Friday, March 24th., 1899.
Dear Fanny:-
I was very glad to get yours of March 4th, which came to hand a few days ago. I can see that you will have to live quite economically now, but there is no one else to take care of but yourself, and I do not think you will be left to starve, as no doubt you have [and will find] friends who will see that you are taken care of.
I will help you a little now, and enclose you a Cheque (A/U900032 on Cunliffes Brooks & Co., Manchester,) for Three Pounds, (£3-0-0) which no doubt you can get cashed some where abouy you. Make it spin out as long as you can. You ought to still have a good part of what I paid you a year ago still, too. Write and let mw know if this reaches you all right, and how you are off. You have certainly put me in good company if I am on your mantel beside Gabriel. I shall hope to come and look at him and myself one day, but I cannot see not that it can be this year,- or not before late in the year, at the earliest. You must keep the framed Sonnets, and the Boyce picture for me, and do not let any one else have them. Put this in your will!
Mrs. Bancroft wishes now that she had gone with me to see you, and often when I and some of my friends are talking about Rossetti and you she will say so. The last letter I had from Murray was written from Rome, and I suppose he has been down in Italy most of the winter. Miss Stillman has been to see me. You must have known her mother, Miss Spartali, when she was sitting to Gabriel for the “Fiametta” and one of the women in the Dante’s Dream, &c. Tell me when you write what information you give to Murray, as he will forget to write it to me likely; and I want to know all about you and R. and the rest.
Your sincere friend,- Sam—l Bancroft, Jr.
Mrs. Sarah Schott,
9 Kilmarsh Road, Iffley Road,
Hammersmith, London, England.