Photocopy of letter. Written from Balham
Having had a son in Africa so often stricken with fever, she is greatly distressed at the news about Bob Gordon. She does not know Lady Gordon well enough to write but hopes that Mrs Blunt to whom she wrote, might care to send her letter on. She has a horror of Cecil Rhodes and justifies her opinion of him by citing his treatment of some of the first pioneers. She praises Dr Rand who saved hundreds of lives as Rhodes's victims were struck down with fever. Charles is always very careful not to abuse Rhodes in conversation though privately he has told her bad things about him. 'Charles would never take work under the C[hartered] Company after his first experience at Salisbury. The frost has given way a little but still they have no water. She is troubled about Aunt Emmy [Josephine Butler's sister, Rhoda's mother] who looks ill and worn. She feels much for Aimee [see letter of 29 Jan]:
'Aimee's little boy who died was just about Bob's age'. Bob, only son of Rhoda and Stanley, was born on 23 Sep 1888.