My dear Horace

I have had a very civil letter from the son of L^d Eldon’s agent, but it is clear he has got no information worth anything, but says he will observe again.—

He tells me that at Cirencester there is a Roman pavement, exposed 50 years ago, & that this is not level, & this is a point about which I am curious.—² Thinking over whole case, it seems to me that it w^d be very desirable for my work, that you sh^d. inspect Chedworth in the big woods & Cirencester.³ You w^d have to go to the latter to visit Chedworth.— Will it interfere seriously with your Cambridge plans, for if so I sh^d. not at all like you to go?— Frank says he sh^d. like to go with you. I c^d afterwards tell you the several points— A whole day at Chedworth or rather at Foss Bridge⁴ would suffice, & $\frac{1}{2}$ day at Cirencester. I have asked M^r Hall to give me letter of introduction for you to person in charge. The job w^d be to get a labourer, & I sh^d like one hole dug beneath foundations of one of the old walls to a depth of 1 foot or 18 inches.—

I hope that your water-works progress well.—⁵

Pick the surgeon was here yesterday & say Lennys knee is going on as well as possible—⁶ —No inflammation.— & that in a fortnights time he is with knee-caps on to try a kind of walking first with 2 crutches & then with one.— By next summer he thinks knee will be quite strong.—

Fairly good account today of Litchfield—⁷

Your affect Father | C. Darwin