Newcastle on Tyne Northumberland Street
17^th July 1841

My dear Lucy,

We arrived safely here on Saturday last. The Solway was, as usual, too long in making out her voyage, and we were obliged to stop at Carlysle on Friday night. It, however, afforded us the opportunity of seeing the ancient city, and we were most happy to meet our friends on the next day who were quite well and particular in their enquires about you. We have had two letters from Mrs Lyons in great ecstasy at seeing her son, daughter-in-law and grand daughter, who paid her a regular visit and promised to repeat it often. Mary Macartney has sent us all the Belfast news including election politics and Tory triumphs, and complains of the solitude, and deserted streets of the town, now that everyone has gone to the country for the summer. Our ladies and myself went to Tynesmouth on Saturday to look for lodgings and hope to be able to go there at the beginning of next month for two or three weeks. I had commenced this letter when I was summonsed to be of the Tynesmouth party, and now Monday 19^th proceed to tell you all the news we have. The weather is warm and delightfully pleasant and we intend to enjoy it as much as possible. We have at this moment has an epistle form Mrs Cockburn who is at her country house near Sydney Australia. She is very well and expecting to be confined in a month or two, as we learn from certain hints she throws out. It would be some time before she hears the melancholy tidings of Frans death. I am getting my picture done in crayons at the special request of Mr Hodder and shall be obliged to be briefer than I wished to give an hour this morning to the painter, who appears to be a person of some talent. The elections in the south of Ireland are by no means conducted in a constitutional manner. The county of Tipperary is in possession of the mob and so are several other southern counties. The Roman Catholic clergymen tyrannise over the people in the most barefaced manner but notwithstanding, the conservative cause will be triumphant. We trust you will answer this communication by return post. Have you got a servant girl and set your house in order. Miss Auckinleck will soon find you out and I shall rejoice to learn that Mrs Johnston and the Parkinsons are in the best health and spirits. Remember me to them all. I shall send you some newspapers immediately. Mrs Hodder, Bristow and Aunt desire their love and affect regards to you and believe me my dear Lucy,

affectly yours,

F.E. Lascelles.

I have had a visit from two evangelical clergymen and expect another from a third.