Letter from Uvedale Price, Foxley, to Sir George Beaumont, 1824 September 12 : autograph manuscript signed.

Describing a round of visits; saying that he and his family paid a hurried visit to Bentley Priory where he saw Lord Aberdeen, examined what had been done to the grounds and renewed his acquaintance with "two Panninis" (two paintings, most likely by Giovanni Paolo Panini); describing the paintings, one of which depicts St. Peter's; writing that at Cassiobury his daughter had a relapse, which delayed their going onwards, and for two days he worked on "a very pretty spot called horseshoe dell, where Cedars of Lebanon, red Cedars, laurels & many other exotics both evergreen & deciduous, had been planted some 60 or 70 years ago"; saying that the area had been neglected and seedling trees, especially ash, had grown up and "concealed the fine old plants, many of which, particularly some cock-spur thorns had acquired remarkably wild picturesque forms"; saying that Lord Essex lent him some men and they went to work: "I say we, for although I had not my Durindana [a legendary sword], & could not exert much personal prowess (I did now & then lay hold of one of the workmen's hackers when not in use) yet I was constantly on my legs to & from every direction watching & guiding my men. I cleared the area, cut down or pruned whatever crowded or injured the old trees, made new communications & entrances into this little sanctum"; adding that he did not have time to finish the work but begged Lord Essex not to touch it until he could return; saying that they then went on to Dropmore Park, which he praises: "the whole is a creation & I think does great honour to the creator"; adding that they were all pleased with Lord Grenville and that he has been corresponding with Grenville about several topics of common interest ("He is so eager on the subject of pruning & opening views..."); mentioning that Lady Grenville seems equally enthusiastic and he hopes they may come to Foxley; writing that they went on to St. Anne's Hill and were about to proceed to Ashburnham Place when he had a severe attack of "piles and prolapsus," which cut their journey short; describing the doctor who treated him and who had suffered from the same complaint before completely giving up wine; saying that they returned home and that he has recovered and is busy with landscaping projects; mentioning the heat; asking after Lady Beaumont's health and saying that his wife Caroline "has her usual excellent health & spirits, &, heaven be praised, has nobody to nurse."