159 



From Mr. Otley. 



Keswick, May 9th, 1853. 

 Eeverend Sir, — 



I was afraid that my tedious epistle of February 24th, 1847, would have 

 so far exhausted your patience that I concluded if ever I presumed to write to you 

 again my words should be few ; and I was truly glad when I found that my short 

 note had been honoured with so instant and kind a reply. I am sorry that your 

 complaint, which you mentioned in 1847, still troubles you. I shall first acquaint 

 you with my own situation in regard to health, that in any future correspondence 

 you may consider that I am, as to myself, not as the same person you saw me 

 eleven or twelve j^ears ago. I enjoyed good health till February and March, 1852, 

 when I felt myself so well that I walked two or three times a week to my favorite 

 spot at Barrow Side, where I could spend hours in amusing myself,, by forming 

 little wells in the springs which issue from the mountain side. 



As the weather grew warmer, I was obliged to contract my excursions. In 

 the drought of April I stopped at Friar's Crag to see how the depth of the lake 

 was reduced ; and the last time that I reached the lake side was the 4th of September. 

 I then began to feel that the old stone stairs that I had clomb for fifty-five years 

 were too hard for me, and I took a small cottage, about three doors from Charles 

 Wright, where I am now living, having got a niece to keep the house ; and I felt 

 so gradually losing strength that since the 12th of December I have scarcely been 

 out of doors till yesterdaj% which was very warm. I reached as far as the market 

 place — nearly as far as the pofet-office ; and to-day being colder again, I reached 

 about the same distance. On leaving my old apartments I was obliged to submit 

 the greatest part of my Books, Botanical and Geological specimens, and watch- 

 makers' tools to the Auctioneer's hammer ; such a variety as never was exposed in 

 Keswick, when 336 lots were disposed of, leaving me, after expenses, about twenty 

 pounds. 



You do not mention the slip of paper from the Kendal Mercury enclosed with 

 my note, which I have called a bold conception. I enclosed a copy to Mr. Rooke, 

 from whom I have received a rather lengthy reply ; he speaks of valuable truths of 

 which he has availed himself as stepping stones, and of which your "bold 

 conception" is a vast move in advance. 



Tuesday Morning, May 10th, gloomy and cold. 



Snow on Skiddaw, more on Helvellyn. 



JONATHAN OTLEY. 



Memoranda enclosed in above draft of letter to Sedgwick: — 

 February 9th, 1827. I shall adopt your three di\'isions. 

 January 16th, 1826. 

 October 29th, 1836. 



