Allow me to thank you most sincerely for your kind letter, which has given me great pleasure, and especially for the photograph you were so kind as to send me as a remembrance. I shall keep it as a valued memento, and it will always remind me with pleasure of the agreeable hours we spent together. My stay here is unfortunately drawing to a close; I am leaving tomorrow morning for Lichfield. I have written to the Duke of Devonshire and shall also visit Chatsworth, if this should in any way be desirable on my return. Should Your Ladyship be willing to give me an introduction for the purpose of visiting his estates, and of obtaining all the information about drainage for which my government has commissioned me, I would be most grateful.
Begging pardon for troubling you, I hope you will kindly
excuse these explanations, and remain, hoping to receive a reply,"