A letter from J. W. Leigh sent to John Stanhope Arkwright (EN922). It is a condolence letter to him in regards to his father John Hungerford Arkwright's recent death. A little bit about the author from Wikipedia:
James Wentworth Leigh (22 January 1838 – 5 January 1923) was an Anglican priest in the last decade of the 19th century and the first two of the 20th. He was a very active Freemason, an enthusiastic temperance campaigner, and an ardent social reformer.
He was ordained in 1862 and became Curate of St John the Baptist, Bromsgrove. Two years later he was appointed Vicar of Stoneleigh, Warwickshire. Later, he held incumbencies at All Saints Leamington and St Mary's, Bryanston Square.
In 1894 he was appointed to the Deanery of Hereford Cathedral and retired in 1919. In 1920, he served as President of the National Temperance League (Great Britain).
The transcription:
30 May 1905 (Answered) The Deanery, Hereford
My dear Arkwright--
I was very sorry not to be able to be present at the funeral of your dear father yesterday, I was in London, but had I received intimation of it in time, I should certainly have come down by an earlier train to pay the last tribute of respect to one I have known for so many years and for whom I had a very great respect. I am glad to know that there were so many gathered at his graveside from all classes bearing testimony to the high esteem in which he was held by all who were brought in contact with him in public, social & private intercourse. He will indeed be sadly missed both in this City as well as throughout the County. My heartfelt sympathy is with you & your sisters in the midst of your sad bereavement. Believe me yours very sincerely, J. W. Leigh.
Submitted by Richard Hungerford at 4:05 PM on September 4, 2024.