Grasmere
Wednesday August 17^th

My dear Henry

Thanks for telling me you had written to D^r Whewell – I dare say he is absent, – taking holidays as everybody is just now. – Our Bishop has promised me his votes, if on his return home, he finds that they are not already pledged. – Charles arrived from Speddoch yesterday – in very good spirits – he seems to have enjoyment being there very much – Saturday was too wet to allow of their going again on the Moors, and Monday though fine was lost; owing to M^r Clark having to attend a funeral of an old Lady, who died within one month of completing her hundredth year. Yet in spite of these difficulties, Charles was the Bearer of a magnificent present of grouse – of which we proved the excellence at our dinner today. – And he also brought a basket of splendid hot house grapes – of Speddoch Growth. – Both these are a great treat to us –

Our weather was as fine as yours on Sunday – Yesterday was partially drizzly – today is fair, though steamy & threatening. – but the glass keeps [illegible deletion] alternately at fair, through and half way to change – never lower – Charles will follow your directions about M^r Headlam if you decide on his leaving Grasmere the 29^th – but he thinks the Coach from Penrith to Barnard Castle goes every day – Ela & Rosamond received the letters you wrote them from Speddoch; I thank you for them – R^d thought hers very amusing –

We are very glad to hear that M^r Fry is likely to recover, tho’ slowly. Goodwin’s health is improving – & he waits at dinner & attends our Bell for putting out lights, & everything of that sort. but his manner is very languid & shaky – Perhaps I had better give him the bottle of tonic which I brought from Edinburgh – to hasten his recovery.

Your affectionate
Constance