66 Henry Riddell on 



" My Dearest Ellen, 



This is no doubt a busy day at Straiimillis, for from the 

 exctssive heat all the bees will swarm — every hour I stay 

 here renders me the more anxious to get away, this day it is 

 the climate of Calcutta. Our journey proved very pleasant, 

 the first day I spent at my uncle's, fashion and folly prevail 

 there more than ever. They have a country lodging for my 

 uncle which all the family enjoy except himself — Mrs. A., 

 the very reverse of what she should be, dressed in all the 

 frippery of finery, and her child 2| years old never brought 

 from nurse. She seemed to feel shame when remarking 

 that her child did not know her, to hear that your little 

 cherub was already acquainted with you." 



He describes a visit to the theatre: — "Butler and I 

 paid 5/5 for being squeezed into the pit. Age has no visible 

 effect on Mrs. Siddons. She has certainly greater command 

 of looks and tone than any other person. She represented 

 the Princess Hermione, deserted by her lover Pyrrhus, 

 and expressed the passions of love and jealousy in a most 

 remarkable manner." 



He has accomplished all the messages: — "I have made 

 all my purchases, dimity, paper, bacon, and a pair of black 

 b-c-h-s, the latter at your request. . . . That health 

 and happiness ever may attend my dearest Ellen is the 

 sincere and ardent prayer of her affectionate 



a B." 



There are many descendants of George Black still living, 

 none in the male line, however, about Belfast. The little 

 cherub mentioned in the letter was George Macartney Black, 

 who took holy orders. He left a number of successors, a 

 daughter, Emily Marguerite, becoming Mrs. Kichai'dson of Lambeg, 

 who died not very long ago, leaving several sons and daughters. 

 The Blacks and Clarkes were again united by the marriage of 

 Ellen with E. H. Clarke, who died in 1889, leaving a number of 

 descendants, 



