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      My dear Friend!
I have been leading for this Month past an unsettled
rambling kind of life, which has prevented me doing
anything I ought, or wished to have done -- particularly --
I have not been allowed to write a letter, for chès nous
nobody does such a thing, & I am abused whenever I sit
down with a pen in my hand, at any time, but lately
the House has been full of young Men, who have made
it totally impossible to settle comfortably to anything -- we
have been visiting too -- been at the Races -- &c --
In short my dear you have been constantly in my
mind as well as heart, but I confess I have much to
reproach myself on the score of writing -- I used you know
to be an excellent correspondent, but then the intercourse
was kept up briskly on both sides, you liked writing, had
good Eyes -- & had nothing else to do -- now you are married
have other occupations, other pursuits, of much greater
consequence, and cannot have time to write frequently
to all those who love & are interested about you, cela est
naturel et de raison, aussi I do not expect it, & think you
very good indeed if you now & then let me hear
from you. I have two of your letters to answer my dear
Friend though I cannot allow that I am two in your debt.
So there is no chance of seeing you at Horton this year
no nor any year -- it is decided & I give the thing up -- I
shall never ask you, or hope to see you there, again -- as
for expecting it -- I never did -- if I could help being vexed

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& almost angry, I should be inclined to think it very
ridiculous --
There is more probability of our meeting in London
to that idea I will attach myself -- & will indulge myself
in that of seeing your dear little Louisa & enjoying something
of your society, in the spring -- I do not mean to be unreasonable
nor do I intend to monopolize you, for I daresay you
will come but for a short time & will be devoured -- that
I expect, & must submit to get a bit myself, as I can
in a scrambling way -- I wish your naughty Eyes would
get well, I do not approve of their continuing weak for
such a length of time -- what do you do for them? pray
do not use them too much, even to write to me, for
I had rather not hear from you -- though indeed you have
so perfect a Secretary, that I cannot but be perfectly
satisfied with his imitation both of your hand
& style -- I believe I should not have discovered the difference
pray thank him sincerely & return the very affectionate
regards he sent me. Since your first letter I have
been at Dallington, slept there &c we went to the
play at Northamton with them -- I like Lady Cathcart
vastly, she is very pleasing, gentle & unaffected
I do not exclude Lord Cathcart by only mentioning her, for though
I knew him a little before, he improves much upon
further acquaintance -- a very sensible young Man
& by far the best bred one of the present age -- but I
am quite in love with the dear Boys, particularly
not little, but great William who is the tallest Boy of 3&½
years old that ever was seen, & who was put into
Breeches at 13 Months -- he is a prodigy to be sure
je n'en reviens pas! they are now in Dorsetshire at

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Admiral Digby's, from whence I fancy they intend
returning soon, as they have been now gone some time.
that name puts me in mind of poor Lady Lucy -- is it
possible my dear Friend that you should be still ignorant
of her Death which happened near two Months ago --
she suffered cruelly for many hours previous to that
event, particularly so, for she had suffered much, for
Months -- it was a happy release, for there had been
no hopes from the beginning almost of her disorder, &
nobody certainly could be better prepared for another
world, or more properly detached from this, than she
was. Mr Digby I have not seen since Lady Lucy's Death
he has been ever since with his relations & does not
leave that part of the world, till the end of November
when he will come for the Drawingroom -- he has
suffered much in his Health & more in his mind from
anxiety & attendance -- I think he will never recover
a loss, that so entirely changes his way of life & all
his plans & prospects of Comfort & happiness -- his
little Girl stayed with us till last Wednesday when I
brought her with me and sent her back to School.
I return again to Horton on Monday for three weeks
in the Course of which time Bell & I are going to make a
little excursion to Sir G. Robinson's & Mr Hanburys --
the latter are to have a great musical party at Kelmarsh
on the 19th, Mara & other Singers -- I shall like that
vastly, for I am not less fond of music than I was.
after the Accession, I go to Mrs Wilmots & then to St Leonards
where I have not yet been this year, indeed I have been
at Horton since the 8th of June a few Days excepted when
I have come up for Drawingrooms -- in November I return to Horton
for another fortnight -- I saw Lady Wake before she went into

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Yorkshire -- she looked very ill -- but I am glad to hear she
is recovered & will enjoy herself at her Fathers -- I think she
returns in November, or before -- I shall see her then certainly.
I wish I could tell you anything pleasant of your Friend Miss
Thursby, not that I know or believe anything essentially blamable
in her Conduct -- I am sure she is a very good Girl, as she
is a very sensible one, but she is in a very bad style & way
& will certainly get into a scrape -- i. e. make a very foolish
& bad match -- there is a Mr Armitage, Sir Ges Brother, a
very vulgar affected young Man, in a bad style & having nothing
who admires her, rides with her all about the Country (that
indeed she does with every Man at Northampton!) & they say will

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marry her -- in his absence she (what the world calls) encourages
other Men -- she only means to talk & laugh to amuse herself
but it hurts her though it is perfectly innocent of any bad
intentions -- I wish
she had you to give her some advice -- her Friend Miss
C. Sutton scampers about in the same violent way --
I have not told you I believe that we are all well at Horton
perfectly so -- my rooms here have been new papered
painted &c I have more Books, more Bookcases, tables &c
in short am perfectly comfortable & shall delight to have
you by me to enjoy & add to my comfort -- adieu my dear
Friend -- God bless you -- adieu --

Oh! My dear what would I have given to have been with you
at Calwick -- what a delight! I should have kissed every step
I trod -- how happy you must have been! but you could not ever
feel what I should have done
poor, dear Rousseau!

To
      Mrs Dickenson
           Taxal
           Chapel le Frith
                             Derbyshire