1852.] OLD DAYS. 351 



overworked for the next fortnight. But first you deserve to 

 be well abused — and pray consider yourself well abused — for 

 thinking or writing that I could for one minute be bored by 

 any amount of detail about yourself and belongings. It is 

 just what I like hearing; believe me that I often think of old 

 days spent with you, and sometimes can hardly believe what a 

 jolly careless individual one was in these old days. A bright 

 autumn evening often brings to mind some shooting excursion 

 from Osmaston. I do indeed regret that we live so far off 

 each other, and that I am so little locomotive. I have been 

 unusually well of late (no water-cure), but I do not find that 

 I can stand any change better than formerly. . . The other 

 day I went to London and back, and the fatigue, though so 

 trifling, brought on my bad form of vomiting. I grieve to 

 hear that your chest has been ailing, and most sincerely do 

 I hope that it is only the muscles ; how frequently the voice 

 fails wuth the clergy. I can well understand your reluctance 

 to break up your large and happy party and go abroad ; but 

 your life is very valuable, so you ought to be very cautious in 

 good time. You ask about all of us, now five boys (oh ! the 

 professions ; oh ! the gold ; and oh ! the French — these three 

 oh's all rank as dreadful bugbears) and two girls . . . but 

 another and the worst of my bugbears is hereditary weakness. 

 All my sisters are well except Mrs. Parker, who is much out of 

 health ; and so is Erasmus at his poor average : he has lately 

 moved into Queen Anne Street. I had heard of the intended 

 marriage * of your sister Frances. I believe I have seen her 

 since, but my memory takes me back some twenty-five years, 

 when she was lying down. I remember well the delightful 

 expression of her countenance. I most sincerely wish her all 

 happiness. 



I see I have not answered half your queries. We like very 

 well all that we have seen and heard of Rugby, and have 

 never repented of sending [W.] there. I feel sure schools 

 have greatly improved since our days ; but I hate schools and 



* 



To the Rev. J. Hughes. 



