[Postmark: September 18, 1846]
11½ Friday.
My own best Ba. How thankful I am you have seen
my blunder—I took the other company’s days for the South
Western’s changed. What I shall write now is with the
tables before me (of the Railway) and a transcript from to-day’s
advertisement in the Times.
The packet will leave to-morrow evening, from the
Royal Pier, Southampton at nine. We leave Nine Elms,
Vauxhall, at five—to arrive at eight. Doors close five
minutes before. I will be at Hodgson’s from half-past three
to four precisely when I shall hope you can be ready. I shall
go to Vauxhall, apprise them that luggage is coming (yours)
and send mine there—so that we both shall be unencumbered
and we can take a cab or coach from H’s.
Never mind your scanty preparations . . we can get
everything at Leghorn,—and the new boats carry parcels to
Leghorn on the i5th of every month, remember—so can
bring what you may wish to send for.
I enclose a letter to go with yours. The cards as you
choose—they are here—we can write about them from
Paris or elsewhere. The advertisement, as you advise.
All shall be cared for.
God bless and strengthen you, my ever dearest dearest
—I will not trust myself to speak of my feelings for you—
worship well belongs to such fortitude. One struggle more
—if all the kindness on your part brought a strangely in-
sufficient return, is it not possible that this step may
produce all you can hope ? Write to me one word more.
Depend on me. I go to Town about business.
Your own, own R.