PALGRAVE

saying that although some rumour of your continued existence reached me through my mother, yet it is long since I have heard any news about you, and I should like it very much if you would at any time send me one of the short billets-doux which I know you are in the habit of writing. I have been in some hopes that one would come some day to tell me that you were coming up to town, remember that you promised, on the faith of an Astronomer, to let me know if you visit the fashionable lodgings, and the fat friend who at other times moves in so high a sphere. You cannot have had much observing lately; in Devonshire, at least, and S. Wales, whence I have just returned, the clouds had taken to the most persevering sky-scraping and earth-deluging; hardly any day was free from rain. I stayed for a few days with Edm. Bastard, whose name you will remember at Balliol 2 years ago; he has a house on the very edge of Dartmoor; in fertile, cultivated land, but so high up that the clouds used to come down on the lawn, and constantly to cover the tops of the granite hills close by. I had a very pleasant time there; the country was quite new to me... and the host was not:- he is one of the most remarkable people I have ever seen, for clearness of mind and the most unsullied goodness. As he has rather large property, he has abundant room to exercise these good qualities. From Devonshire I went to Wales and travelled slowly about with my Father & Mother attempting to sketch numerous Castles & great Monastic Churches. We saw Tintern among other things; but on the whole I could not help thinking ruins rather an unprofitable study - unless at least one has a great previous knowledge of history. Beyond the outermost facts as it were in the life of the old inhabitants they teach one nothing. I saw a report in a Paper which made me think of you - it was about Bowden's joining the R. Catholics. I fear you will regret it if it is true. Will you mention something about it if you write, and do not object? You know that I knew him and liked him much. We have not heard from Gifford for 3 weeks or more, did he write to you..., 6 sides 8vo.,Hampstead, 28th August no year but circa