Markeaton Hall
Thursday
My dear Henry
Thank you very much for anticipating my wishes about the S. G. O. Correspondence in Monday’s Times – I see by your letters that the weather with you on Monday & Tuesday was much the same as here – but from what I can gather of their previous weather since the beginning of Rosamond’s visit, we appear to have had decidedly finer days at Lacock.
I am most impatient to hear all you saw of the Meteors on Wednesday night – You had not charged me to keep our eyes open for the chance of what we might see, but however we did not forget – And this is what we saw – About ten o’clock in the evening, the shutters of a window looking towards the East were opened. – and a very brilliant light was seen occasionally – Which we think was nothing but common lightening, – and once or twice, a star shot across the sky – About ½ an hour later we looked again & saw an oscillating light <ill. del.> close to the horizon rather to the North of East, with a dark coloured Clouds obscuring part of the illuminated space. – This faded away after a short time – and we saw nothing particular for an hour or two, except that the sky was remarkably clear towards the East, although on the West side of the house there appeared a good many clouds – and there was some wind – We retired to our rooms a<b?>t 11 o’clock thinking that all was finished, – but after undressing & before we got to bed, there came on a sudden & violent storm of wind & rain – & the heavens were inky black – Rosd left her room & came to sit with me by the fire side – and we talked on for a good while, although the storm had passed off rapidly – At last she went to bed – and I proceeded with various little things before doing the same – It was about a quarter to one when I was quite finished & I thought I would just give one more look at the sky – When to my astonishment & delight I saw Meteors flying about in all parts, looking like small rockets or like comets, more vivid than I ever saw, and going out like a spent fire work – I awoke Monie (who was fast asleep) and brought her back to my room which has a bow window, commanding a great expanse of sky. – And there we stood gazing for at least ¾ of an hour: – the glorious display continuing all the time, & perhaps much longer, for being very cold, & seeing no new Phenomena we at last thought it wise to go to bed. – I am impatient to read the accounts in the Times which we shall get this evening – I am very sorry that my Brother & Harriot lost the whole thing as they gave up observing when the storm came on at midnight – they thank you very much for the three beautiful engravings which you sent to my Brother – and they hope you will exhibit at Paris.