Hayley-XXI-9

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London
Tuesday
May 15

I thank you cordially for your assurance, that you will not drive me to France — Indeed the more I reflect on all I have said to you so fully in my last, the more I am persuaded you will have the goodness to consult my peace & Comfort completely by a gracious Sacrifice of your projected Travels to Sussex this Summer

You certainly will, if my Tranquillity [sic] is as sincerely an object of your friendly Care & Concern, as I am inclined to believe it is ——

I am this very Morning going out of London but I shall return hither perhaps in a week, perhaps in a Fortnight – direct to me at Mr Longs Chancery Lane, as He will forward your Letter, should I not be here to meet

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it – nothing would give me so much satisfaction as to hear, that you had found a pleasing Party of Friends to make sea bathing more agreable [sic] to you much nearer than Felpham or the southern Coast.– I forget the place where Mrs Beridge went for that purpose, but I should be truly glad to hear, that She was going to visit it again, with more courage, as Mrs Twigge, & induced you to prefer the same spot for bathing —

you talk of coming to London, but what my dear Eliza can tempt you to an expedition into this very disagreable [sic] place at this Season, when all its \best/ diversions are over for the Winter —– & there seems nothing \here/ but Heat & disorders – All my Friends almost have been Invalids – poor Stevenson is even now confined to his bed by a severe Fever & attended by Warren — but we trust He is in a way to recover tho his malady must yet be lingering ——

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if Derby is oppressive to you from Heat – will not London be much more so? & would it not be better for you to seek the sweet Romantic Shades of Matlock for Coolness & Quiet, instead of embarking in a long & expensive expedition, that cannot, I think, produce to you any thing but Fatigue & Vexation —

God bless you — your unexpected project of rambling so far from the North has filled me with very painful Anxiety about you — Give me soon the Comfort of hearing that you are tranquill [sic] & contented among the many valuable Friends you have in the North

A few days in this very distracting Place has made my Head so giddy, that I am most impatient to get out of it—– & believe me so would you be, were you in it —

Farewell & believe me
Ever

yr affectionate
H

Zelma is laid aside till next Winter so I have not been even tempted to see it

The dear Boy is well & shall write to you as soon as I hear you have relinquished your Southern Excursion

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To
M^rs Hayley
Derby