Autograph letter signed : Denmark Hill, to her mother, 1848 June 10.

Giving answers to local gossip in letter from mother & George. On Thursday they had a delightful party, with Mr. Rogers in great form, saying that he remembered seeing Garrick and being lifted out of bed--two years old--to see the comet 83 years ago. He relished having Lady Eastlake recount how he had dined at 6:30 with the Duke of Wellington and at 8:00 with Lord Hardinge: he had forgotten his engagement with the Duke when he accepted the second invitation, but the Duke had to attend a concert at 8 and so he enjoyed both dinners. Mr. Eastlake and Mr. Leslie are delightful. By Mr. Ruskin's desire, Mrs. Ruskin plans to send you two Spanish hams, sent from Xeres by M. Domecq [illegibly misspelt in letter]. She has no time to buy presents, and in any case, has spent all her money for this month. Mr. Newton is coming for breakfast and will read them his lecture. On Thursday, they were in town--John at the Museum and she paying calls, one on Miss Jane Byerley, her former school mistress. She had a long letter from Mrs. Bolding, asking her to go with her and Mrs. Ruskin to get a dress "and excusing John and I from coming to see her as she knows his dislike of children... which was very good of her. John will not be persuaded to call on her "as he says he cannot bear lumps of Putty as he terms babies and I think as little of them excepting the little ones at Bowerswell as he does." To hear Mr. Ruskin describe Mary Bolding's baby put them "into fits of laughter and as Mrs. Ruskin loves them with all her heart and her indignation against John and his father & generally me is quite as fine as Mr. Ruskins [sic] description of the child I think George would enjoy the arguments of pro and con excessively." Yesterday in town she saw two exhibitions and then took John to call on the Earl of [Glesmere?]. From her father's letters she is "exceedingly sorry to see things are no better for him and I am at a loss to think what Mr. Burns [sic] conduct is for!"