It is now high time to speak of the estate, and what is to be done with it.  It is a most delightful situation, and few things would give me greater pleasure than to realise the plan which you had in view for me, of building a house there.  But I am afraid, I am sorry to say, that the chances are very much against this, partly on account of the state of my own affairs, and still more from the improbability of Mr. Coleridge’s continuing in the country.  The writings are at present in my possession, and what I should wish is, that I might be considered at present as steward of the land, with liberty to lay out the rent in planting, or any other improvement which might be thought advisable, with a view to building upon it.  And if it should be out of my power to pitch my own tent there, I would then request that you would give me leave to restore the property to your own hands, in order that you might have the opportunity of again presenting it to some worthy person who might be so fortunate as to be able to make that pleasant use of it which it was your wish that I should have done.

Mr. Coleridge informed me, that immediately after you left Keswick, he had, as I requested, returned you thanks for those two elegant drawings which you were so good as to leave for me.  The present is valuable in itself, and I consider it as a high honour conferred on me.  How often did we wish for five minutes’ command of your pencil while we were in Scotland! or rather that you had been with us.  Sometimes I am sure you would have been highly delighted.  In one thing Scotland is superior to every country I have travelled in; I mean the graceful beauty of the dresses and figures.  There is a tone of imagination about them beyond anything I have seen elsewhere.

Mr. Coleridge, I understand, has written to you several times lately; so of course he will have told you when and why he left us.  I am glad he did, as I am sure the solitary part of his tour did him much the most service.  He is still unwell, though wonderfully strong.  He is attempting to bring on a fit of the gout, which he is sure will relieve him greatly.  I was at Keswick last Sunday and saw both him and Mr. Southey, whom I liked very much.  Coleridge looks better, I think, than when you saw him; and is, I also think, upon the whole, much better.  Lady Beaumont will be pleased to hear that our carriage (though it did not suit Mr. Coleridge, the noise of it being particularly unpleasant to him) answered wonderfully well for my sister and me, and that the whole tour far surpassed our most sanguine expectations.

They are sadly remiss at Keswick in putting themselves to trouble in defence of the country; they came forward very cheerfully some time ago, but were so thwarted by the orders and counter-orders of the ministry and their servants, that they have thrown up the whole in disgust.  At Grasmere, we have turned out almost to a man.  We are to go to Ambleside on Sunday to be mustered, and put on, for the first time, our military apparel.  I remain, dear Sir George, with the most affectionate and respectful regard for you and Lady Beaumont,