W. LANGTON

Pleasant breakfast & morning. T. Fairbairn left at 10. I wrote to 10 12 people. ―
Sir R. Bethell ― 1
Lady Bethell ― 2
Lord Derby ― 3
Lady Derby ― 4
Lord Stanley ― 5
J.B. Harford ― 6
J. Cross ― 7
E. Tennyson ― 8
Bickers & Bush ― 9
Mrs. W. Evans ― 10
Mr. Bell 11
Mrs. Bell ― 12

Dull gray day, but not cold. Walked in the garden. ― At 3½ left this beautiful house ― where I have had a most pleasant visit, & was down to W. Langtons. There were Mrs. L. ― & 2 daughters ― & 2 of Mr. Edmond’s daughters far more interesting to me. ― Bye & bye ― Arthur Heywood, & William Fairbairn ― a very nice fellow ― but sad ―: wife just dead.

Dinner pleasant ― & afterwards also.

Later I shewed Palestine sketches till 11.

The state of things between A.H. & the “deceased wife’s sister” ― is not concealed ― as why should it? being right: ― yet the consequences of this kind of excitement & delay are also plain.

A fire has made their room comfortable.

[Transcribed by Marco Graziosi from Houghton Library, Harvard University, MS Eng. 797.3.]