FL6600082

Swindridge 22d Octr
23d

1864

My dear Elizabeth

Long ere this reaches you I trust
we may be established safe and sound
in our own home, tho' we have had a
right merry visit here – indeed when
I tell you that within the a fortnight
your poor dear ill used uncle was
at 5 balls – one of them and luckily
the last began at 8 P M with Private
Theatricals Tableaus & ended with a Ball the
guests finally left at 5 30 next morg.
You must almost feel inclined to
retake a passage in the Duncan Dunbar
and come back to protect him – but
calm your fears. – we generally glide
away from those gay scenes about
one oclock and he may say as he
likes – but I feel perfectly certain he
was sorry to go – wishing does no good
but so often we longed to have you with
us – for at all the balls there were
plenty of partners to ensure you
dancing, and so many really

just time to open this letter & tell you we have heard from
James Bowman – at least he sends a list of the accts
not one word from him self – so except to see that some
have paid – and many have not – we have not the most
remote idea how he is getting on or what doing –
[original text crossed out- and no] The list shows £900 received – 179 expended
& not a word of what has become of the Balance – I
fear poor fellow the work is mentally much beyond him