He describes the desolation of the constituency at his defeat, the presentation of the pieces of plate, his speech to the children, Edward's speech at the dinner given in his honour, his own avoidance of giving any pledge about standing for re-election at a future date, and the offer made to him of a seat elsewhere, open for acceptance in the next six months, about which he had not told his family. He tells him about the 'grand rumpus' at the office of the Anti-Slavery Body, the printing of the letter he had addressed to the Delegates, his belief that the agitators [Sturge's faction] would fail in their object, although their demonstration of strong feeling might, in itself, be a good thing as it would assist his main object that in 1840 no harsh police laws should be enforced, nor vagrancy laws.

He expresses delight that his predictions about the conduct of Black people following emancipation, made when urging the payment of wages to the apprentices in 1833, had been proved right, as well as in the success of the Mico Charity experiment, the imminent selection of 22 more teachers and their wives, trained in Glasgow, and the favourable report of the government inspector Latrobe on their schools in the West Indies. Reverting to the description of the 'Rumpus' he gives a benevolent sketch of the character of Joseph Sturge, though he believed his energies were misdirected, and mentions his own intention to divert the enthusiasm engendered in the Anti-Slavery Body to his own cause. He also expresses admiration at the work of Francis Cunningham and of all who give themselves entirely to the ministry, whether of the Established Church or of the dissenting sects, a view that was upsetting to his Anglican friends. After further family news, he adds a postscript on Hannah's improved health as a result of their excursion, their return to Earlham, and the visit of Rachel Fowler to them. News of the murder of Lovejoy led him to meditate on the part martyrs had played in the slavery cause and his hopes of great results from this incident. He addresses the hypothetical censor who might open the letter, exculpating Gurney from any responsibility for what had been said in it. Finally, he comments on the friendship between their two daughters, Anna and Richenda, and on the improved health of John Gurney, as reported by Sam and Elizabeth Gurney. (Copy.)