SOCIAL LIFE 177 



called Hawk Cottage, that stood on the old Brompton 

 Road, nearly opposite to where Bina Gardens now are, 

 on a spot that had not then passed into the hands 

 of the builders of streets. They were much visited 

 by members of the highest Russian nobility and by 

 many English friends. 



In 1 86 1 Mr. Atkinson died, and his wife applying 

 to the Treasury for some money due to him, was 

 met by the astounding assertion, backed by abundant 

 proof, that she was not legally his wife, inasmuch as 

 he had been married before he went to Russia to a 

 lady who was still living in England. To the natural 

 inquiry why the claim should be now put forward 

 for the first time, considering the publicity under 

 which Mr. Atkinson had lived, the reply was that 

 no news of him had reached the claimant, who 

 occupied a different grade of society, until intelligence 

 had been sent to her by a friend of her husband's 

 death. This tragic termination affected many of us 

 greatly. We recollected that Atkinson had avoided 

 bringing his wife (as we thought she was) to the 

 forefront, and it had been remarked at the time of 

 the publication of his book of travels that he made 

 the scantiest references to her, and never used the 

 word "wife." It was a wonder, and it is so still, how 

 he dared to settle in London and risk a serious 

 criminal charge. Friends gathered round Mrs. 

 Atkinson, as I must still call her, and helped her 

 in many substantial ways. She afterwards returned 

 to Russia. 



It was during this time that I made the acquaint- 

 ance of the then Mr., afterwards Sir John Lubbock, 

 and now Lord Avebury, who was engaged on his 

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