Letter from Adam Sedgwick to Mrs Bunbury

Cambridge [?] Jul 2nd 1853

My dear Mrs Bunbury

Your second
letter has made me quite un
happy because I fear it will
be impossible for me to be back
from Portsmouth by Wednesday
next. I am dependent on others
& therefore not [illegible]
of my own time. So far as
I can [illegible] I hope
to see [illegible] on Saturday
& to be with my friend at
the [illegible] Portsmouth
on Saturday night or
Monday morning. But this
arrangement


p.2
[illegible] depend on a letter I
hope to have from a friend on
Friday [illegible] – today I
to to Ely to meet friends at
the Deanery [?] & I return either
late this night or very [underlined] early
tomorrow. I should indeed rejoice
to visit you & Mr Bunbury - &
I should greatly rejoice to renew
my acquaintance with Sir George
[illegible] & to talk with him
about the Cape[?], & my old
friend Sir Henry Smith whom
I knew when a schoolboy,
& a [illegible] other things.

Poor Sir Charles! His days
I fear are numbered. I do
wonder if he has lasted to
long


p.3
considering the [illegible] which
is has been [illegible], & the
life of excitement he must
have had. England will
mourn his loss, & with good
reason, whenever she is deprived
of him. For he wd indeed have
been to her a strong tower of
strength in her days of trial
& danger. Should such come [underlined],
& I fear they will [underlined] come. [illegible]
[illegible], ignorant, selfish men
have been [illegible] for an unpatri-
otic popularity by tearing off
old England’s armour. Let
the lion love peace [?]. But
God defend us from broad
brimmed patriots, & certain
slavering idiots who would


p.4
secure peace by clipping off the
old lion’s claws! If I can get
back by Wednesday, I will joyfully
come [illegible]: but that
is I fear impossible.

My dear Mrs. Bunbury
I am truly yours
A Sedgwick