My dear Mary, My letters must seem to be very few & far between but sudden revolutions happen now & then, wh disorder my private arrangements, such as yesterday, when I was just seated to write to Alethea & Uncl Wm proposed driving Char: & me to Southampton, & before we came back the visitors were arrived. You will see how much I enjoyed your very long letter presently when I tell you how pleasant ... continue reading

My dear Miss Peard, There is a part of it in which I think perhaps you would be so kind as to help. We are trying to bring in accounts of that troublesome contemporary time of the history of each country, that have not got into books so as to enable ‘our readers’ to know what is going on. Now Mr. Church has done Greece, Poland is in good hands, and Miss Roberts, I believe, does ... continue reading

Dear Mr Macmillan I have been more fortunate than I had expected & have much pleasure in sending you a carte of Harriet Martineau which, as you know, I had not expected to obtain. I have not seen her, nor have I sent my letter of introduction, but her niece - to whom one of our friends had written - called yesterday while we were at Furness Abbey & we propose going to the Knoll tomorrow.

Meanwhile ... continue reading

Dear Mr Innes, I have disposed of Mr Hutchinson’s Stars except for this one chapter. I found when I wrote to him that he had not meant to contribute a regular course but miscellaneous papers now and then. I want however to get the Engineering recollections in America into this volume. They are 7 but short, very entertaining and one may be doubled. The story is short too. I have not got Miss Sewell yet, but ... continue reading

Dean Church's beautiful book came in time for me to work it in with the Cardinal. It is a sort of key. By the way, there is a mistake- I don't know whether J. H. N.'s or Miss Mozley's - about the consecration of a church to which he could not go in 1838: it is said to be Hursley but it really was Otterbourne. Hursley was not consecrated, of course, till ... continue reading

My dear Mr Warden

Thank you much for your kind reply. I hope to appear with my maid by the train that reaches Oxford at 4.25, when I think I arrive just in time for chapel. I have just got a card for Mrs Talbot’s evening party that night.

I am afraid I cannot stay after Saturday as I am engaged to spend Sunday at the Deanery at St Pauls.

With all thanks and kind regards to ... continue reading