Tom is waiting the result of some Letters which he & his wife have written to the Fenwicks,

– before he writes to you. I believe they are cherishing some expectations from that quarter which are without any reasonable foundation. He talks of sailing from Maryport, where it seems there are good opportunities of obtaining passage to Quebec, – & of taking his family at once, instead of going over to prepare for them, which he at first intended. They calculate upon hospitality both at Quebec & Montreal from her relation Matthew Bell,

who has establishments at both places. – But the difficulty of raising means will soon, I fear, appear like a Lion in the way.

He must however try what can be raised upon his own resources, – & when it comes to the point I will do all I can to assist. But I hold out no prospect of this at present, because he would think that assistance might as well be bestowed in eking out his income here, & would make no effort at establishing his family xx as long as it were possible to put off the evil day. Indeed he has often said, that the great object for him is to put on; – which is only another phrase for putting off.

He tells me has been writing to M^rs Elmsley,

– for no imaginable reason but the pleasure which he takes in writing letters. I have however for the present persuaded him that what remains to be done with M^r Wilmot

& M^r Robinson

may be better effected by you, than by his entering into correspondence with them.

My mind, had I been in his circumstances, would long ago have been made up to this step. The serious obstacle is in the outset, – as for the other difficulties, they are such as every day will lessen, & there is a pleasure in overcoming them. There is a sure prospect of independence for himself & his children.

He may be settled at ease on his own domain, – while you & I are in harness.

I have had another tail added to my name to day – by the Royal Irish Academy.