wood on Monday. Mr J. Loring presided and there were present Mrs James Heath, Miss Marsh-Caldwell (ruling councillor), and Miss G.A. Marsh-Caldwell (hon. secretary).

 
Mr J. Loring referred to the growth of the habitation. - Mr James Heath returned thanks for the honour they had done him in returning him to Parliament. The ladies, he was sure, had done a good deal for him in Kidsgrove, and they had in that district every reason to be satisfied with the result of the election. 
He denied that subtle influence had been used, as alleged by Mr Woodall. As to registration, if any party were to blame it was the Radical party, and he asked why they did not put things right in 1884. Speaking of the opening of Parliament, he said he had expected that speeches would have been delivered by members of the Opposition party condemning Lord Salisbury's followers, but they were perfectly dumb. 
It showed that the Conservative Party followed a constitutional course, and that they were perfectly justified in meeting Parliament. 

Mr Heath went on to remark that in the Kidsgrove district it was thought he would not have much chance of winning, and there was a strong feeling for the other party. He thanked those who had helped to secure his success, and reminded them that in an election they should not feel they were working for a man but for a great party and principles. 

The meeting was afterwards addressed by Mr J.E. Cooke, divisional secretary for the Midland district and the usual votes of thanks were passed.

West Middlesex Herald
Saturday 2 July 1892

Mr Cubitt in Holmwood.

On Thursday evening a meeting in support of Mr Henry Cubitt's candidature was held at the Iron Room, near the Norfolk Arms, Holmwood. There was a crowded attendance. Colonel Helsham Jones presided, and was supported by the Right Hon. G. Cubitt, Sir Leopold Heath, Mr Henry Cubitt, Colonel de Catto, Mr Cuthbert Heath, Mr Beresford Melville, Mr Arthur Chaldecott, &c.

The Chairman, in opening the proceedings referred at some length to the Home Rule question, which he said was still the great point of the election. The main questions they had to keep before them, he thought, were the following: FIrst, has or has not the Government of Lord Salisbury shown that Ireland can be governed without Home Rule? (cheers). Secondly, is the union of hearts a reality or a sham? and, thirdly, has it been possible to proceed with useful legislation for the country at large in the Imperial Parliament or had it jnot? (cheers).  - - -continues - - - 

The Naval Defence Act showed up the disgraceful state in which Mr Gladstone had left the Navy. He could not help referring to the Navy when sitting near Sir Leopold Heath, who had been such an ornament of it (cheers).  - - -continues - - -

Sir Leopold  Heath referring to Mr Barnes's address, said a man who could write such bombastic nonsense was not the right man for them to send to Parliament (cheers). He asked them to support Mr Henry Cubitt solely on the ground that he was a Unionist and his opponent a Home Ruler (cheers). He denied that Home Rule was a Liberal measure, and it was extraordinary that it should ever have been made a party question. What was there in it that made it necessary that a Liberal should be a Home Ruler, and a Conservative a Unionist? The fact that Mr Gladstone in a fit despair at the failure of his attempts to govern Ireland introduced a Bill, and was followed by those over whom he had gained great influence. The Bill might be Gladstonian, but it was not Liberal (cheers). Sir Leopold Heath went on to refer at some lengthto the Ulster Convention, and appealed to his hearers to support Mr Cubitt against a policy of Home Rule. He moved "That this meeting of electors is of opinion that Lord Salisbury's Government has deserved well of the country, and having heard the views of Mr Henry Cubitt as a firm supporter of Lord Salisbury's policy, approves of his candidature and promises him hearty support" (cheers). 

Mr Arthur Chaldecott seconded the motion.

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Mr Cuthbert Heath also supported the motion, and asked who Mr Barnes was that he should dare to accuse the Government of misrepresentation and corruption (cheers). Mr Cubitt was a generous-minded and sympathetic gentleman (cheers). 

The motion was carried with only six dissentiments.

Morning Post.

Monday 19 December 1892

Wanted, for the country, a Useful MAID to wait on three elderly ladies: must understand dress-making: one who has been in a nursery preferred. Address M. Linley Wood. Stoke-on-Trent.