In my last posts I shared my recent article and talk I have on the earliest reference to 'A Study in Scarlet' by Conan Doyle.
That quote came from one of four letters held by the State Library of New South Wales, and I'm now posting each of the four letters with a transcription and some comments.
This third letter is RB/MSS004/3. This letter was likely written in 1893, and we will discuss dating.
12 Tennison Road
South Norwood
Dear Dan
So very glad to have a line from you, and to know that you and Kate are prospering. Your news surprised me, but at the same time I felt that the life would be congenial to you, so I rejoiced. I expect however that you are very far from having reached the end of your tether yet. From my heart I wish you all every happiness.
I am tied to my study at present for I am just beginning a huge book which was ordered long ago, which I must now get done with off hand. That means 4 or 5 months of steady grind, but when it is finished I shall hope to be able to meet you and have a chat over old times.
Yes, I have had several letters from Willy, who has, as I understand, taken unto himself a Japanese wife and child and settled down for life - I hope however that he may reconsider his plans.
I have one little one, nearly three years old and very solid. When she has a grievance they know it all over this postal district. The wife is well, and, like yourself, I have been very happy since my marriage. I shall quite look forward to seeing you. Pray give my kindest remembrances to Kate, and excuse this very hurried little scribble. I am always hardworked, but just at present it has reached a climax. I have clinched my profession, as you may possibly have heard.
Goodbye, old chap - all good luck go with you all!
Yours as of yore
ACD
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This is the only one of the four ACD letters NOT sent from Southsea. Doyle lived at 12 Tennison Rd, South Norwood from June 1891 till 1894. In the letter, Doyle states "I have one little one, nearly three years old". This little one is Mary Louse Conan Doyle (1889–1976), born at Bush Villas, Southsea on 28 Jan 1889. For Mary to be almost three, the letter must have been written late 1891 or Jan 1892.
This letter also differs from the previous three in that it is addressed to Dan, not Kate. It is a reconnection between them after several years (the previous letter that is extant was dated to 1885 and prior to Doyle's marraige). It is hoped that context about the Bryson's life will help understand why Doyle 'felt that the life would be congenial to you'.
What was the 'huge book which was ordered long ago' that Doyle was writing? Possibly it was The Exploits of Brigadier Gerard, which appeared late the following year.
'Willy' very clearly Doyle's Edinburgh friend William K. Burton. Doyle indicates he is still in correspondence with the Tokyo-based engineer, and notes that Burton has had a child with his Japanese partner. No detailed biography of Burton's life exists in English, but a biography in 'Britain and Japan: Biographical Portraits, Vol. IV' (2013) indicates that Burton had a child with a woman prior to his (British-recognized) 1892 marriage.
Doyle ends with a delightful understatement to an old friend:
I have clinched my profession, as you may possibly have heard.
How Doyle's life had changed since 1883/4/5 when Doyle and the Brysons corresponded and visited each other back and forth between London and Southsea.
The letter is signed off beautifully -
Edit/update: Many thanks to Edith Pounden for providing suggestions that have improved these transcriptions.
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