Highcliffe
Christ Church
July 28. 1880.

My dear Prince

Being here on my long annual visit to Lady Waterford reminds me so much of last year, when the welfare of my Prince was so much to me, that I cannot help writing to him, though I seem to have been perfectly ignorant of his life and movements ever since he left England.

I was all winter in Sicily with the same distant cousins with whom I made a tour in Norway. Most beautiful are Taormina, ?Gingenti, and several other places and there are lovely subjects for sketching, but the greater part of the island is unutterably bare & ugly, and I found it so dull to spend two months without seeing anyone at all except my companions, that I was very glad when the time came for returning by Naples and Rome, and I was able to spend a few days at each. Rome was much healthier last winter - no fever, and splendidly fine weather, though very cold. The Princess ?Gabinelli enquired after you and many others.

In the beginning of May I went to London and have been there ever since, enjoying the pleasantest season I ever remember, and - as usual - dining out every day. I think few events have occurred which would especially interest my Prince. Lady Marian Alford has been dangerously ill, and her life long despaired of, but I am thankful to say she has rallied contrary to all expectations. Lord Salisbury's going out of office has transferred the Foreign Office and its parties to Lord and Lady Granville, who do not manage them so well. The Salisburys are abroad and will remain abroad all next winter for his health. Mr Gladstone is more detested than ever, and the ?Sick Bill has ????? such fury of indignation against him that many are those who regret that the days of Charlotte ?Loveday are over, only that heroine would have small chance of finding the Prime Minister where she found ?Marat. The Duchess of Westminster is very ill and her almost dying condition spreads a wide shadow. The Duke of Argylls eldest unmarried daughter has just annoyed her family by insisting upon marrying a penniless Captain Taylor. The Aberdeens, Lord ?Cranbrook & others enquire kindly after my Prince.

The last thing I did before leaving London on Saturday was to attend the marriage of ?Tom ?Legh of Lyme and Miss Bromley Davenport. It was a beautiful wedding in the great church of St. Peter, which was filled from end to end with wedding guests, the mother of the bride & her sisters Lady Granville & Mrs. West ?forming ????? for the prettiest group of all. The wedding was one of the first of those, which, according to the new law, are celebrated in the afternoon.

This place is in great beauty and Lady Jane and Mr. Ellice are here as usual. They and Lady Waterford beg to be cordially & respectfully remembered, and I am

Y^r affect^ate & devoted

Augustus J C Hare

I return to my own home

Holmhurst
St. Leonards on Sea

next week.