ANNE RITCHIE - AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED 06/07/1882 - HFSID 73178

ANNE RITCHIE. Autograph Letter signed: "Anne Ritchie", 3p, 4¼x7. Kensington Square (London), 1882 June 7. On black bordered mourning paper to "My dear Lord Charlemont", in full: "I wrote to you when I first knew this sad saddest news & I did not like to send my letter & now tho' I have no words at least you will know how from heart I write & remember all these her this last time when she was in London. Dear Lord Charlemont I was beginning a letter to her when I went down stairs & had the cruel news. I like to remember her always dear kind warm hearted. The last time I saw her she was so kind that I came away all touched & affected. Do not trouble to write to me but please send me a message by Mr. [illegible] or somebody & some day please let me come & see you & with deep sympathy I am your affectionate old friend.". ANNE RITCHIE (1837-1919) was the daughter of William Makepiece Thackery and was mainly educated by him. She wrote eight novels, but was best known for her memorials for other writers, including Elizabeth Barrett Browning and Charles Dickens. She wrote a biographical introduction to her father's collected works. She married her cousin, Richmond Ritchie, a civil servant who was knighted in 1907. Her step-niece was Virginia Woolf, who portrayed Anne Ritchie as "Mrs. Hilbery" in Night and Day. James Alfred Caulfield (1830-1913) was the seventh Viscount CHARLEMONT. Pages attached with clear tape on verso of signature page. Slightly soiled. Otherwise, fine condition.