WCP5606

[1]

Hurstpierpoint

Monday ev[enin]^g

My dear Hanbury /

I trust you reached your home safely & pleasantly. The day has certainly been favourable.

I omitted to ask you to get me the Humboldt¹ of Bohn's² — if you can ascertain that the text has not been tampered with, without putting yourself to inconvenience. In that case the fragmentary volume might be sent along with the complete ones, by Rail, & I would thank you to add to the parcel 2 oz. of Magnesia lozenges, & a little of the Pine-balsam toffy for colds (of which you once brought me some sticks to Kew).

I wanted to ask you also if you have room either in town or at Clapham to accommodate a box of books I left with Wallace. Now that he is a family man I fancy that he is pinched for room in his little house. Besides [2] it will be more satisfactory for all my miscellanea to be in one person's hands. Say, (if agreeable) whether I shall have the box sent to Clapham or to Plou[gh] Court.

I have been prostrated all day — the mere attempt at any head-work has been enough to bring on atrocious "capital" pains. Excuse my "expectoration" & believe me ever

Yours most sincerely | Rich^d Spruce [signature]

I believe the distich inscribed on the shrine by some wicked wit ran thus:

De par le Roi — Défense à Dieu [French: By the King — Defense to God]

De faire miracle en ce lieu! [French: To make miracle in this place!]³