k a man of business here in the room
about Grimsby: he says, 'Well, all these railways are troublesome; but
the Grimsby one is one of the best: railway property must look up a
little: and so will Grimsby.'

_To W. B. Donne_.

BOULGE: Friday [4 _Oct_. 1850].

MY DEAR DONNE,

I have been some while intending to send you a few lines, to report my
continued existence, to thank you for the Papers, which I and my dear old
Crabbe read and mark, and to tell you I was much pleased with Laurence's
sketch of you, which he exhibited to me in a transitory way some weeks
ago. Has he been to Bury again? To Sir H. Bunbury's?

I am packing up my mind by degrees to move away from here on a round of
visits: and will give you a look at Bury if you like it. I am really
frightened that it is a whole year since I have seen you: and we but two
hours asunder! I know it is not want of will on my part: though you may
wonder what other want detains me; but you will believe me when I say it
is not want of will. You are too busy to come here: where indeed is
nothing to come for. I wished for Charles last Monday: for people came
to shoot the three brace of pheasants inhabiting these woods: had I
remembered the first of October, I would have let him know. Otherwise, I
am afraid to invite the young, whom I cannot entertain.

H. Groome came over and dined with me on Wednesday: and Crabbe came to
meet him; but the latter had no hearty smoker to keep him in countenance,
and was not quite comfortable. H. Groome improves: his poetical and
etymological ambitions begin to pale away before years that bring the
philosophic mind, and before a rising family.

I liked your Articles on Pepys much. How go on the Norfolk worthies? I
see by your review that you are now ripe to write them at your ease:
which means (in a work of that kind) successfully.

_To F. Tennyson_.

[BOULGE], _Decr_. 31/50.

MY DEAR OLD FREDERIC,

If you knew how glad I am to hear from you, you would write to me
oftener. You see I make a quick return whenever I get an epistle from
you. I should indeed have begun to indite before, but I had not a scrap
of serviceable paper in the house: and I am only this minute returned
from a wet walk to Woodbridge bringing home the sheet on which I am now
writing, along with the rest of a half-quire, which may be filled to you,
if we both live. I now count the number of sheets: there are nine. I do
not think we average more than thre