with any little additional ornament I wished to make choice of. My chaperon was a young & interesting looking clergymen whom I met at tea a few evenings before, was introduced to several others there so that I was under very good protection and enjoyed the evening, the scenes and above all the society I was with to my utmost wish. Now dearest brother instead of all this you will be more anxious to hear of my progress which I am quite at a loss to describe for how to flatter myself would be perfectly ludicrous and to say I had made no improvement would be equally absurd. So that I think it will be more satisfactory to refer that subject to a more competent judge who will probably write you at the end of the secession and give all particulars of my progress at present. Miss Lean is very much engaged her sister Mrs Richson being laid aside for sometime back by a fearful illness brought on by overstudy. One of the greatest difficulties I have to contend with is my musique. It devours so much of my time to endeavour to get my hand into an easy and graceful touch. Having begun so late my fingers are very stiff and require such a deal of practise. The drawing I