1885.01.24 English

Your Grace   ![1]

 

 

   Please accept my most heartfelt gratitude for allowing me to be present when the dear departed was carried away from his home; I was immensely fond of him and regarded him very highly.   Isn’t it something of a phenomenon in our time – to see how each and everyone, left and right, are unanimous in this respect: - a great and noble man has passed away.

 

Yes, it is indeed greatness – to be able to grow, as he did, far above the lower strata of pathetic dissension and squabble.

 

He is famous in our time, but I venture to say that he will become even more known and appreciated in a hundred years from now.[2]

 

   I hope his closest relatives may soon come to see him vividly in their fond memories, such as he appeared at his zenith.

 

 

 My fondest greetings and deep gratitude, likewise from my dear wife  

 

                             Your

 

                           Most humble and devoted

 

Copenh. 24th January 1885                      R. Malling-Hansen(At the bottom:

 

 

Madam Trap[3]

 

 

[1] CB: This handwritten letter from RMH is for Mrs Trap – widow after the famous Trap – see letter 18820128UK, paying his respect to her after her husband’s funeral.

[2] CB: RMH was correct on this point. Trap is still a well-known name because of his works on Denmark. See the letter indicated above.

[3] JMC: Here RMH indicates her title according to Danish tradition: It translates as ”Wife of Privy Councillor”. As this is not British tradition (and not linguistically correct), I have left it out.