Dear M^r. Darwin,

I heard from Hoole on Saturday, and as Downe gossip he says he understands Tromer Lodge is to be sold. If this is true, and if the land on the West side of the road is to be sold apart from the house I should be glad to have the offer of it, as at some future time it may be an advantage to the Parsonage.¹ Probably neither of these ifs may prove realities.

You will be glad to hear that M^rs. Hoole continues to improve.² She gets out a good deal every day in spite of cold weather, takes, for her, quite long walks, & seems to be making a new start.

In our, usually mild, country we have had an unusually early frost. I got my ice house filled on the 23^d. The earliest date in any former year was the 6^th. Dec^r. Since the 23^rd there has been no frost, a furious Gale of wind on Friday.

With my wife’s³ kindest regards, love to M^rs. Darwin, Believe me | Faithfully Yours | J Brodie Innes