Colonel Lake. See EEE autobiography p39-40.jpgMrs Lake Nov 1878. See EEE autobiography p39-40.jpg


"The Montgomerys were very kind and cordial, and I could hardly have had a more delightful introduction to Indian life than during the three weeks spent in such a palatial residence as that of the Lieutenant Governor's. Here I first met dear General and Mrs. Lake who, as long as they lived, were our best Indian friends. On Christmas Eve [1862] we dined with Mr. Douglas Forsyth, Commissioner of Lahore - and I heard him say they were expecting a Mr. Barton to spend Xmas with them - and he was coming from Agra. Remembering how interested my brother Arthur had been in a Mr. John Barton, whom he had met at Cambridge (see Father's story and note on p.28) I asked if he were a C.M.S. missionary and was told Yes." *Memoirs of Emily Elliott p37


"On May 13th [1863] I left the oppressive heat of the plains in Ludhiana to pay a visit of three months to Colonel and Mrs. Lake, at Dharmsala on the Himalaya Hills. The journey, of two days and a night was accomplished partly in 'dak ghari' (post carriage) and partly in a 'doolie', carried by four man at a time. The motion of constant shaking, together with the great heat of the sun in the early morning, as we ascended the steep side of the mountain on which Dharmsala is situated, 8000 feet above sea level, produced the same effect on me as seasickness! and I was indeed thankful when set down at my dear kind friends' door. Would that my pen could describe the exquisite beauty of my new surroundings! A temperature of 60° instead of 90° or 100° - mountains covered with forest trees whose stems were draped with rare ferns of great variety, that grew happily embedded in the moss that covered their stems; the gold and silver ferns, parsley and maidenhair all grew in greatest profusion by every roadside together with a correspondingly rare flora, of which the only one I recall at this moment was cyclamen, both white and pink, which I have never seen elsewhere growing wild.

The atmosphere inside the dear Lakes' house was delightful as that outside; for they made their home the centre of influence for good in the {p40}station; and as the General's (then Colonel) position of Commissioner in the Kangra District in which Dharmsala was situated, constituted him the great man of the place, their opportunities for influencing others was great. They filled their house with those who could not otherwise have come up to enjoy the Hills; or with sick friends who needed nursing. They opened it also every week for Bible Reading, to which all were invited who cared to come.

Your dear Father had spent a month here the previous year, as the Lakes' guest, and they had invited him to come again in June this year 1863, purposely wishing to throw us together! As dear Mrs. Lake had been his confidante all along, they were not surprised when on May 26th I received a letter from him asking me to be his wife. From that hour to this we have been blest with happiness and perfect one-ness which is given unto few. Such love as ours for nearly 27 years past cannot be written of. I can only say that it implies an unwavering trust and faith in one another that length of years only deepens; and involves on either side unfettered confidence, and unselfish consideration. Moreover our love would never have been of the quality that wears had we not first given ourselves to the Lord before we gave our hearts to each other; and if it had not been reverent love, remembering that we were heirs together of eternal life." *Memoirs of Emily Elliott pp39-40


"Returning to Uncle Charlie's house, five and twenty guests sat down to breakfast; and I heard that many said they had never seen a happier looking bride. The truth was that the parting with all whom I loved best in my own home was over a year before! and I was able to feel on this day that I had nothing to lose, and all to gain. At about 3 o'clock we drove off in my Brother's carriage and pair, as far as the Sutlej River - about 10 miles I think; and there found a dak ghari, on which we crossed, by means of a ferry, the wide rambling river; over which there was not then, as now, a magnificent bridge. In this conveyance we drove another 20 miles; and five miles from Jullundur were met by Col. Lake's carriage which took us to their house in this large cantonment station, which they lent us for a week; after which we joined them at their hill house again, which had been the scene of our happy engagement in the summer. We were present now at the christening of our dear friends' only child - to whom your Father and Sir Herbert Edwardes were sponsors." *Memoirs of Emily Elliott p42


"In October [1870] we settled in London for 6 months at 24 Onslow Gardens, and Father had work daily at the Church Missionary House [Salisbury Square, Fleet Street?], as one of the Secretaries. We were very glad to find ourselves near dear old Indian friends this winter, General and Mrs. Lake, Lady Edwards, Lord and Lady Lawrence, Sir William and Lady Muir, and others." *Memoirs of Emily Elliott p62