My dear Charles.

If you have ever thought of me I fear it has only been to upbraid me with forgetfulness of the promise I made to write to you. I assure you my own conscience has reproached me very very often, but I know I need not say that forgetfulness of you did not cause my silence, indeed, my dear Charles, no day has elapsed without your occupying some of my thoughts, & it was with very great pleasure I heard such good accounts had been received of you, Papa was much pleased with your letter, which he had about a fortnight ago, & I dare say has answered by this time. Susan tells me to direct to Monte Video, but I am afraid it may be very uncertain when this reaches your hands, whenever it does, I hope you will write & tell me so, without waiting till you are at Terra del Fuego from whence you know you promised me a letter— I often think what a wonderful number of changes have taken place amongst your Friends, since you saw them.— Fanny’s marriage must have surprised you not a little, then the “incomparable Charlottes”, & her Brother, M^r F. Wedgwood, I think your Cousin Hensleigh was twined off before you sailed & you must have been detained long enough at Portsmouth to hear that my execution had actually taken place, since which awful time, I have, I assure you, been as happy as a Queen, & have really nothing left to wish for being sadly spoilt & indulged by Edward, who is an Angel all but the Wings, (as Harry Wedgwood said of the “incomparable Charlotte’s husband)— I do think there never was such a temper, you may imagine its excellence, when I tell you that even one of the Warlike race of Owen has never yet contrived to make a fight, or even a dispute, whether it is that the Owen blood is fast degenerating, I know not, but such is the fact.— I must try & give you some account of my life & adventures since we parted— When I married instead of going a shivering tour in the month of November, in search of the Picturesque, I declared I would instantly proceed on a romantic tour to London—where we arrived the day afterwards, that same evening I went to see Miss Fanny Kemble¹ (Heavens & Earth, I hear you exclaim,) & continued my Theatrical Tour for a week or more; till I had visited every play house then open— We soon afterwards returned to Eaton, where we remained till the end of January, & excellent fun we had, hunting almost every day with the Beagles—I mounted on a steady seasoned old Hunter, with as much sense as any Christian, he carried me most delightfully over most things, & never gave me a fall, he has since become my own property, he has been at grass all summer, & I hope to find him in hunting condition when the season begins— but to return to my story, we left Eaton the end of January & went to stay at my Brother Richard’s,² in Pall Mall, whilst we were furnishing this house, which we took possession of the end of February, & I have never left it since, except for a few day’s visit to the Bruces who have taken a place near Windsor— In March I had a very severe illness, which laid me up for some time, as soon as I was able, I thought a ride would do me good, & accordingly mounted a 4 year old Grey Mare which Edward had bought for me from M^r. Gore ⁠⟨⁠&⁠⟩⁠ we went into the Park, (it was my sec⁠⟨⁠ond ti⁠⟩⁠me of riding her) & had just got opposite the Serpentine, when she started across the road at a Dog, turned short round, & down I came, her feet were unluckily entangled in my habit, & in trying to get away, she put her foot on my Ancle bone & the caulking of her shoe took a piece clear out, had it been half an inch lower, the Surgeons say I should have lost the joint— I jumped up directly, fancying I had only strained my ancle, & Edward put me into the house belonging to the Humane Society whilst he fetched the Carriage to take me home, that very evening Caroline & Arthur arrived, poor Arthur to prepare for his Voyage & the whole time he staid, I was never able to leave my bed the wound was so bad—it was 9 weeks before I was able to walk. I went about with a Crutch, & was lifted in & out of the Carriage— Edward would not consent to my riding this unlucky grey Mare any more, & I was obliged to sell her, but have supplied her place by a very nice Bay, which exactly suits me— Poor Arthur sailed the middle of May, he took with him a most tremendous looking Bull Dog, rather an odd Dog to choose, I thought but he was told it would be more useful to him than any other— We heard from him at Madeira, & he seemed to enjoy his voyage much poor boy, I hope he will be steady, when he arrives in India, & then there can be little doubt of his doing well— Caroline went down for Fanny’s Wedding, & then returned here with Mama, they staid 5 weeks with us, came up & returned per Wonder, which they say is the most delightful of earthly conveyances— I feel quite odd at being left by myself so many hours in the day, for Edward goes to Shop about 11 & seldom returns before 5 or half past, it is very provoking we are detained in London so late this year, owing to M^r. Powell’s absence, but I hope to see Eaton about the second week in Sep^tr. & then we shall remain there till after Xmas— I never was so long in London before, but I am such a thorough Cockney that I like it better than any other place, on the long run, & am glad it is my fate to spend so much time in it— Fanny has been in Town for 3 weeks, but is now returned to Chirk Castle, which I fear she will not find very pleasant for some time to come, as M^rs & Miss Biddulph are there for a few Months, & she is sadly in awe of them both. Who would have thought she would have married so soon after that unfortunate Citadel Affair!!—³ Caroline is now in possession of the title of Miss Owen, I assure you she is much come forward since she attained that dignity— Emma I suppose will make her public appearance this Winter, I hear she is much improved lately, but it is more than 6 months since I have seen her— That “rising Star of Ton” Matty Cotton is also very flourishing— Of course all the other Shropshire Marriages have been announced to you—Miss Boughey & M^r. E. Fielding, Miss Parker,—& Sir Baldwin—M^r Mainwaring’s intended marriage to Miss Salisbury, and M^r Henry Lloyd’s to a Bristol heiress, as soon as he gets a Living— If you do not make haste home, you will find nothing but dead dogs in Shropshire— Clare Leighton is still Clare Leighton, & I hear no talk of her changing her name, I am sure you would be sorry to hear of poor M^rs Mathew’s sudden death. I do think nobody was ever so generally lamented, poor M^r. Mathew is not likely ever to recover it I fear— Erasmus dined with us not long ago, & I also met him at dinner at the Hollands—by the bye M^r. Holland is married & done for since you went— I cannot say I much admire his choice though I am not so violent as Erasmus, who declares i⁠⟨⁠f sh⁠⟩⁠e was to offer him 5£ to give her a kiss, he would not— Catherine is now on a visit to the Hollands, in Gloucestershire— I shall be most delighted, my dear Charles, to receive a letter from you, I have not forgotten the solemn promise you made me to come to N^o 1 Belgrave S^t as soon as you arrived in London—dine with us, & go to the Play— I wonder when that day will come!! I hope you continue to like your “Angel in the disguise of a Sea Captain” as much as ever, have you made a large collection of Curiosities— I often laugh when I think of your very last walk in the Forest, when you discovered & rooted up those horrible funguses, & bottled them for the Professors at Cambridge— I should prefer living curiosities such as Monkeys or Parrots, which I have a great fancy for— I have now got 3 Pets—a Bull finch, & 2 nondescript little foreign birds. I had the ⁠⟨⁠    ⁠⟩⁠ misfortune to lose poor Beppo, who was taken by some wretch in human form when he had been 3 weeks in Town— I like this house very much, it is so airy & quiet —you will laugh at this being a recommendation to me, but you have no idea what a sober steady Matron I am become & strange to say, I have almost entirely lost my taste for gaiety & going out— You will hardly believe it is Sarah Owen who writes in this strain, but so it is— And now I fear I must bring this long scribble to a conclusion. Heaven knows when or where it may reach you, but whenever it does, I hope it will convince you that you are not & never will be forgotten by one of your oldest Friends, who now remains very sincerely, & affec^tely Yours, | S. H. Hosier Williams | (how does it look)

A letter directed Belgrave S^t. will always find me— God bless you, my dear Charles, I will write again ⁠⟨⁠very⁠⟩⁠ soon—