I intended to have seen you today but of a sudden our contracts1 are made & for a day or two I cannot leave the house - but it shall not be long first.
These contracts were for the construction of the columned façade of the Royal Institution by Lewis Vulliamy (1791-1871, DNB, architect). For the contracts see RI MM, 31 July 1837, 8: 523-4. For a short account of the building work see Lit.Gaz., 2 September 1837, pp. 565-6. The completed façade is illustrated in plate 11.
Robert Cocking (d.1837, age 61, GRO). Noted as Secretary of the City Philosophical Society in Imperial Calendar from 1817 to 1824. He had died on 24 July 1837 because of an unsuccessful parachute jump. See letter 1019.