My dear Miss Rickards,

When I thank you for the letter which I received from Ramsgate, [1] I am conscious that you have a right to chide me for not having yet answered it. For some time past indeed I have been on the point of writing, but thought it better to wait till I knew you were returned lest between both places, I should miss you. I am very glad you have ^had^ so pleasant a party at Ramsgate, & enjoyed yourselves in so much security. I daresay the resident inhabitants of the watering places take as much care to keep off alarms ^of invasion^ [2] as the inhabitants of Philadelphia or New York do to suppress or mitigate the notices of the yellow fever, when it is among them— M^r Barbauld & myself spent one week of quiet & domestic enjoyment, which was also brightened by fine weather, at Epsom [3] with the Carrs. I verily believe the air from those fine open downs is as bracing & healthy as any sea air between Scarborough & Dover—the country is not equal in beauty to the Paradise of
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[fol 1^v] Leatherhead or Norbury Park, [4] yet the extensive sheep walks & open corn fields, the beautiful turf of the race ground, & the neighbourhood of a park or two afforded excursions sufficiently pleasant. One day we dined in the open air upon Box hill [5]—The Ibettsons [6] have got a very pretty house at Dorking.— We are all here pretty well, except my niece who however is not worse. Hannah Kinder [7] is returned; very opportunely to chear the spirits of her sister, who was very low after parting with your Cousins. [8] They carried along with them our cordial esteem & sincerest wishes for their happiness wherever their future lot may be cast— We dined to day with M^r Belsham, [9] I am glad to find he will have eight pupils this half year, among which will be M^r Berkeley’s two youngest sons [10]— And now let me proceed to the request I have to make, which is that you, & M^rs Rickards & Miss Harrop would spend a day with us, now you are returned. Will Tuesday the 25^th be convenient? I have written to M^r Ward [11] to ask the same favour, thinking that you might come together, & therefore if that day should not suit either of you, & you can fix together any day in that week, Monday & Saturday excepted
let

[fol 2^r] let me know & it will be the same thing to me—I hope to see both M^rs Rickards & you improved by your excursion, but improved or not I long to see you & you must come, so for the present Adieu. M^r Barbauld joins me in aff^e Compliments to M^rs Rickards & Miss Harrop. I am dearest Lydia

Affectionately Your’s

AL Barbauld

Stoke Newington
Oct 17^th