| Description | He returns Uncle Charles's 'sad letter', and comments on his uncle's straitened circumstances. He asks to share in any help to be given, writing that he can send £25 home if it was needed at once. He also returns 'Uncle D's letter', noting that he cannot write to him 'for sheer weakness about Willy - He plunged into excesses of the worst kind the moment he landed'. William comments on letters he has received from Amelia [Wade] and from Mary [Cornwallis Herschel]. He approves of his mother's plan of repairing cottages, since he has wanted to see them pulled down, and he will be happy to help. He gives his thoughts on labourers' cottages. William expresses doubts as to whether he will be able to live at Collingwood, describing his savings and their interest, and the income necessary to close their lives in that house. He wonders at the prudence of rebuilding the cottages with that in mind, but is unsure of which ones are being proposed for action. He hopes to hear more in the next mail and has enough funds at Drummond's to allow his mother to commence in the autumn, if necessary. |