430 Hackney Rd.
29th April 1864

My very dear Alexander

I return you many thanks for your last letter dated 16 Feb. containing 2 sovereigns - "memorial of affection". It is very kind of you to think of us and I hope it emanates from your abundance. I would not on any account take your necessities if I could in any way help myself. Thank God we are at present in a position to do so and I hope we shall be so until the end of the chapter but oh! how I would like to see you again. If this mining speculation succeeds it is possible but stick close to your business as it has never failed you, speculators [speculations?] may, but I believe you are circumspect. What thinks Andrea upon the subject? females can see far distances sometimes. I hope she is well. Is she likely to increase your number? Her poor father must require much of her care.

I am so glad Walter has a son. I wonder he did not write and tell us about the affair. I wonder how they got on this time, having been so much annoyed with servants previously. I want Walter to write me a long letter about his family that I may become better acquainted with them. I am glad he has named his little son after you, as it looks as though you were united and happy together.

John Kraushaar went home on a visit to his friends about a fortnight since. They thought him very much grown and I believe were very pleased to see him again after about 15 months absence. The change will be very beneficial to him after London. He had already been roving about the hills and dales. Fanny is expecting her confinement in May or June. Her husband is not in very good health just now; he is not at best a strong man. His eldest daughter is almost as tall as her mama. I should like to have her with me on a visit but I cannot see how she can be spared from home as she must be, or ought to be, invaluable to poor Fanny as a help.

We have now the lovely Spring before us. It is quite enlivening to think about. I get out but very little but I have long had a wish to see Windsor and the Queen's Palace and I do think I must rouse up your father to take me this summer. It is not more than about 15 miles from London so the expense would not ruin him.

Garibaldi has been all the rage lately. He has been much honoured by the English people and nobility lately and I think deservedly so. We neither of us saw him, your papa being too full of business and I too much afraid of a London crowd. He is a brave loving fellow. I admire him. He was welcomed every where and he responded to it most heartily. He left England Monday accompanied by the Duke of Sutherland. He said in a meeting the other day that if "England & America were united they could beat the whole world".

Oh that you had once more peace - still war! war! we received 2 of the New York Tribunes from Walter today. If they cost him beyond a trifle to send tell him we get much later news in our papers. It is however kind of him to send them for which we thank him. Do you receive Public Opinion still? We continue to send it although irregularly as our memories are so bad. Consider your papa 74 and I, 70. [References to their ages are usually approximate, not to say plain wrong.] You would, I think, laugh could you see us hunting about for lost articles.

Remember us very kindly to your father-in-law. I hope the dear old gentleman has a "good hope through Grace". Point him to that Saviour who is so willing to save to the very uttermost those who come unto Him. Believe me with much love to you both,

Your ever affectionate mother

Sarah Murray