20 LETTERS TO HIS BROTHER 



to all parts of her house without a stick, rides out in her 

 chaise, and is, for her great age, an extraordinary woman. 



In my last, as I wrote on a sunny day, I mentioned that 

 my levelling work went on swimmingly; but there came 

 immediately upon me a glut of wet for many weeks that 

 spoiled my metaphor, and drowned and floated all my works 

 and sadly embarrassed our operations in the clay, which was 

 all converted to mud and mire. Before we could dig we 

 were obliged to lade. However, by perseverance, in five 

 weeks instead of twelve days I finished my job ; which has a 

 very good effect, though neither the turf nor the pavement 

 can be expected to lie quite so smooth and regular as if all 

 had been moved in dry weather. The ground came out to 

 nothing on an hanging level on the grass plot short of the 

 mulberry-tree, and in the broad walk midway between the 

 farther wicket and the alcove on a dead level. I apprehend 

 no harm from the borders ; they will be lowered. We went 

 20 inches deep at the entrance of the long walk. My back 

 front looks higher and better. 



I am sorry you have improved your parlor 'till it smokes ; 

 it is a common case ; but you must exert all your mechanic 

 powers to remove so sad a nuisance. 



My horse Miller is very lame, and could not come ; as Jack 

 was trotting him in the north field he trod on an old track 

 and strained his knee in a wonderful manner. However, his 

 old friend Mr. Etty has lent Jack his poney, that carries 

 him well. The tortoise went under the ground about Novem- 

 ber 20, came out again for one day December 3, and now 

 lies in a swamp border in mud and mire ! 



My letters to Mr. Barrington swell very fast. He has en- 

 gaged me in the monography of the swallow genus. I have 

 dispatched the house martin ; and my letter is to be read 

 before the R. S. I w T ish I knew a little more about the 

 bank martin. Does Mr. Lever know anything about the 

 bank martin that can be depended on ? 



Harry's little folks, all but Har. Woods, are down with the 

 whooping cough. While brother Ben and family were at 

 Newton, Mrs. Pain discovered at London that James White 



