Autograph letter signed : [Perth], to Effie, 1848 Aug. 28.

Saying Mr. Gadesden and Mr. Halbert have both advised him to place George in London and are looking for an opening in some Colonial Broker's office. Last week he explained to Mr. Ruskin his reasons for taking this step. Mr. Ruskin has now expressed strong disapproval and "for twenty reasons" will do nothing to help George. He also says that as a London clerk, George will be socially unacceptable, but that he would fit into her home, and society, if he visited London as a professional man. He is sure that Effie will share the shock to his feelings. He cannot understand Mr. Ruskin, with his peculiar ideas. Mr. Gray had explained that if he failed, George would have no prospects in Perth, so that he must be sent to London. Mr. Ruskin overlooks reasons and thinks only of George's becoming a burden to him and his son. Now Mr. Gray does not know what to do about George: he does not like to oppose Mr. Ruskin, but he has been unable to find an opening for George in Edinburgh. Aunt Jessie is not recovering from scarlet fever, which is raging in Perth; Uncle Andrew grows worse daily and Mr. Runciman has died. Bad weather is hurting the harvests, which in turn will lower the value of railway property. He is hopeless about his own affairs and cannot understand why Burns still carries him, the result being merely to increase his debt to the Bank, though meanwhile it enables him to live. He is glad she is happy; the children are well.