London  August 12  [1850]

My dear children

                              I am very glad the Dr is writing to you today because it will probably be sometime before we can write again if we carry out our plans of leaving here tomorrow- I suppose he will say all that is necessary but I always have the feeling that I must speak too-

     Well, you are all over commencement- I can well imagine the state of your house today- the groaning of the wash tub under the numbers of linen sheets & pillow cases & towels- the desolation of the rooms that have so recently been filled with delightful visitors- these things are so strongly impressed upon me from having them repeated for more than twenty years, that I almost feel the fatigue & loneliness & the relief of having got through commencement week even here in my noisy room- I do not mind at all that I am in the great city of London & will you not think me very stupid that I scarcely think of going out in the street today & that I spent all the day on Sat. here & will not put my feet out doors-I am sure it would not be so with you- nor would it once with me I am sure- I often think if some of my children were in my stead how much of