The day after we parted, I breakfasted with D^r Wordsworth, & set forward on my return meaning to get into the coach when it should overtake me. W. & the D^r walked with me to set me on the way (as the phrase is) & we had got about three miles, when a slight rain came on & sent them back. D^r W. had been explaining the evil consequences of letting the gownsmen

lodge in the town, & the measures which he was taking to put an end to so pernicious a practise. I wish you had present, inasmuch as what he said would have given you a very high idea of his good sense & his talents for business. – By the time I reached the halfway house at Wytheburne

my clothes were so damp that it would have imprudent to have gone in & waited for the coach. The rain then increased & continued very heavy till I was within four miles of Keswick, when it cleared up, & I entered the town at the same minute as the coach. There I found M^r Sharp & the American ‘Randolph of Roanoke’

who spent the evening with me. Thursday evening Sir John Malcolm

made his appearance & he & M^r Duncan,

(a Scotch pastor x who is the founder of the Savings-Banks) breakfasted with me the next day. That day was fated to end most frightfully. Charles Kennaway, who had drank tea here, went over to the Island with the girls & M^rs Coleridge. – I had just finished my supper when Anne

came into the room as pale as death to say there had been a dreadful accident at the Island. a cannon had burst, – & young M^r Henry killed.

This was the first report, – the second was that some other person was hurt, – nor could we ascertain what had actually happened till I & M^rs S got to the water side, where we found a number of persons collected, waiting in perfect silence to know the extent of the mischief. A boat was coming across, & to our infinite relief the girls (Sara C. Edith & Bertha) were in it. Poor things, they had a sad story to tell, – in spite of their remonstrances Charles Henry would fire the cannon when they were coming away, – it had burst & fractured his skull, – & whether he would live or die they knew not. – Thank God, tho the fracture was a dreadful one (more than thirty pieces of the skull having been taken out – & the brain itself injured in both lobes) he has been going on well, & every hour strengthens the probability of his entire recovery, twelven days having now elapsed. – You may conceive what a shock this has been to us.

John May & his son

did not arrive till Monday, – had they come on Saturday as was expected they would have found us in the greatest apprehension & distress. Now that all sxxx is going on so much better than we could at first venture to hope, I have been again going over some of the ground which you & I lately traversed with so much satisfaction. Saturday last we walked round the Lake, Monday up Skiddaw, ascending by the line which you descended, – yesterday to the Vale of S^t Johns, – today had the weather permitted we should have attempted Causey Pike. Exercise like this is of great benefit to me; & you have done me a great deal of good by bringing me into good condition.

D^r Bell came on the same day with the Mays, they on the coach he in it. Feldborg the Dane is also in Keswick. You may suppose that I have very little time to myself. On Saturday I go again to Rydale in order to dine on Sunday at M^r Boltons (on Windermere)

& remain there on Monday to meet M^r Canning, who comes there to make his farewell visit. My guests meantime will take a three days circuit to Ennerdale & Waswater, & I shall rejoin them on Tuesday: they remain another week, & then I shall be left to pursue my usual course of life at leisure.

And now my dear Lightfoot let me, before I conclude, thank you for a visit which I shall look back upon with delight as long as we both live. It does not often happen that friends meet after so long a separation, & find in each other so little change. God willing, I shall certainly see you in the winter, or at latest early in the spring. Present my best wishes to M^rs Lightfoot

& my goddaughter,

– Truly glad shall I be to become known to them, & John (whom I seem to know already) & your steady Kate, & Bridget, & Nico.

The proof sheet containing Title page, Dedication & Preface is on my table.