To Edwin Sidney

My dear Sidney

I must recal what I told you of my intention of not again making specific engagements in regard to lectures which may possibly interfere with duties and business in some unexpected manner and so much inconvenience me by over-work that my health may suffer. I offer the Town Council of Ipswich two Lectures but there all prospective engagements of this sort cease. Experience satisfies me I ought to keep to this rule. If you lecture at Ipswich and I can find the two spare days which a visit to Ipswich requires I shall be happy to meet you in the Lecture Room but I decline all positive engagements. Indeed I think it extremely unlikely that I shall have any such opportunity before going to Cambridge for my Lectures so late in the season. The new regulations place greater responsibilities on my shoulders than I had formerly, and I have to work hard to prepare a number of things I must get ready. I am off for Cambridge after service today, to examine tomorrow for the N. S. Tripos, and can't return till Saturday. I have to be in Town some unknown day in April, to convey my daughter back from Bath. These engagements will make great holes in my spare time. I have just received a request to attend the Farmers Club at Hadleigh one day, which I should want to do if I can contrive this. All this coupled with my weekly lecture in my own Parish (which abstracts from the leisure of more than one day weekly) inclines me to think I am not very likely to be able to absent myself from home for a day at Ipswich, which I should be obliged to do if I went to your lecture. I have just heard from Mr Knights and I shall ask him to read this and forward it, that he may see precisely how I am circumstanced and tell the Town Council that with every wish on my part to accommodate and assist, I must not make engagements which may interfere with necessary duties in a way that may re-act upon my health. I shall be very happy at seeing you with Mr Garrod any Monday that you may be inclined to drive over and if you will name your own hour shall be happy to give you dinner, except between 3 & 5 when I shall be fully occupied.

Kind regards to Mrs Sidney and

Believe me

Very Sincerely Yours

J. S. Henslow