‘My dear R.,—The day is very unpropitious for an expedition. But even had it been ever so fine, I am ordered to the House of Lords to be imprisoned in a committee on a Bill brought in to help, perhaps mainly to puff, the Court hobby, the Glass Palace, and as I was the person who made them refer the Bill to a Select Committee (for it was on the point of altering the whole Patent Law1!!) I must attend. This will lock me up till Friday, when I hope we may meet at two.