Letters to his mother

Usual topics; including Cousin William's finances and illness (1826); Mr Harrison's letters feared to have strayed (1826); Mr Atherley's news - he now has six pupils in his office, 28 May 1826; WH has now sailed for England, but will probably die on journey, do.; thoughts on HJ, now vacant, 30 Aug. 1826; Williams Hasell has a good wife in Miss King, and Cousin Andrew good quarters in Mrs Shammon's old house rather than in lodgings, do.; where will Miss Knott go, on quitting her Ambleside house?, do.; glad news from St Helena - WH has recovered well, in the cooler air at the Cape of Good Hope, do.; John Hughes due at Madras, do.; the Burmese War has ended at last, do.; comments on the Northern elections, 10 Nov. 1826; what news of HJ?, do.; the [Skirwith] case would be better at arbitration, do.; John Hughes' arrival - friend Thomas welcomed his namesake by mistake, do.; Josiah Hudleston's marriage, and now firstborn, a son, do.; death of Mr Babington's sister, who saw to his children's schooling at Dumfries, do.; glad that "my friend Sewell" has visited you, do.; thoughts on HJ - very glad you've been there, do.; William Fleming's Illness, do.; "I am glad to learn from Fletcher [Fleming] that the Wordsworths are to continue at Rydal Mount .. I wrote to Lady F that I thought it would not look well in her to compel the Poet to quit his favourite residence" - the annual lease "is much the same as allowing him to continue to the end of the Chapter," do.; it is good that HJ is let at last, though I would not have chosen Mr Bateman as tenant, 28 June 1827; "Standard trees are much wanted in the Wood Park and the heights above to remedy the nakedness which will be each year more apparent on the decay of the Silver Firs", do.; I was surprised to hear that Lady Vane has left Sir Frederick, to live at HJ - hope "the squall has long since blown over", do.; "I hope Mr Askew and the Parish are getting on better than formerly", and no lawsuits now between them - will Henry enter the Church and succeed his father? Better to avoid Greystoke, "a Set of turbulent People, who are likely to Keep their Parson in continued hot Water", do.; no news from Andrew - it is grievous that "he is still tied down to that vile Place Whitehaven, and what is worse, I see no prospect of his succeeding his Father at Handsworth", do.; Mr Atherley's pamphlets on the Corn Laws - he should cease meddling with politics, do.; like my friend Sewell, Mr Harden's son (invalided home from the Burmese War) may recover rapidly, do.; thoughts on the late Mr Canning [the politician], 5 Jan. 1828; WH recovered now, "but should he return to India yet?, do.; Mr Babington a widower - his second wife died in childbirth, and I have urged him to return to England awhile, do.; I have no thoughts of return yet, as I may be promoted, do.; I need no incentives to return to "Old England", 28 July 1828; Sewell due at Madras, do.; thoughts on Mr A Harrison's death - enquire whether Mr Atkinson might succeed him as our agent, do.; thoughts on HJ - "I chalked out several spots for Planting, and hope something will be done in that way each season", do.; time glides by here, in "the sameness of Indian life", do.; effects of the climate on Europeans - if it harms me, "I shall 'cut and run'", do.; Babington, no saver of money, talks of going home for good, do.; the new Mr Lushington, a "poor" successor to Sir Thomas Munro, do.; budget of letters received from lie. Sewell its bearer, 28 Sept, 1828; Babington prepares to sail, after 23 years here, having arrived aged 16 or 17 - his eldest son, 18, has heart trouble, do.; comments on reforms needed for the Poor Laws, do.; enjoyed the Skirwith Boundary Riding verses, do.; Miss Knott's surprising recovery, do.; "Uncle Tom" now settled in the Isle of Man - hope he will now reform his "wild ways", do.; increase of the Madras Army, but reduction of the E.I. Company's interest-rate for savings - "Retrenchment too is now the order of the day, here as well as in England!", do.; WH due back, do.; death of Miss Knott, 5 Dec. 1828; William Fleming to marry a Welsh lady, do.; are you as cheerful as when he and I went shooting woodcocks by moonlight at HJ?, do.; more thoughts on Babington, sails next month, do.; you need transport - perhaps not a "close carriage" (beyond our reach), but at least a gig, do.; "the other Mr A" Mr H[arrison]'s successor [i.e. Mr Atkinson] I will ask to supply you with funds for it, do.