.

'MY DEAR CASSANDRA,

'Before I say anything else, I claim a paper full of halfpence on the
drawing-room mantel-piece; I put them there myself, and forgot to
bring them with me. I cannot say that I have yet been in any distress
for money, but I chuse to have my due, as well as the Devil. How
lucky we were in our weather yesterday! This wet morning makes one
more sensible of it. We had no rain of any consequence. The head of
the curricle was put half up three or four times, but our share of the
showers was very trifling, though they seemed to be heavy all round
us, when we were on the Hog's-back, and I fancied it might then be
raining so hard at Chawton as to make you feel for us much more than
we deserved. Three hours and a quarter took us to Guildford, where we
staid barely two hours, and had only just time enough for all we had
to do there; that is, eating a long and comfortable breakfast,
watching the carriages, paying Mr. Harrington, and taking a little
stroll afterwards. From some views which that stroll gave us, I think
most highly of the situation of Guildford. We wanted all our brothers
and sisters to be standing with us in the bowling-green, and looking
towards Horsham. I was very lucky in my gloves--got them at the first
shop I went to, though I went into it rather because it was near than
because it looked at all like a glove shop, and gave only four
shillings for them; after which everybody at Chawton will be hoping
and predicting that they cannot be good for anything, and their worth
certainly remains to be proved; but I think they look very well. We
left Guildford at twenty minutes before twelve (I hope somebody cares
for these minutiae), and were at Esher in about two hours more. I was
very much pleased with the country in general. Between Guildford and
Ripley I thought it particularly pretty, also about Painshill; and
from a Mr. Spicer's grounds at Esher, which we walked into before
dinner, the views were beautiful. I cannot say what we did not see,
but I should think there could not be a wood, or a meadow, or palace,
or remarkable spot in England that was not spread out before us on one
side or other. Claremont is going to be sold: a Mr. Ellis has it now.
It is a house that seems never to have prospered. After dinner we
walked forward to be overtaken at the coachman's time, and befor