“THE CHINESE CONFOUND ALL MISSIONARIES TOGETHER” YONGE (Charlotte M., 1823-1901, Novelist)

Fine Long Autograph Letter Signed to “My dear Lottie” saying how glad she is that she is “enjoying Scotland... I suppose you are having no end of grouse shooting as I see by the paper that there are more shooters and more grouse than ever. Even Major Scarlett is, I believe, gone for a fortnight away from his battery at Christ Church, though the War Office are said to be anxious about the Black Fleet which the French are supposed to be preparing for November...”, she then talks about architecture, saying she believes “Scottish Architecture... curiously like French, I have seen sets of engravings of Churches and houses, or castles... is Dunrobin old, I don’t think it is very historical... We have our school feast this afternoon at the Grange and after many alarms it is turning out a very fine day. Frances and Helen are coming to stay... then they go to Algeria for Christmas... if you have any time before taking possession of your work in London, I would be very glad of a visit from you... I shall be quite alone and it would be very nice to have you if you can be spared...” she comments that she is “glad Cordner (?) is executed, I was much afraid that Lord Roberts would let him off. That David Oliphant who was killed in the bombardment of the Legations was a nephew of Dr Mansfield, Georgina Halliday’s husband, who is in Africa. If he has to stay there she hopes to go out to him. The Chinese confound all missionaries together, I do not think the Church and either Society have touched politics at all, but the R.C.s certainly have...”, she ends with a comment that she doesn’t “know many people beyond Winchester...”, 4 sides 8vo., Elderfield, Winchester, 25th August traces of mounting on conjugate blank

The Boxer Rebellion was an anti-imperialist, anti-colonial, and anti-Christian uprising that took place in China between 1899 and 1901, toward the end of the Qing dynasty. They were motivated by proto-nationalist sentiments and by opposition to Western colonialism and the Christian missionary activity that was associated with it. David Oliphant was killed at Peking on the 5th July 1900 at the British Legation during the Rebellion. He was 24.
Dunrobin Castle is a stately home in Sutherland, in the Highland area of Scotland, and the family seat of the Earl of Sutherland. Most of the present building and the gardens were added by Sir Charles Barry between 1835 and 1850.
The recipient is probably Charlotte Cordelia (Pode) Yonge (1839-1929), the widow of her maternal cousin the Rev Duke Yonge (1823-1881) of Puslinch, curate of Newton Ferrars. She was herself a cousin, being daughter of Yonge’s aunt on her father’s side, and also her goddaughter.
Major Robert Scarlett had bought Otterbourne House after CMY’s brother Julian Yonge’s death. Frances and Helen are his widow and unmarried daughter, and they visit Algeria where another daughter is married to the British consul. Georgina is Frances’s niece.

Item Date:  1900

Stock No:  40096      £475

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