From James Scott Bowerbank   15 September 1856

My Dear Sir

I regret to say that I cannot join your pleasant party tomorrow. The enemy has too secure a hold of me. I am a little better but I am not yet “an upright man”, and my medical adviser says if I will go I may reckon on a return of the Malady in full force & so I am obliged to succumb. What makes it more annoying to me is that the position of writing is one of my most painful ones & so I know you will excuse my being brief in my communication

Most truly yours | J. S. Bowerbank