ALS.  2pp.  22 King Henry's Road, NW.  June 16th 1875.  To "Mrs Thomas".

 

"Pray don't think anything of Tuesday night.  I saw immediately there had been a mistake, and it seems on my side as well.  I did not know I was to dine, so I arrived fully dined about 8 o'clock.  I did not leave my card as a reproach, pure accident, having one about me.  I generally leave purse, pocket handkerchief, or card case behind me when I go out.  Finding you out, I returned comfortably on a tram and had my game of billiards at the Club.  I am leaving town tomorrow morning early, until Wednesday next, and hope to come to Brixton some evening shortly after.  With kind regards, believe me yours very truly, Henry Woods."

 

8vo bifolium.  16 x 11.5 cms (7 x 4.5 inches).  Slight mounting traces and some old annotation to verso of last leaf.  Fine.

 

The formality of Victorian society often led to such social "gaffes" and Henry Woods obviously felt it needful to explain himself, although there is no tangible sense of embarrassment.  The tram line from Brixton was one of the first horse drawn tram lines in London and had only recently opened at the date of this letter.  

 

Provenance: From the 19th century album compiled by the family of Dr James Copland F.R.S. (1791-1870), the noted Scottish physician and writer on medicine.