[1] Full particulars of the Guild can be obtained from its founder, Sister Grace (Mrs. Kimmins) at the Bermondsey Settlement, where its headquarters are.
[2] _Life and Letters of Mrs. Ewing_, p. 283 (S.P.C.K.).
MY DEAR DOROTHY,—You say that Aunt Anne is in a great state of mind because she has lost her copy of Uncle John’s will. She sent it to her solicitors to have their opinion on one of the clauses in the will, and they declare that the will was returned to her, and that it is not in their possession.
There is no need for Aunt Anne to distress herself, even if her copy of the will is lost; she can easily procure another copy by applying to Somerset House. If she only wishes to read over the will again with the opinion she has received from her lawyers, she had better go down to Somerset House, which is in the Strand, not very far from Wellington Street, on the right hand side going towards the City from Charing Cross, and there they will let her read the will on payment of, I think, a shilling, and they will supply her with a certified, or an ordinary, copy of the will on payment of so much per folio, the exact amount she can learn on inquiry.
The part of Somerset House where the wills are kept is exactly opposite the archway, straight across the courtyard—she cannot mistake it. Inside she will find several polite minor officials, who will show her what forms to fill up, fetch the books for her and render her every possible assistance; the men who fetch the books expect a small tip for their trouble.
At Somerset House, Aunt Anne will find all sorts of people reading not only the wills of their friends and relatives, but also wills under which they can take no pecuniary interest, such as the wills of public men in no way related to them; anyone can read anybody’s will on payment of the usual fee. To make a copy of a will for oneself is not permitted, but you may take a short note of its contents.
Somerset House, like most of the public offices, closes at four o’clock, so it is advisable to go not after half-past three at the latest. If Aunt Anne can put off her visit till next week, I shall be happy to accompany her if she desires it. This week all my time is fully occupied with an unusually large sessions, which means that your affectionate cousin will have the chance of scooping in a guinea or two by the prosecution of some unfortunate prisoner. This is what we call getting “soup.”