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[7 October 1861]

My dear Wm

You are a very good boy to write such pleasant letters so often. I like your acct of Mr Fall & I think he had much better be kept on as a super numerary.

I hope you will follow A's [Atherley] advise in taking a walk every day. You will soon have a call from Mr Acland who lives at Langdowne at Hythe 2 miles by water & 12 by last. I guess he will ask you to spend a Sunday sometimes as the

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ferry boat does not suit for returning home late in the evening. The weather keeps quite charming still & we have been busy stowing away pears. Etty & I tidied all your photog. & have put them safe which was a long tiring job but it it did not prevent her walking to the end of the sandwalk afterwds which I did not feel at all inclined for. Mr Sowerby keeps Papa very hard at work drawing orchids & I am afraid he will be knocked up as

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he has to watch every stroke

Mr Sowerby is a very nice little man but he takes 30 seconds to answer the simplest question even as to beef or mutton & when he is telling any thing he is most tedious. He took his first lesson in croquet yesterday. Jones is poorly which stops the riding tho' I think James wd do just as well. Your father is deeply interested in all your news & we rejoice

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to hear that you will find coming away easy when once you are well entered. You had better call on Miss Heathcote [Maria Sophia] (sort of sister in law to the Lyells) before long at 4 Cumberland Place.

It is more civil to do it pretty soon.

yours my dear old man

E.D