He describes the activities of his five grandchildren while he was writing. He gives an account of his visit to Bellfield, when he opened negotiations with Menzies to consider becoming the incumbent there. He writes of the meeting at Lushington's house on his return to town, when it was proposed to the government that steamers should be built for the expedition, and of the government's apparent agreement. He mentions disturbing news received from Mexico, a committee meeting, and a meeting of the African working committee, Scoble's offer to go out as Secretary to the expedition, and his own expectation that they would be able to find him employment in the meantime. He tells her of his concern over Captain Cook, who had refused command of a merchant ship in the expectation of going to Africa that year and the decision to give him £200 compensation on Trotter's insistence that Cook would be very useful if kept in their employ. He had hired him at a salary of £200 for a year, post-dating it from the previous Apr, for which Cook was most grateful. He refers to his visit to Upton with Lushington, Edward's belated arrival from France, his own business the following day at the Brewery, the list of people he saw later that day, his employment of three secretaries letter-writing, and his meeting with Carr, who gave a good report of Martha and spoke of his ejection by the Tories from a committee [in Weymouth]. He describes his journey and that of Edward and John to Halesworth, and his relief that Priscilla's financial worries were at an end and that Andrew was now well-established as a prosperous banker. He tells her that she had been much in his mind that day, that the recent change in plans for the expedition would not disturb his own plans much for joining her and that he still intended to leave for London on 7 Nov and for the Continent on 16 Nov, joining her the last week in Dec. He warns her that friends of Lushington intended to call on her in Rome. He tells her of a very depressed letter from Anna Gurney, whom he was to visit the following day to cheer her a little. He reports that Catherine had recovered and was blooming. He describes the improved condition of the house at Halesworth since they had paid their first visit and the additions planned for it. He adds that he was looking forward to the expedition to Rome and sends notes on places of residence in Italy.