Dearest Husband,

   Aunt Grover is just arrived to carry me to Town - the day is fine - I am totally free from pain & illness so I shall put my trust in God & hope that the expedition may prove for my benefit.

   I closed my last despatch p^r Dart on Tuesday night, & tho rather tired from writing it, was not in the slightest degree the worse for it. Dear Aunt Page left us yesterday. My Mother cannot bear to part with her. She loves her just the same as one of us. So does John D. He is not apt to deal in superlatives, but I never heard him launch out in anybody's praise in the way he did in hers.

   The journey in the open carriage did me a great deal of good I think. I had missed the open air I used to be in on Deck, & wh the closeness of the cabin tempted me to brave even when the cold was almost too intense to support. Since I have been ill the weather has been very hot, & tho from my disease I have been as cold as ever, with tins of hot water &c, yet I have been sensible of the closeness. The smallness of the rooms too, compared with G^t Carmo, seems to oppress me. This house is large & airy - it has been a Nobleman's. The Grovers have the first floor & the Attics. In one of the latter I sleep, tho at some inconvenience to the dear girls who are much huddled together in consequence. (Fanny, Eliza & Georgina Stewart¹) I am however much more satisfied to be lodged here than at J. D's wh w^d be too far for the D^r to come to see me, & the Grovers are all kindness.

   I find Mr G looking extremely well like the rest, 6 y^rs older but healthy. M^r Harry G is not long for this world. He is breaking fast I am told. Our Bombay nieces are very sweet unaffected girls. As soon as we (Harriet & I) arrived yesterday, the Grovers got ready to go to dinner in B Row, & I laid upon the Sopha all the Even^g, & the girls entertained me. I was agreeably surprised with their proficiency on the Piano.

   I left our two dear children at B^r, preparing to take their second lesson of Miss Redpath. I am glad they have some employment, as they have lost so much time. Too much sickness prevails in me, Mary Phelps, & M^rs J. D. for it to be practicable to give them a little holydays in the way of sight seeing for the present, but I have told my Mother that she must consent to give up Redpath for a few weeks whenever it may be feasible. Aunt Page will, I think, stand our friend when possible. In the meantime B^r is new & an amusement for them. For myself, I have only seen it from the windows - but the beauty of the Lilacs & Laburnums & Horse Chestnuts, & the song of the Cuckoo have been a regale to my eyes & ears. Tho' the better yesterday for the drive, I feel today the difference of air & awoke with a desperate head ache. Perhaps I may get used to it. The Chestnut Tree at B^r was just bursting when I arrived, & is now fully out in leaf, so that there is about a month difference in the forwardness of the things.

   D^r C [Sir Charles Clarke] has been here & given great attention to my case, but given no opinion for the present. He has desired me to abstain from every sort of medicine, & he will see me every day & watch me to observe the effect of food. He desired me to eat a bit of Mutton today, wh I have done, & so far it sits well. I daresay his knowledge of the female constitution will enable him to give me some useful directions as to my general health. His manner is off hand - precisely like D^r Benton's - a more deliberate manner is more agreeable in a physician. He does not wish to see D^r Durie at present.

   This day I have seen Mrs J. D. & Fanny², Mrs Robertson & daughters, Mrs And^w Spottiswoode, W^m Phelps & M^rs Treadgold. Perhaps the visit of the last conveyed the most pleasure; she is so truly a christian (sic) character. Ann John³ looks fat but I do not like the colour of her skin - I fear she will never again be well. Fanny is prettier & healthier than I expected. John sets off for Scotland tomorrow, so it will be a long time before I have any further conversation with him.

Sat^y 17 May.

   I was rather uncomfortable during the night, with a feeling that I had eaten too much - as usual - but am better today. I am writing in bed (11 o'clock) where John D. has just been to see me & wish me good bye. He likes Heald & thinks him a prudent & economical man who will be content with small profits - the only way, he says, to do business at the present day. He (John) saw W^m & Laurie & Heald all separately about the business, & then altogether. He thinks the security good. I told him I felt it an awkward thing engaging with the partner of our brother after their separation - but he says we must not mind those things in business. He says (which is very true) that Charles is a man that you cannot depend on - that he engages to send one sort of wine & then sends another, & in short, that it is impossible to trust him.

Whitsunday 18 May 8 o'clock Eveng.

   I have been quite comfortable as to bodily feelings today, & am as well as the last week before I embarked, when I gained so much ground. But for my anxious desire to embrace my Mary, wh I am sensible keeps me back, I sh^d feel very comfortable.

   This day has been passed very tolerably, considering the dissipation of London at this season. M^r Grover is not here. He went yesterday to Hempstead to see his brother, & returns tomorrow. Harriet, & the Girls & the servants went to church twice. We dined at 1 between the services (cold meats) & after afternoon church my visitors began to come, M^rs Goodall, M^r M^rs< & Misses Spottiswoode, M^rs Snow who kissed me & was very gracious, M^r Robertson, & tho' last not least, your sisters Eliza & Anne & brothers W^m & Peyton. It was the first time I had seen this last, & I rec^d him as graciously as I c^d. I was lying on the sopha (where I receive all my visitors) & I shook hands with him & appeared to take it for granted that he sh^d kiss me (more unequivocally than I did to D^r Brosh) wh he did accordingly, & we conversed as very good friends. Mary is better for the first time today. She has been ill for 4 weeks with a disorder distinct from her liver - rather of a cricklety character, wh now has subsided & D^r Brown thinks she will be better than before the attack wh seems very probable.

   The Grovers are very fond of W^m. He & M^rs Page are the favourites. I complimented Peyton on the improvement in his appearance from leaving off his wig, & observed that you also were becoming bald. He bid me tell you to wash your head every morning in Vinegar & Water (equal parts) & said that if he had known of it in time, he thought he might have preserved his hair. W^m bid me tell you that Mr James Crowdie, Wistrop House, Wilts, is very desirous of pay^g for his Mats, & no Bill appears. I think it possible that I may have it, as I have not yet unpacked all my goods, but if not, pray send it. The Mats are rec^d & approved as to quality but not quite as to measure, being rather too large.

   Little Georgina Stewart is the age of dear Fanny Jack⁴, & so like her that I c^d almost fancy it was she - but her deafness is so great, that she can with difficulty hear what you say when close to her. It is very affecting to see this lamentable state with her fine intellects. I omitted John Hibbert in my list of visitors. His gratitude is delightful: he is holding himself in readiness to escort me & the children to see sights. Miss H is settled at Barnes with her maiden aunt. Mr Grover says their father is constructed totally without a heart. He is moreover a gamester & very poor - so that I give Miss H credit for her forbearing ever to say anything disrespectful of him.

   I think dearest that you have been into Town today to receive the Sacrament. How I wish to go to church & receive it too! I could not however yet sit up for so long at a time; but next Sunday I hope I may be able to enjoy this blessing. It is administered in many London churches on Trinity Sunday.

   I think much of Mr Lowe⁵. He must not resign. Surely you & other decent people have influence with the directors & others to resist such a flagrant outrage as to swindle a clergyman out of his salary & insult him by treating him like a shoe black into the bargain. I am very unhappy until I hear how it is settled. I hope I told you before that his letters to the B^p of London & M^r Baring were delivered the day after I landed. The Phelpses sent their servant with them. Of course I have not seen the Barings.

   I continue mending. Refer^g to your letter I am sorry to notice M^r Philipps's illness as being connected with the liver ¬ & fear it may be tedious. Pray do not let D^r Benton neglect him. I am delighted that you had Clara⁶ to spend a day at the M^t to sow the seeds. I hope that you have her with you today & tomorrow. You will miss me in your holydays. Give my love to her, & tell her I shall send her some patterns of Pelisses & Capes wh are now worn more than ever. The great difference that I observe between the Court going ladies (M^rs Spott^de, M^rs Snow &c) & those of our own class, is that the former have longer waists. Peaks are the fashion - rather wide-ish. The Hair is worn all ways. Ringlets, French frizzed coils, Madonnas, & braids on each side the forehead are equally prevalent. Only the single little braid & split curls seem to be passed. Tell her I speak from the highest authority, as the only day I was in the street (coming here) I met all the ladies coming from the draw^g room, & moreover many of my own & my sister's visitors are in the high world.

   I congratulate you on settling the affairs of the Upper Quinta so much to y^r satisfaction. How much did the Bois⁷ am^t to & are they actually deducted from the rent? If you are obliged to house França it had better be in Franulha's, not the Disterro. The Plate rack at G^t Carmo is tumb^g to pieces. Perhaps the one from Bella M^te w^d do for there. You talk of plant^g Rama of Semilhas. Don't you mean Batatas? I never heard of planting potatoes except by the root. It is delightful to hear how your bichos⁸ are thriving. Mrs Enoch must have enough to do with the bichos within & without of all sorts. I am sorry you have been obliged to give up your horse - I fear you will not be the better for so much exercise. I am rejoiced nevertheless that you take so much interest in the Quinta. Every man is the better for a pursuit distinct from his duties. God forbid we sh^d ever be obliged to give it up. When I think what an advantage it is to us & the children, how impossible it w^d be to provide a substitute that w^d combine so many advantages. How inconsiderate the expenses, reckoning the p^r contras of fire wood & vegetables. I feel that it w^d be unwise to resign it.

   John D lamented that we were saddled with the plant in Mada & said that if we had wound up in 1827, & started afresh, by yourself, we sh^d have done better. I told him that he must take into the acc^t the personal comforts I have been enjoy^g mean while - that from my broken health I am now unable to rough it, & sh^d probably have been dead but for the advantages of Town & country houses & comparative leisure. He acknowledges these considerations had weight, & ended by saying that he thought we sh^d get through, & in time get out of debt, but never be rich. I am content with this prospect. If we live to be independent, we can surely be moderate. I understand he (J.D.) is paying his debts faster that the executors expected, or can claim, & they are in consequence enchanted with him. Even so, it will take him many years (15 to 18) to get clear, but he will have a noble property in the end. His partner C. Longman, wants to marry Fanny but she cannot bear him, & John does not wish it, as it w^d be keeping all the eggs in the same basket. C.L. brought £20,000 into the concern & resides at Nash Mill. Nobody likes him much. His parents rather wish the match.

   I am very glad you have begun to repair the houses, particularly as you have a little bit of Obra⁹. What has become of Mr José? How dreadful the affair of Vicar of São Gonçalo! All things work together for good. These enormities prepared the way for the Reformation in other countries. May they eventually do so in Portugal!

   From Aunt Page's acc^t I am disposed to like Miss Marga-ry's school (understand that the accent is on the penultimate) much better than we supposed. She says that they are truly religious & ladylike. Harriet earnestly recommends Miss Slatcher at Edmonton, where Fanny Grover is a teacher. I will see both these. The expense of each is the same, viz about £100, & it is impossible to do it for less. Aunt Fanny's £10 will reduce it to £90 & this I think we must engage in, for all things considered, it is the best thing we can do. If we get into debt, I must ask J.D. to lend me £100 till I can pay him. Mrs Grover declines negotiating for the Piano, for which I cannot blame her. She has had an éclaircissement with Mr Broadwood about their former engagem^t & she says it w^d be indelicate in her to ask him a favour. I shall therefore see him myself when I get well, & try what I can do with him.

   M^r Grover has been a faithful steward for M^rs Enoch. He has shown me all his acc^ts with her f^m wh I have copied the general statem^t from 1831 to the present time & hope you will find it intelligible & make her understand it. My Mother gives her daughter £6 per ann so that she is now off her hands, & I shall take upon me to direct W^m to continue to pay £20 p^r ann to M^r G & M^r G to invest the whole of it in the Sav^gs bank, by wh means she will grow rich fast. Two quarters are already due this year, viz 8 Feb & 8 May - her year ends 8 Nov. The last item in the acct date 21 Feb is I believe a remittance from Madeira, & not her London wages. Mr Grover complains that it is not p^d regularly.

Closed 28 May.

   Getting on slowly but surely. As the Arab is to touch, I enclose M^rs E's acc^t & will ask W^m to send a Newspaper as the ministry are all up in arms. Mr Hanlog & the Duke of Richmond have resigned but the Radicals, it is said, will go on without their more respectable colleagues.

   All our dears are here today, going to see the ladies go to Court. They are well & unite in love to every one of your 5. God bless you.

^1. Fanny & Eliza were the daughters of Col Tom Dickinson, serving with the Bombay Army, and his wife Kitty. Kitty's sister was known in the family as "Aunt Stewart"; Georgina Stewart was thus probably a cousin of the Dickinson girls.

^2. This Fanny would be the daughter of John and Ann Dickinson

^3. Ann John = Ann, wife of John

^4. Fanny [daughter of] Jack, now 20 years old

^5. Mr Lowe, acting Rector of the English Church in Madeira, was already the subject of discord among the members, some of whom considered him too "High Church".

^6. Their daughter Clara was only three years old, so this must surely be someone else.

^7. oxen

^8. animals

^9. construction