enry. He appears to far more
advantage here than he did at Godmersham, not
surrounded by strangers and neither oppressed by a
pain in his face or powder in his hair.

* * * * *

Yesterday came a letter to my mother from Edward
Cooper to announce, not the birth of a child, but
of a living; for Mrs. Leigh[95] has begged his
acceptance of the Rectory of Hamstall-Ridware in
Staffordshire, vacant by Mr. Johnson's death. We
collect from his letter that he means to reside
there, in which he shows his wisdom. Staffordshire
is a good way off; so we shall see nothing more
of them till, some fifteen years hence, the Miss
Coopers are presented to us, fine, jolly,
handsome, ignorant girls. The living is valued at
L140 a year, but perhaps it may be improvable. How
will they be able to convey the furniture of the
dressing-room so far in safety?

* * * * *

Our first cousins seem all dropping off very fast.
One is incorporated into the family,[96] another
dies,[97] and a third goes into Staffordshire. . . .

* * * * *

[_Tuesday._]--Our own particular brother got a
place in the coach last night, and is now, I
suppose, in town. I have no objection at all to
your buying our gowns there, as your imagination
has pictured to you exactly such a one as is
necessary to make me happy. You quite abash me by
your progress in notting, for I am still without
silk. You must get me some in town or in
Canterbury; it should be finer than yours.

I thought Edward would not approve of Charles
being a crop,[98] and rather wished you to conceal
it from him at present, lest it might fall on his
spirits and retard his recovery.

* * * * *

_Wednesday._--I have just heard from Charles, who
is by this time at Deal. He is to be Second
Lieutenant, which pleases him very well. The
_Endymion_ is come into the Downs, which pleases
him likewise. He expects to be ordered to
Sheerness shortly, as the _Tamar_ has never been
refitted.