142 REMINISCENCES OF 



Mrs. Bracebridge was a charming woman and 

 great artist. Her portfolios of drawings of all the 

 foreign towns where she had been were quite beau- 

 tiful. 



"The Hall, 



" Atherstone, 28th February, 1850. 



" Dear Thomson, — 



"If you have time to ride over and sleep 

 here we shall be happy to see you. 



" I wish to put the house affair in the simplest 

 terms. 



" I shall be happy to lend you this house from ist 

 of November till the ist of April. Probably a week 

 longer would make no difference. You to agree to 

 take our two housemaids — good servants, the upper 

 one has been here many years. You to pay milk 

 and potatoes — nothing else ; you to have whatever 

 is in the garden ; and my gardener to keep up the 

 grounds. You to have saddle-room and ten stalls, 

 thirteen if you want them. My coachman lives at 

 the lodge, and would with his boy take care of my 

 four horses left out of writ. He can have a separate 

 harness-room, and in no way interfere. He is a 

 good, quiet man. I, of course, retain rick-yard and 

 farm premises. You to have the small wine cellar, 

 and another I can arrange for. You can use the ale 

 there will be, and have the same quantity brewed, or 

 you can buy. My butler remains in the town (he is 

 married and settled there) in his own house. I should 

 want access to my library and cellar for books and 



