From Emma Wedgwood   [30 December 1838]

My dear Charles

I am rather ashamed of writing to you so soon again but if I disguise my writing in the direction I am in hopes the post master at Newcastle will think it is somebody else. I want to persuade you dear Charley to leave town at once & get some rest. You have looked so unwell for some time that I am afraid you will be laid up if you fight against it any longer. Do set off to Shrewsbury & get some doctering & then come here & be idle. I can’t make up my mind to only a flying visit here & I shall be rather jealous if you stay longer at Shrewsbury than here & I am sure the D^r will think it highly contrary to the strictest etiquette so be a dear good boy. I am sure it must be very disagreeable & painful to you to feel so often cut off from the power of doing your work & I want you to cast out of your mind all anxiety about me on that point & to feel sure that nothing could make me so happy as to feel that I could be of any use or comfort to my own dear Charles when he is not well. If you knew how I long to be with you when you are not well! You must not think that I expect a holiday husband to be always making himself agreeable to me & if that is all the “worse” that I shall have it will not be much for me to bear Whatever it may for you. So don’t be ill any more my dear Charley till I can be with you to nurse you & save you from bothers.

The weather these two days has been surprizingly warm & pleasant. I don’t think I can send our own servants linen very soon as it is gone to be bleached but I will borrow enough for Margaret & send it this week. I don’t know how we shall settle between the two cooks. I am going solemnly to consider wedding cake today. Don’t you wish you could be married like a royal Prince without being at your own wedding? You may be allowed to carry a few pinches of snuff in your pocket for that morning only. I have no important news to tell you since yesterday morning & I will not write again these three or four days thats poz.

So Goodbye my dear Charley yours Em W.

Papa would be much obliged to you to buy him a respirator & if there is any improvement to get it of the newest fashion & desire it to be sent to Whitmore station by railroad