My employments, thank Heaven, are such that they allow me to be always at leisure; & this is a blessing which would compensate for more untoward circumstances than have fallen to my lot: – so great a one indeed, that if I had sold my time for any official situation, I verily believe I should have been as uncomfortable as poor Peter Schlemil when he had parted with his shadow.

But if I were busier than I am, or ever shall be, it would always give me pleasure to receive a letter from you. I believe we can all of us find time for what we like.

D^r Hughes’s kind present

(for which I thank him truly) will probably find a speedy conveyance from your neighbours in the Row. The book will not be the less welcome for Cuthbert’s sake, who having some three years ago when D^r Bell asked him whether he would chuse to be an Archbishop or a Carpenter, preferred the Archbishoprick, verily looked upon Canterbury afterwards as his allotted portion in this world, & used to talk with great complacency of what he should do when he came to live at Lambeth, where he was to have more books than his father. – He was ill enough to make us very anxious about a fortnight ago, – with a bilious fever, – but thank God he has perfectly recovered from it; – & at present we are all well. I have been somewhat seriously an invalid during the summer: the cough however has fairly departed, & being once more in tolerable condition, I am taking all dutiful pains to keep myself so.

I had neither seen nor heard of the foolish apology for M^rs Opie, which is enough to shame her out of Quakerism.

Without the aid of Cupid

(who however has worked many conversions in both sexes) I can account very satisfactorily for her becoming a Quaker. She was bred up nominally in Unitarianism, & that too of the laxest kind; – & it was but nominally, – for her father

belonged to that sect only because it was necessary for <that> a man in his profession should seem to be of some religion. She grew up when revolutionary opinions were taking their freest course, & in a city where I believe they prevailed more than in any other part of England. Some of her warmest admirers (few <&> no woman had more) were far gone in unbelief, they were men of splendid talents & in other respects of great real worth.

In fact she has always lived among persons whose speculations were under no restraint, & who however much they differed among themselves, agreed in that rooted dislike to the Establishment, which is a bond of union between the darkest bigots of Popery, the wildest fanatics, & the most thorough infidels. In the state of mind which such circumstances could hardly fail of producing upon a woman who had always been flattered for her talents, <but with a lively fancy & a good heart> M^rs Opie from her a life of gayety in London, went at the age of about forty five to nurse her father,

whom in his old age, severe bodily infirmity had awakened to some sense of the profligacy of his past life. The only persons in her circle at Norwich who had any warmth of religious feeling were Quakers; – & were you to see <know> her Quaker Abelard you would see that Elo few Eloisa’s

were to be trusted with him. But whatever her feelings toward him may be, she wanted something more for her imagination & her heart than the cold forms & colder creed of Unitarianism can supply, – & Quakerism has a great deal for both. – I believe she is sincere, – & I like her well enough even to excuse the verses which she has written in Ediths – Album.

Edith, will tell you, (for she must not write), – the ungracious return which they called forth.

Your friendly message to Edith shall not be forgotten. I believe she will leave Taunton for London on the 25th of this month; but <whether> Lady Malet

whom she there rejoins, means to make any tarriance upon the road, I do not yet know.

The Peninsular War

is going on well in the press, – & I am prosing & versing

in as good heart & with as much good will, as if all the world liked my verse & prose as well as you are pleased to do.

I would fain do the State some service.

But I am beginning to act upon the resolution of finishing what I have begun & working up the materials which so many years h large a part of my life has been spent in accumulating, – before I open any new foundations. Now that I am half an hundred years old it is time to wind up my accounts.

Our kindest remembrances to D^r Hughes, mine also to M^r H.

&