| Description | Their honeymoon is drawing to a close, with rain falling, which would have exacerbated Sir John's cough had he been there. He describes the view across the Bay and rainbows, which he has tried to paint. He comments on Emma's wit. He has received a letter from his mother, enclosing a packet from Sir James South. William will write to South to thank him for good wishes on the marriage. He can guess the story of the letter being sent back from Dean's Yard and he sends South's letter for his father to read: 'Poor old man - I am very glad he has some feeling, though it is spasmodic'. He describes Emma's teasing, with a limerick. He asks if his father has seen willow leaves at [James] Nasmyth's, and what Nasmyth thinks of Dawes. They are reading Sir John's article on weights and measures in 'Good Words'. |