1890-12-08 to Mary Blake Moore

Autograph letter signed, National Library of Ireland, 263 words

[Edited for paragraph breaks, capitalization, spelling and punctuation.]

8 Kings Bench Walk, Temple

Monday [8 December 1890]

My dear Mother

I am very sorry to hear of Joseph Apply’s death. He was, as you say, a relic of the past  — the last real remembrance of my childhood is gone. That is how I feel.

I am much obliged to you for your promise to give me the money which I discovered. It amounts to nearly four hundred pounds. If I had not found it, it might never have been found.

I will tell my solicitors to communicate with you. Please send them the necessary documents. I fancy that you will have to claim the money, it will be paid over to you and then you will give it to me.

I prefer to say little about Augustus. I do not understand his conduct, to me it is inexplicable.

I wish you would ask Julian to write to me, or better still, I wish you would inform yourself regarding the progress he is or is not making and write to me on the subject.

I am writing a novel about betting in low life. The drama of betting among poor folk who never see a race course. All the characters are servants. It is difficult to write and all day I have been trying to write a scene and have not written ten lines. I cannot see it and until I see it I cannot write.

Affect yours

George Moore