Sheffield, July 14, 1858

Dear Madam,

Your letter upon the subject of your husband’s transgression has been received this morning. My sympathy in the sufferings of yourself has been already excited, and has only been increased by the earnest petition you have put forth for me to exercise my influence, in order to save your husband’s family from impending ruin. His misconduct being, however, no less than an awful breach of fidelity, in the trust reposed in him, puts it utterly out of my power, in any degree, to interfere for the salvation of the family.

Had I no guide but my own feelings for yourself and your children, I might be led to exert my influence to allay the misery that will doubtless follow the delinquency of your husband.

My duty, however, tells me that I cannot ask the Duke of Norfolk, to do what you so earnestly petition to be done, and therefore you must at once dismiss from your mind, every hope of my taking any such step.

Your husband has powerful and wealthy friends, and to them he should naturally look for succour and protection from the disgrace and ruin which must inevitably result from his own misconduct. If his own relatives will not yield him that protection, he cannot expect to receive it from the nobleman he has so greatly injured.

I deeply regret to be compelled to write in this tone. You may perhaps regard is as cruel, but in my view of this matter it would be cruel in me to excite hope that never could be realised.

I am Madam, yours faithfully Michael Ellison (Agent of the Duke of Norfolk)

Mr H. R. Abraham