Rare Wedding Thank You Letter
Signed Maud E. Gladstone & Henry N. Gladstone 1890.
This is a letter to a Mr
Edward Evris(?) Nanty, I am not sure that the middle name is correct as it is
smudged. The letter has a photographic oval portrait of the couple, Henry
Neville Gladstone and Maud Ernestine Rendel, on their wedding day the 30th
January 1890, in all their finery. Behind them stands William Ewart Gladstone
and his wife Catherine.
The letter is thanking
Edward for the wedding gift, a sum of money raised to create a portrait of Maud’s
mother, Mrs Stuart Rendel (Ellen Rendel).
The letter was written by
Maud on May 10th 1890 and is signed by first Maud and then by Henry.
I have transcribed the letter, there is one word and Edwards middle name, that
hard as I try I am uncertain if it is correct, the letter reads:
Mr Edward Ervis Nanty
10 St. James Square.
Dear Friends, We were deeply
touched and gratified to learn of your kind intentions towards us on our
marriage, and of the widespread generosity which prompted you to join together
in giving us such a handsome present. It is a great pleasure to us both to feel
that you have shown in this thoughtful and practical way, your regard and
esteem for our respective parents. We have done as you so kindly wished, and
have decided to donate the handsome sum you here raised to having a portrait
painted of Mrs Stuart Rendel. The choice of an artist has been somewhat
difficult and has caused some delay but we hope shortly to have the picture firmly
in hand. We assure you that we shall ever remember with pride the very ---
interest which you have all shown in our happiness, and that the picture will
always remain one of our most valued possessions - Your sincere friends
Maud. E. Gladstone
Henry N. Gladstone
May 10th 1890
The letter is in good antique condition, there is
some age related discolouration and some minor degradation to the edges. The
letter measures approx. 25.5cm by 19cm.
Henry Neville Gladstone, 1st
Baron Gladstone of Hawarden (2 April 1852 – 28 April 1935) a British
businessman and politician, was the third son and seventh child of the Liberal statesman
and four times Prime Minister, William Ewart Gladstone and his wife Catherine. Educated
at the Revd William Montagu Higginson's prep school in Norfolk, and then
at Eton College and at King’s College, London.
In 1871 Gladstone joined the firm
Gladstone, Wylie & Co., founded by his grandfather. Then Gillanders,
Arbuthnot & Co, another family firm, between 1874 and 1888 in India. He
also became private secretary to the prime minister, his father in1874. Lord
Henry Gladstone of Hawarden married the Hon. Maud Ernestine Rendel, daughter of
Stuart Rendel, 1st Baron Rendel and Ellen Sophy Hubbard, on 30th
January 1890 at St George’s, Hanover Square in London.
Later he was a director of
P&O, and of the B.I. Steamship Company. He became an Alderman on
Flint County Council in 1916. Gladstone became Lord of the Manor of
the family estate at Hawarden, when his nephew, William G. C. Gladstone,
was killed in action in April 1915. Gladstone purchased the succession to the
estate, paid off the mortgage and improved the house, his home from 1921 and for
the rest of his life. He succeeded his late nephew as Lord Lieutenant of
Flintshire. He was President of the University College of North Wales, a
Justice of the Peace (JP) for both Flintshire and Cheshire. He was raised
to the peerage as Baron Gladstone of Hawarden, in the County of Flint, on
22 June 1932. He was the Constable of Flint Castle in 1934. He died in April 1935, aged 83, without
any children, the barony became extinct.
Please see pictures for more
details.
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