I received with much pleasure the account of your ubiquitarian movements, & the assurance of good health & good spirits which such movements imply. For myself, tho having (thank God) no cause to complain on the score of either, I have not moved beyond the limits of this vale since you left it. Neither an invitation, twice repeated to meet Mr Canning at Storrs,

nor another from M^r York to Wighill Park to the Musical Festival

could draw me from home. Whatever time could be spared from my desk I wanted to enjoy in excursions with our friends of the Island.

The season has been singularly unpropitious for such parties, – by much the worst within my remembrance which extends now to twenty years in this country. Thro the spring we lived in hope of what summer might bring with it, thro the summer our hopes were for autumn, October is now come & the weather still as unsettled as however ever. However we have taken advantage of every interval.

We made successful ascents of Skiddaw & of Cawsey Pike, down chimney of which the Ladies came in great style, Miss Charter, M^rs S. & one or two more (for we moved in great force) who were afraid of the ascent, awaiting us at the bottom with a very respectable pic-nic set out. Our next dinner of the same kind was by the Lake side in Manesty Woods. Another day I led the ladies up Walla Crag by a way which would not have suited your friend M^r Awdrey.

Last Monday we dined just where the descent into Borrodale, from Buttermere Haws commences – we were three carts & five saddle horses, & I know not how many more than twenty persons (your friends M^r Portel & his daughter

among them) the mountains have seldom seen such a caravan. We are planning much more, if Jupiter will permit, – Miss Bowles the authoress of those sweet poems which I once recommended to M^rs Peachy

has been with us in most of these excursions. She is lodging at Timmy Ladymans,

but takes her departure in the course of next week. Your friends are very much pleased with her, & she with them.

You will be more grieved than surprized to hear that we have lost M^r Edmondson. After ten weeks lingering, his old complaint has carried him off. When the disease was for a time removed, Nature had not the strength to rally, & thus he sunk under a renewed attack. It was his desire that I should assure you that your plate would be as secure in the care of his family, as it was during his life time. He was buried on Thursday, & I believe few persons have ever gone to the grave more deservedly, or more generally regretted in their sphere. Calvert & I have been talking today upon the fitness of erecting a subscription tablet in the Church to his memory, as was done (with far less reason) in the case of M^r Denton.

A man so skilful in his practise, so conscientiously moderate in his charges so friendly in his services, – so eminently useful in his generation deserves the tribute of respect & gratitude. Calvert will propose it to Sir Frederic Vane

& Sir Fred. Morshead.

I undertook to mention it to you, & to Sir G Beaumont. And we shall find some fit person to call upon the people of the place, who will feel how fitting it is, & how creditable to themselves, that this should be done.

You will see in the last Quarterly a paper of mine upon the new edition of Burnet,

& a most excellent one upon Spain by my friend Blanco White,

whose Letters on Spain under the title of Leucadio Doblado,

if they should not have fallen in your way, I recommend to your perusal. In the preceding number you would perhaps recognize me upon the Progress of Infidelity,

– a paper which underwent some injurious curtailments. I have now begun an article upon D^r Dwights Travels in New England & New York.

The Book of the Church

(extended to two volumes) is now drawing near its conclusion. My intention is to join company with the Island Ladies on their departure, taking with me my eldest daughter, & accompanying them till we turn off to pass a few days with Sir G Beaumont at Coleorton. I shall run down into Somerset & Devonshire before Christmas, & to Cambridge & Norwich afterwards, then return home & get into harness again.

A miserable man has been walking against time in your stable field, – & broke down in the attempt, but begins again tomorrow.

Were I a magistrate most certainly I would not suffer him to collect a rabble there, & endanger his life in this useless manner. M^r Lynn

is gone to the south, & as he will be mostly about Maidstone, you may perhaps fall in with him. My womankind desire unite with me in kind remembrances to M^rs Peachy – whom they have often wished for, as well as for yourself in our excursions. Remember me also to Charles Edward,

& believe me my Dear Sir ever yours very sincerely