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[1935]
[embossed letterhead: Wallaston House, Dorchester]
March 29th
Dear Colonel Buchan,
I am venturing to send you the enclosed which my nephew sent me a little while ago in reply to my first letter to him about Montrose's heart.
It is a strange story, but do you think it can be the metal casket which was thrown into the french well, after Mrs. Heart, was given back to the 2d Marquis? Please do not trouble to write to me again but I thought you might like to hear these facts from Wilts?
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& fear I may not now hope for the pleasure of a visit from you before you take up your important post in Canada. I hear every one there is so delighted to welcome you. I have 2 sons & a daughter married out there, the eldest, at Kelowna, on Okanagan Lake, & his sister Mrs Maude Roseby also there. My 3d son is at Victoria B.C.
Perhaps when you visit B.C. you would allow them to go & pay their respects to their new Governor? Pardon such writing but my hands are very crippled.
Believe me Yours v. truly, Norah L. Achand
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Portland House Andover Hants
1st March 1935
Dear Aunt Norah
Many thanks for your letter. As it happens, it was fortunate you wrote to me, as it was I who saw Montrose's heart - not Mike. It was shown to me in the Spring of 1931 by Captain Wheatley Crowe while we were both visiting Codford Manor where Major Stuart Houston lives. They are respectively President and Secretary to the Royal Martyr Church Union.
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The Sunday after I saw it, it was put in Codford St Peter Church under the altar. It has had a varied career. It was once in India, then in a sealed box at the bottom of a well in Calais during the French Revolution. His body may be in St Giles' Cathedral, but his heart is certainly not there now. I'm so sorry your hands have been painful. I'm just off to my teaching in the Ch. School.
Yours affectionately William Bankes
