My Dear friend

you must know that after my Georgraphy, she² said I should go down to ask for Richards³ poney, just as I was going, she said she must ask me not a very decent question, that was whether I wash all over every morning   no   then she said it was quite disgustin   then she asked me if I did every other morning, and I said no   then she said how often I did, and I said once a week, then she said of cour you wash your feet every day, and I said no, then she begun saying how very disgusting and went on that way a good while, then she said I ought to do it, I said I would wash my neck and shoulders, then she said you had better do it all over   then I said upon my word I would not, then she told me, and made me promise I would not tell, then I said, why I only wash my fett once a month at school, which I confess is nasty, but I cannot help it, for we have nothing to do it with,⁴ so then Caroline pretended to be quite sick, and left the room, so then I went and told erasmus,⁵ and he bust out in laughing and said I had better tell he to come and wash them her self, besides that she said she did not like sitting by me or Erasmus for we smelt of not washing all over, there we sat arguing away for a good while.

I remain your affectionately

Justice [burst] w[ith] a nose as big as your fist

January the 2, 1822

The second letter today⁶