Melbury

May 25

My dear Henry

After having had such bad accounts from hence you will not be surprised at receiving this from me and hearing that the dear invalid has been taken from this world & is I trust now in Heaven rejoicing with the happy spirits of his own dear Mother & Brother as well as others who have gone before. –

Yesterday evening his breathing became more oppressed and his pulse weaker but he slept quietly part of the night and was quite himself; early this morning the shortness of breath returned and when he fell asleep about five & woke no more, having expired without a struggle, Dr Jones was there & from him I heard it all. – Uncle Harry is as composed & resigned as possible & both Theresa & Caroline have shewn great self command & continue to do all they can for their dear Father. No one can have more thoughtful & dutiful Sons in law I am sure, than Ed. Digby & M^r <Harrison?> are they will save as much trouble as they can & take every care of Theresa & Caroline too. –

Mamma’s being here has been of great comfort to them all and dear Ste always seemed more pleased to have her with him than any one else. He was quite conscious the morning before he died when she was there he looked at her & was pleased when she kissed him. You cannot conceive any one’s being so complete a skeleton as he was, literally s skin stretched over the bones! he never murmured nor uttered a discontented word from the beginning of his illness to the last but was thankful to all around him & at peace with God & all the world. On Sunday by his own desire M^r Matthews (the Clergyman) was sent for to administer the Sacrament & we were all invited by him to attend & receive it with him he was collected & devout the whole time (as before) & tho so weak did not appear to have been at all fatigued. –

You will like to hear all this I know. –

I am your aff^ate

coz Mary