Melbury Feb^ry 8

My dear Henry

I know you always sympathise with us in all our joys and sorrows and feel I ought to let you know I have had bad news from Rome. You may probably have heard from M^r Gaisford of dear M^r Nicholls illness during the last six weeks. altho’ we were hardly aware of his danger and have been consequently much shocked as well as grieved to hear it has terminated fatally! Poor Jane has been nursing him all the time and is almost worn out as She had the malaria fever as well as Christiana & Spencer on their return from Naples, in a slight degree & is as you know almost a cripple ever since the sad accident they met with more than a year & half ago. This blow is indeed a hard trial for her & all & we feel very anxious about her, the loss is great to all & more so to her of course than to any one else – We have all lost a most kind & steady friend and for my part I feel it is irreparable!

Mamma is but middling she is rather better this afternoon & has decided upon returning strait to Laneley, we were to have gone to see dear Caroline if this melancholy news had not prevented our doing so. M^r Gaisford kindly wrote to my Uncle Harry he said the funeral had taken place according to dear M^r Nicholl’s wishes. – I must confess it is a great aggravation to one’s sorrow to be separated in death! but I trust dear Jane will be supported in her trials & not dwell upon that at all events. John is a most attentive & affec^t son & will do his best to take care of them all he will be a very great comfort to dear Jane and all of them. –

I hear Sir Cha^s Lemon is much better & goes out airing daily now. –

I am you aff^ate

Coz Mary