1887.] RESIDENCE AT ST. ALBANS 115 



November 24, 1887.' 



DEAR MR. BAILEY, The Farmers' Club meeting will be 

 an exceptionally rare opportunity of pushing forward this, 

 and some other important matters, as well as of laying 

 before some of our leading agriculturists some important 

 facts about a few of the pests of the corn crops of last 

 season's notoriety. You will think my letter endless, but 

 I want to congratulate you most heartily on your good 

 success in the examinations (which must be a weary work 

 to prepare for), and also on that of your assistant master 

 and teacher, which is indeed encouraging, and to say how 

 sorry we are to hear of your illness. I trust, if it please 

 God, that you may have comfortable health again it makes 

 such a difference. 



Since my sister and I came to St. Albans we are almost 

 like different people. We have a beautiful house (pi. xix.) 

 with such thick walls that we do not feel the changes of 

 temperature, and a lovely country view along the valley. 

 We have also met with a most kindly reception, and, last but 

 not least amongst blessings and comforts for which we are 

 deeply grateful, is that educated earnest clergy form a 

 decided element in the Society. But now I ought only to 

 add thanks and very kind regards from us both. 



December n, 1887. 



I must tell you the pleasure with which I heard your letter 

 to the Duke of Westminster read at the " Seeds and Plants 

 Diseases " Committee of the Royal Agricultural Society on 

 Tuesday, and recommended for report to the Council, and I 

 am glad to see it on the Society's report sheet sent me this 

 morning, as being recommended for publication. I think 

 this will do a great deal of good, and it cannot, I think, fail 

 to be a great satisfaction to yourself that the excellent work 

 done under your guidance and direction should thus be of 

 such extended service throughout the land. I also figure to 

 myself how pleased the good lads will be ! 



Will you accept the enclosed photo of my new and most 

 comfortable home (plate xix.) ; it gives a good idea of it, 

 excepting in not quite showing the very rapid slope down 

 from the terrace flower beds. 



It would be a great and very true pleasure if when you 



to the boys. I think I ought to add that the Haberdashers' Company 

 were good enough to make a grant of ^25 to start us with this new sub- 

 ject, and have since generously supported the carrying on of the work," 

 1 Continuation of Miss Ormerod's letter to Mr. Bailey. 



