5 NOVEMBER 1910, Page 17

SIR HARRY FRANKLAND AND AGNES SURRIAGE.

[To THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR."] SIR,—Sir Ralph Frankland-Payne-Gallwey's letter on Sir Charles Henry Frankland and Agnes Surriage in last week's Spectator leaves my withers unwrung, since in a prefatory note to my "Lady Good-for-Nothing" I was careful to say that I had altered the characters and locality and used only the main theme of the story (which, let me hope, conveys offence to no living person). But it is news to me that Lady Frankland was already married at the time of the Lisbon earthquake, as it is that "Sir Harry" was Consul then ; and while not doubting that Sir Ralph has good evidence, I suggest it would be worth while to cite it, and so end some errors vouched for in books of local and family history, such as Roads's "History and Traditions of Marblehead" (Boston, 1880), and Waylen's "The House of Cromwell" (Second Edition, revised by Canon Cromwell. London : Elliot Stock, 1897). As for the Frankland villa at Hopkinton, I think the truth of the Matter must be found in some compromise between Sir Ralph Frankland-Payne-Gallwey, who seems to suggest that there was no such house, and Oliver Wendell Holmes, who saw it yet standing, and states that it was accidentally burnt on January 23rd, 1858.-1 am, Sir, &c.,

The Haven., Fowey, Cornwall.

ARTHUR QUILLER-COUCH.