Castle Square, Tuesday (January 10, 1809).

I am not surprised, my dear Cassandra, that you did not find my last letter very full of matter, and I wish this may not have the same deficiency; but we are doing nothing ourselves to write about, and I am therefore quite dependent upon the communications of our friends, or my own wits.

This post brought me two interesting letters, yours and one from Bookham, in answer to an inquiry¹ of mine about your good godmother, of whom we had lately received a very alarming account from Paragon². Miss Arnold was the informant then, and she spoke³ of Mrs. E. L. having been very dangerously ill, and attended by a physician from Oxford⁴.

Your letter to Adlestrop may perhaps bring you information from the spot, but in case it should not, I must tell you that she is better; though Dr. Bourne cannot yet call her out of danger; such was the case last Wednesday, and Mrs. Cooke's having[134] had no later account is a favorable sign. I am to hear again from the latter next week, but not this, if everything goes on well.

Her disorder⁶ is an inflammation on the lungs, arising from a severe chill taken in church last Sunday three weeks; her mind all pious⁷ composure, as may be supposed. George Cooke was there when her illness began; his brother has now taken his place. Her age and feebleness considered, one's fears cannot but preponderate⁸, though her amendment⁹ has already surpassed the expectation of the physician at the beginning. I am sorry to add that Becky is laid up with a complaint of the same kind.

I am very glad to have the time of your return at all fixed¹⁰; we all rejoice in it, and it will not be later than I had expected. I dare not hope that Mary and Miss Curling may be detained at Portsmouth so long or half so long; but it would be worth twopence to have it so.

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