Edward makes a bad report of my health, because during the first part of his visit, he saw that I was obliged to keep the house, & did not know for what cause. It was from haemorrhoids, or a relaxation connected with them;

at that time in such a state that I could not walk a mile without bleeding profusely. This lasted for about a week, but after keeping house about as much longer that the vessels might fairly close, I was enabled to resume xx my regular exercise, – for in truth my habits are not so sedentary as you suppose. I walk every day from one to two hours, unless the weather is too bad: & not unfrequently take a longer stretch, & the longest time I ever remain at my desk xx is from tea time till supper. My self-management has not been unsuccesful, – aftx I learnt by experience long ago not to pursue any one subject – or train of thought, so closely as to let it possess my mind & disturb my rest: for whenever I have done this, I have suffered for it. No man can be freer from xx hypochondriacal fancies, or valetudinarian feelings. The evil to which I am subject is that periodical catarrh which I must have often have mentioned, occurring as surely & as soon as the summer begins, & continuing ten or twelve weeks, latterly affecting the chest, & this year for the first time, laying fixing itself there somewhat obstinately. I escaped it the year when I went into Switzerland at that season;

& I believe that my only chance of escaping it, is by travelling at the time of its usual return: enabling the system by change of air & excitement to resist its attack. This I shall do if possible next year.

But xx tho I am not like a professional man tied to place, nor confined to times & seasons in my movements, – I cannot move without this great advantage, – that the very act of travelling diminishes my means even more than it increases my expences. If my works had proved as profitable to me as they ought to have been, & as the world supposes, it is likely that I should ere this have wound up my accounts with the public. Montaigne liked better to forge his mind that to furnish it, he says:

time has brought with it to me the opposite disposition, I had much rather read than write, – much rather learn than teach.

Harry tells me he is to make his slice of a house into a whole one, & to build coach house & stables.

I am glad he has a prospect of being settled, & that too to his liking, – as far as it is possible to like London. For myself I would rather be hanged than live in it. If I ever have my portrait affixed to any of my books I will have these lines of Ovid under it –

Edith May commences her visit at Exeter to day, – with M^rs Wade Browne, the widow of my poor Ludlow friend, – one of the mildest & gentlest of womankind. She goes from thence to Taunton where she will pass a few days with good Aunt Mary who has surely one of the most chearful spirits & youthful hearts that ever old age was blest with. At Taunton EMay will rejoin Lady Malet,

& return with her to town, – & then, the sooner I hear of her movements homeward the better I shall be pleased. But she has a liberal furlough – to stay as long as she likes & go where she pleases