From Richard Dawes 29 December 1853

My dear Henslow

I was very glad indeed to get a letter from you but sorry to hear of your being in any way ill, but I hope a little relaxation will put you all right again: I congratulate you on being a Grandfather which I learn from your letter & hope that you & yours are all well:

There is no one to whom I would so soon send one of my protegeés among school mistresses so soon as your-self but I really do not know one who is at liberty – There is one very promising young woman of about 22, whom I brought down into this county about two years ago & she was doing well - Four months ago she was obliged to give up her instruction on account of her health but is now doing better she is at Somborne but I don’t know whether well enough to take a School:

I think were I you, I should apply to the Home & Colonial Schools or to Whitelands & see what kind of mistress they would recommend & on what terms & have one holding a Gov. ^t certificate of merit:

You could get one for £35 a year & I am persuaded this would be your most economical plan in the end: your own & your daughters assistance to an improving school mistress would be invaluable & you would very soon create a feeling in favor of the School, much stronger than you imagine:

Your anecdote of the little girl girl & the wild-flower is a very interesting one – I must take your letter to my friend M ^rs Henry where I am going on Tuesday (D ^r Daubeny will be there) to relate the anecdote to her – she has a good girls school & has in imitation of you commenced the wild-flower system – I send her your list of plants of the Parish: Rather than fill up your School with a Mistress not likely to improve it I would get someone temporarily until Easter or such time as you found one to suit: Should any one fall in my way, I shall be sure to bear you in mind:

I hope you found Darwin in improving health – I met him in June last at M ^r Ashman Northems & he was then progressing towards good health:

I fear I am not likely to be in your county for a long time, but should I be near you, it would give me great pleasure to pay Hitcham a visit – Is any thing likely to bring you or yours into this part of the world – recollect we are rather a tourizing county – the banks of the Wye &c

I wish you would come & stir us up & remind one of days gone by: we are now being brought within the sphere of rail roads where we have never been before. Playfair is working hard about Diagrams & I think formed the same opinions of Griffins that you & D ^r Hooker have done: you need not be afraid of having offended Mosely & I have no doubt you did him good – Playfair I have no doubt will be much obliged by any hints you can give him & also thankful for them:

I know of no one who deserves a holiday more than yourself – & as the days get longer & Spring advances take a run down here where we shall be most glad to see you:

Wishing you & yours many happy returns of the season in which M ^rs Dawes joins me

believe me | my dear Henslow |very sincerely yours |R. Dawes

Have you seen the Minute 6 [illeg.] of Council which gives 5 or 6 ^s for each child per annum educated in the School, under certain conditions - at present it does not apply to a mixed school under a Mistress only but there is an attempt to get it extended