Margery Ann Reid and Faraday to Caroline Deacon   9 August 1846

Back Villa | Aug 9th 46

My dearest Caroline,

I am afraid you will have been a little disappointed not to have a note before, however I know you do not look for much from me just now[.] I am glad to hear your Eliza¹ is going to stay and hope she will make up her mind to be happy & settled;- Frederick² too what a comfort that the little breeze at first was to clear the sky instead of being a prelude to a storm as we were disposed to fear.- Have any of our immediate friends suffered much from the storm of Saturday³ it will be surprising if they have escaped but if anything very serious had occurred we should most likely have heard. This is really a lovely place very tempting for longer rambles than I can take, what a sweet walk through the charming little wood near Reynold's down! and the wild flowers! I am much struck with the difference between Tunbridge Wells & Finchley as to flowers, do you remember how very few we found there & it was just this season of the year? I thought Sidney cottage very like the cottage at Finchley did the likeness strike you? This house is better suited to our family & there is a large garden at the back chiefly lawn, and my grandfather⁴ enjoys the outlet. He is very lively and his knee better he walks about surprisingly & every now & then says he is none the better for coming here that is when he is tired with going up hill & down dale. Grandmama⁵ is charmingly well & desires her love to you & your husband⁶, my G.F. says "& would you like to give a little of mine too but" he says "you may give it or let it alone just as you like but she is very dear to me"- I am glad you are feeling better for that I gather from dear Thos's note as well as from what you are doing. I will just repeat the old warning do not do too much. I know nothing about Mary⁷ & long to hear about her. Farewell my dear Sister

Ever Yours most affectionately | M.A. Reid

Thanks for the note, is Ellen [Barnard] better?

My sincere love to my dear young friends. May you long enjoy that happiness & that trust that causeth us to be content with all things here however they may seem to contradict our desires. Your Grandfather is singing close by me & I have no idea whether I have written the words that I hear or that I think of, but still my love to you both.

M. Faraday