BIRMINGHAM, September 7, 1830.

You see, my dearest H----, how my conversations are liable to be
cut short in the midst; just at the point where I broke off, Lord
and Lady W---- came to fetch us to Heaton, and until this moment,
when I am quietly seated in Birmingham, I have not been able to
resume the thread of my discourse. I once was told of a man who had
been weather-bound at some port, whence he was starting for the
West Indies; he was standing on the wharf, telling a long story to
a friend, when a fair wind sprang up and he had to hurry on board.
Two years after, returning thence, the first person he met on
landing was his friend, whom he accosted with, "Oh, well, and so,
as I was telling you," etc. But I cannot do that, for my mind has
dwelt on new objects of interest since I began this letter, and my
visit to Heaton has swept sand and iron and engines all back into
the great warehouse at Manchester for a time, whence I may draw
them at some future day for your edification.

Lady W---- possesses, to a great degree, beauty, that "tangible
good" which you admire so much; she has a bright, serene
countenance, and very sweet and noble eyes and forehead. Her manner
is peculiarly winning and simple, and to me it was cordially kind,
and even affectionate.

During the two days which were all we could spare for Heaton, I
walked and rode and sang and talked, and was so well amused and
pleased that I hope, after our week's work is over here, we may
return there for a short-time. I must tell you of a curious little
bit of _ancientry_ which I saw at Heaton, which greatly delighted
me--a "rush-bearing." At a certain period of the year, generally
the beginning of autumn, it was formerly the wont in some parts of
Lancashire to go round with sundry rustic mummeries to all the
churches and strew them with rushes. The religious intention of the
custom has passed away, but a pretty rural procession, which I
witnessed, still keeps up the memory of it hereabouts. I was
sitting at my window, looking out over the lawn, which slopes
charmingly on every side down to the house, when the still summer
air was suddenly filled with the sound of distant shouts and music,
and presently the quaint pageant drew in sight. First came an
immense wagon