384 LIFE AT DOWN. JETAT. 33-45. [1852. 



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 with 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 the 

 whole system of breaking through the affections of the family 

 by separating the boys so early in life ; but I see no help, 

 and dare not run the risk of a youth being exposed to the 

 temptations of the world without having undergone the milder 

 ordeal of a great school. 



I see you even ask after our pears. We have had lots of 

 Beurrees d'Aremberg, Winter Nelis, Marie Louise, and " Ne 

 plus Ultra," but all off the wall ; the standard dwarfs have 

 borne a few, but I have no room for more trees, so their 

 names would be useless to me. You really must make a 

 holiday and pay us a visit sometime ; nowhere could you be 

 more heartily welcome. I am at work at the second volume 

 * To the Rev. J. Hughes. 



