Mrs Alfred Field
Wynnstay Gardens
Allen Street
Kensington W

Dear Mr Chesson,

The days since I came up to town have fled away rapidly one person after another coming to see me and then I have been too tired to write. I have not been out since I arrived and I leave this next Wedy. Would you be disposed to come and dine here on Monday at seven o’clock. Mrs A Field and I shd be alone so wd you prefer coming in on Sunday after morning service half past one is the dinner hour here on Sundays. On Saturday from 3 to 6 I shd be disengaged. But if neither of these times you cd contrive to come, perhaps no one ed be here on Tuesday to dinner.

I shd dearly like to see Mrs Chesson, but she mentioned having a cold and so to be out in the dry air wd be hurtful to her and on Sunday maybe the children all need her presence but Saty aftnoon so far as I know I shall be alone. Aftnoon tea is at half past 4. I have been very suffering for 2 days and now such a brief time is left wherein to ask friends to come and see me and I don’t like to have persons meet who wd clash. Monday until 6 and on Saty aft 6 I shall have several with me.

I have a wish to get a talk with you. Mrs Grace was here yesterday. She had not heard from Te Wheoro or Skidmore but Mr Spencer had told her on the day of his wedding ‘Te Wheoro is ill and has been in bed for many days at Brighton with a kind Mr Ashbury who gives dinner parties so he will get no good by being with him.’ Mrs Grace asked for Te Wheoro’s address but Mr Spencer cd not supply it. Mrs Grace was vexed that Mr Spencer did not seem at all really concerned, he was more full of the bargain he had made for his cabin with the orient line for Iberia … telling her that the Good Templars had well renumerated him for his tranlating that they had paid him £… and that altogether thro devoting himself to the maories he had cleared over £100. I told her I did not consider he had devoted himself to promote their welfare, ‘oh no’ she replied, ‘he has been only occupied with his own interests, Fred Spencer is always on the look out to make money and I have not liked his behaviour toward Te Wheoro.’ Mr Spencer thinks that Te Wheoro and Skidmore will voyage in the Iberia, it leaves England on the day before Xmas day. The first week wd feel very cold and trying, poor Te Wheoro I am so sorry for him and hope that good kind Mr Ashbury will keep him at Brighton until the steamer leavers foreven one day of this smoky and cold atmosphere wd tell on his susceptible lungs and I suspect he frets because no answer has yet come to Lord Derby’s dispatch from the NZ colonial government.

My love to dear Mrs Chesson and she will excuse my only sending her a message …

Please let me have a pass card to say if and when you will be able to come. Mrs Field and I are very good friends … I think of perhaps wintering at Fahmouth.