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 before he
did overtake us we were very near Kingston. I fancy it was about half-
past six when we reached this house--a twelve hours' business, and the
horses did not appear more than reasonably tired. I was very tired
too, and glad to get to bed early, but am quite well to-day. I am
very snug in the front drawing-room all to myself, and would not say
"thank you" for any company but you. The quietness of it does me
good. I have contrived to pay my two visits, though the weather made
me a great while about it, and left me only a few minutes to sit with
Charlotte Craven. {110} She looks very well, and her hair is done up
with an elegance to do credit to any education. Her manners are as
unaffected and pleasing as ever. She had heard from her mother to-
day. Mrs. Craven spends another fortnight at Chilton. I saw nobody
but Charlotte, which pleased me best. I was shewn upstairs into a
drawing-room, where she came to me, and the appearance of the room, so
totally unschool-like, amused me very much; it was full of modern
elegancies.

'Yours very affectly.,
'J. A.'