Hans Place, Saturday Dec: 2. My dear Cassandra

Henry came back yesterday, & might have returned the day before if he had known as much in time. I had the pleasure of hearing from Mr. T. on wednesday night that Mr. Seymour thought there was not the least occasion for his absenting himself any longer.-I had also the comfort of a few lines on wednesday morning from Henry himself-(just after your Letter was gone) giving so good an account of his feelings as made me perfectly easy. He met with the utmost care & attention at Hanwell, spent his two days there very quietly & pleasantly, & being certainly in no respect the worse for going, we may beleive that he must be better, as he is quite sure of being himself.-To make his return a complete Gala, Mr. Haden was secured for dinner-I need not say that our Eveng* was agreable.-But you seem to be under a mistake as to Mr. H.-you call him an Apothecary; he is no Apothecary, he has never been an Apothecary, there is not an Apothecary in this Neighbourhood-the only inconvenience of the situation perhaps, but so it is-we have not a medical Man within reach-he is a Haden, nothing but a Haden, a sort of wonderful nondescript Creature on two legs, something between a Man & an Angel-but without the least spice of an Apothecary.-He is perhaps the only Person not an Apothecary hereabouts.-He has never sung to us. He will not sing without a P. forte accompaniment. Mr. Meyers gives his three Lessons a week-altering his days & his hours however just as he chuses, never very punctual, & never giving good Measure.-I have not Fanny's fondness for Masters, & Mr. Meyers does not give me any Longing after them. The truth is I think, that they are all, at least Music Masters, made of too much consequence & allowed to take too many Liberties with their Scholar's time. We shall be delighted to see Edward on Monday-only sorry that you must be losing him. A turkey will be equally welcome with himself.-He must prepare for his own proper bedchamber here, as Henry moved down to the one below last week; he found the other cold.-I am sorry my Mother has been suffering, & am afraid this exquisite weather is too good to agree with her.-I enjoy it all over me, from top to toe, from right to left, Longitudinally, Perpendicularly, Diagonally;-& I cannot but selfishly hope we are to have it last till Christmas;-nice, unwholesome, Unseasonable, relaxing, close, muggy weather!-Oh! thank you very much for your long Letter; it did me a great deal of good.-Henry accepts your offer of making his nine gallon of Mead, thankfully. The mistake of the Dogs rather vexed him for a moment, but he has not thought of it since.-Today, he makes a third attempt at his strengthening Plaister, & as I am sure he will now be getting out a great deal, it is to be wished that he may be able to keep it on.-He sets off this morning by the Chelsea Coach to sign Bonds and visit Henrietta St*, & I have no doubt will be going every day to Henrietta St*.-Fanny & I were very snug by ourselves, as soon as we were satisfied about our Invalid's being safe at Hanwell.-By Manoeuvring & good luck we foiled all the Malings attempts upon us. Happily I caught a little cold on wednesday, the morng* we were in Town, which we made very useful; & we saw nobody but our Precious, & Mr. Tilson.-This Evening the Malings are allowed to drink tea with us.-We are in hopes, that is, we wish Miss Palmer & the little girls may come this morning. You know of course, that she could not come on Thursday;-& she will not attempt to name any other day.-I do not think I shall send down any more Dirty Linen; it will not answer when the Carge** is to be paid each way.-I have got Anna's arrow-root, & your gloves.

God bless you.-Excuse the shortness of this-but I must finish it now, that I may save you 2d*-Best love.-

Yrs** affecly** J. A.

It strikes me that I have no business to give the P.R. a Binding, but we will take Counsel upon the question.-

I am glad you have put the flounce on your Chintz, I am sure it must look particularly well, & it is what I had thought of.