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[page 6]

at Birstead. I will therefore request you to engage my former apartments for me these said months of July & August upon the most moderate terms these good humour’d people can afford them. I had two parlours & three bedchambers. The small one I consider as Tom’s, & half my maids will I hope be occupied part of the time by Mary to whom I know sea bathing is (as with me) the sovereign specific but there are two whole months before I embark in this marine business - we shall therefore have sufficient opportunity to speak further upon these matters by letter. And after the improvements at Slindon which Lady N tells me she is anxious to shew me I shall probably be tempted to take a solitary walk in the garden of a certain Hermit at Eartham, as I do frequently in that of M.^r Darwin at Derby and possibly the Hermit if he is at leisure may not only take a turn