Going over the house again, I have materially altered the plans--abandoned conservatory and front balcony--decided to make Stone's painting-room the drawing-room (it is nearly six inches higher than the room below), to carry the entrance passage right through the house to a back door leading to the garden, and to reduce the once intended drawing-room--now school-room--to a manageable size, making a door of communication between the new drawing-room and the study. Curtains and carpets, on a scale of awful splendour and magnitude, are already in preparation, and still--still-- NO WORKMEN ON THE PREMISES. To pursue this theme is madness. Where are you? When are you coming home? Where is the man who is to do the work? Does he know that an army of artificers must be turned in at once, and the whole thing finished out of hand? O rescue me from my present condition. Come up to the scratch, I entreat and implore you! I send this to Lætitia to forward, Being, as you well know why, Completely floored by N. W., I _Sleep_. I hope you may be able to read this. My state of mind does not admit of coherence. Ever affectionately. P.S.--NO WORKMEN ON THE PREMISES! Ha! ha! ha! (I am laughing demoniacally.) [Sidenote: Mr. Henry Austin.] BROADSTAIRS, _Sunday, September 21st, 1851._ MY DEAR HENRY, It is quite clear we could do nothing else with the drains than what you have done. Will it be at all a heavy item in the estimate? If there be the _least_ chance of a necessity for the pillar, let us have it. Let us dance in peace, whatever we do, and only go into the kitchen by the staircase. Have they cut the door between the drawing-room and the study yet? The foreman will let Shoolbred know when the feat is accomplished. O! and did you tell him of another brass ventilator in the dining-room, opening into the dining-room flue? I don't think I shall come to town until you want to show the progress, whenever that may be. I shall look forward to another dinner, and I think we must encourage the Oriental, for the goodness of its wine. I am getting a complete set of a certain distinguished author's works prepared for a certain distinguished architect, which I hope he will accept, as a slight, though very inadequate, etc. etc.; affectionate, etc.; so heartily and kindly taking so much interest, etc. etc. Love to Lætitia. Ever affectionately. [Sidenote: Mr. Henry Austin.] BROADSTAIRS, KENT, _October 7th, 1851._ MY DEAR HENRY, O! O! O! D---- the Pantechnicon. O!