’MY DEAR MARTHA,

’I did not receive your note yesterday till after Charlotte had left Deane, or I would have sent my answer by her, instead of being the means, as I now must be, of lessening the elegance of your new dress for the Hurstbourne ball by the value of 3_d_.  You are very good in wishing to see me at Ibthorp so soon, and I am equally good in wishing to come to you.  I believe our merit in that respect is much upon a par, our self-denial mutually strong.  Having paid this tribute of praise to the virtue of both, I shall here have done with panegyric, and proceed to plain matter of fact.  In about a fortnight’s time I hope to be with you.  I have two reasons for not being able to come before.  I wish so to arrange my visit as to spend some days with you after your mother’s return.  In the 1st place, that I may have the pleasure of seeing her, and in the 2nd, that I may have a better chance of bringing you back with me.  Your promise in my favour was not quite absolute, but if your will is not perverse, you and I will do all in our power to overcome your scruples of conscience.  I hope we shall meet next week to talk all this over, till we have tired ourselves with the very idea of my visit before my visit begins.  Our invitations for the 19th are arrived, and very curiously are they worded. {65} Mary mentioned to you yesterday poor Earle’s unfortunate accident, I dare say.  He does not seem to be going on very well.  The two or three last posts have brought less and less favourable accounts of him.  John Harwood has gone to Gosport again to-day.  We have two families of friends now who are in a most anxious state; for though by a note from Catherine this morning there seems now to be a revival of hope at Manydown, its continuance may be too reasonably doubted.  Mr. Heathcote, {66a} however, who has broken the small bone of his leg, is so good as to be going on very well.  It would be really too much to have three people to care for.

’You distress me cruelly by your request about books.  I cannot think of any to bring with me, nor have I any idea of our wanting them.  I come to you to be talked to, not to read or hear reading; I can do that at home; and indeed I am now laying in a stock of intelligence to pour out on you as my share of the conversation.  I am reading Henry’s History of England, which I will repeat to you in any manner you may prefer, either in a loose, desultory, unconnected stream, or dividing my recital, as the historian divides it himself, into seven parts:—­The Civil and Military:  Religion:  Constitution:  Learning and Learned Men:  Arts and Sciences:  Commerce, Coins, and Shipping:  and Manners.  So that for every evening in the week there will be a different subject.  The Friday’s lot—­Commerce, Coins, and Shipping—­you will find the least entertaining; but the next evening’s portion will make amends.  With such a provision on my part, if you will do yours by repeating the French Grammar, and Mrs. Stent {66b} will now and then ejaculate some wonder about the cocks and hens, what can we want?  Farewell for a short time.  We all unite in best love, and I am your very affectionate

   ‘J.  A.’