When Sir Christopher [sic] died, he left his vast business interests in the care of Sir John Furness [sic], a cousin [sic] of his, thinking that Duke could not or would not attend to them. He was to be proved very wrong. When Sir John [sic] died in an accident, in 1914, Duke took over complete control of all his father's enterprises… I wasn't surprised to learn that he was considered one of the most acute and brilliant businessmen in England. His word in the City was almost legal tender. I believe the sale of the Furness-Withy Line for some nine million pounds was concluded virtually on the back of a menu.

My mind is very full of the news Duke brought me on Monday, I was very surprised and it was a shock to me. Furness, Withy & Co. is very deere [sic] to me…and to know it has passed into other hands is difficult to realise [sic]. And I can not help wondering, if maybe enough thought has been given before this great step was taken. As I feel, if it was worth buying it, it was worth keeping, but I do not understand finance on this scale. I can only hope no mistake has been made and I trust that you, who had such high regard for the founder, think that the right step was taken.