State Library of NSW
[Page 13]
progress in drawing lately partly because my accomplished friend Miss [Sutton] has taken it into her head to get married and remove to Sydney but this would not have interrupted my studies altogether and I would have now returned to benefit by her occasional instructions had not my health which has been rather delicate of late obliged me to relinquish the pencils for a time - I am quite well again now and as soon as the weather becomes a little cooler I intend to make good use of your beautiful pencils. I have tried the very dark ones on several [indecipherable] [lines/times?] in spite of the [Doctors?] **[protestations?] and I find them to be far superior to any I have before this? I have [indecipherable] up a parcel of chit chat notes for you which have escaped the flames? (James having frequently written that you cared [much?] for such gossip in England and [accompanying?] them you will find local notes from the Misses Mackay during my last stay at Sydney. You have frequently heard me say
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& their flowers are too delicate to bring from a distance. We [indecipherable] [nearer?] have here of their
[Line 3] [Lady?] [indecipherable] [Giiles?] [Boys?] in the [indecipherable] of help much
[Line 4] and Elizabeth is also preparing a collection of Cake tables which will I dare say be acceptable [to some?] [of your?] fair friends. We have not yet seen any of the Governors family - Mrs Bourkes health being at present too delicate to receive visitors. James & William have both seen the Governor and will [dutifully / doubtfully?] give a description of their reception and of the opinion they have formed of his Excellency. When you see the Archdeacon may [you?] higher to him I will write a
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