Letter to Alexander Macdonald of Kepplestone from R.D. Blackmore, 7 July 1884 Letter to Macdonald from R.D. Blackmore, Teddington, thanking for letter, hopes that the current drought will end soon, compliments on his idea of a gallery of artists, remarks on politics: 'not that I care for party strife, but that I dread universal … shame to which extreme democracy is leading us', declining the offer of a granite pedestal which would be too grand, but asking instead for a garden seat with Macdonald's name on it, aphids in his strawberries, humorous epitaph on his cousin (who is still alive), a churchman with a bad temper, who was almost crushed by the granite tombstone he had bought for his father's grave, 7 July 1884 7 July 1884