Documents associated with: Kitchener, Herbert
Record 5 of 5
System Number: 11348
Date: [31 July 1902][1]
Author: JW
Place: [The Hague]
Recipient: George Sauter[2]
Place: [London]
Repository: Library of Congress
Call Number: Manuscript Division, Pennell-Whistler Collection
Document Type: TLc
Thursday.
My dear Sauter -
I was much pleased with your kind letter a while ago - Since when it appears that many reports have continued in the papers and the Hotel has been infected with newspaper spies! -
Doubtless, we may not return to London just yet - and the Hague is a charming place to get well in! -
And now I want you to write me any news -
Also especially explain to me about Genl. Lucas Mayer[3] -
Was it not Lucas Mayer that was supposed to have written the poem I brought you? remarkable for its unyielding sentiment and its complete understanding of English "up to date", both language and perfidy!? - What does this mean? -
President Steyn[4], the "Peter Blue" says, is to arrive at Southampton on Saturday! - but will not set foot on English soil -
He and his family will be taken on board a Netherland ship and come on here - Have you heard? -
Botha, De Wet and Delarey[5] have already left for Europe, meaning to make some demands of the English Government, on their way to Holland and President Kruger[6] -
What do the London papers say of these things? -
We have all left the Hotel des Indes, which is the finest in the Hague and the most charming in Europe!
Mrs Sauter[7] will I am sure thank me for sending you there whenever you are in Holland -
Also we have only moved next door as who should say! but a [p. 2] little change is necessary - and you can write always direct to The Hotel des Indes, as before -
With kindest regards to you both
Very sincerely
J. McNeill Whistler.
This document is protected by copyright.
Notes:
1. [31 July 1902]
Dated from the references to The Hague and President Steyn (see below). JW was recovering in The Hague from a serious bout of illness and did not return London until early September (see JW to H. Whistler, #06750).
2. George Sauter
George Sauter (1866-1937), painter [more].
3. Genl. Lucas Mayer
General Lucas Meijer (d. 1902), President of the Boer Nieuwe Republiek from 1884 [more]. The Boer War (1899-1902) was the result of a dispute between Britain and the two Boer (Afrikaaner) republics, the Transvaal and the Orange Free State. It was ignited by President Kruger's denial of political rights to non-nationals. The British pursuit of gold-mining interests in the Transvaal was also a factor. The Treaty of Vereeniging, signed on 31 May 1902 by Herbert Kitchener (1850-1916), Chief of Staff in South Africa from 1900-1902 [more], and Boer leaders Botha, de Wet, de la Rey, Smuts and Hertzog, brought an end to the conflict. The Boers travelled to Europe in August in 1902 in an unsuccessful attempt to get the peace terms modified.
4. President Steyn
Martinus Theunis Steyn (1857-1916), President of the Orange Free State from 1896-1900 [more], arrived at Southampton on 2 August. He was ill, and transferred immediately from an Union-castle liner to the Dutch steamer, Batavier III. He and his family arrived at the Hook of Holland on 3 August (Times, London, 4 August 1902, pp. 3, 8).
5. Botha, De Wet and Delarey
Louis Botha (1862-1919), Boer general and statesman [more]; Christiaan Rudolph de Wet (1854-1922), Boer general [more], and Jacobus Hercules ('Koos') de la Rey (1847-1914), Boer general [more].
6. President Kruger
Stephanus Johannes Paulus Kruger (1825-1904), President of the Transvaal from 1883-1902 [more].
7. Mrs Sauter
Lilian Sauter (1864-1924 ), née Galsworthy [more].