Newcastle on Tyne Northumberland Street
31^st July 1840

I received yours of the 21^st instant and have been much employed visiting in the town, and country since the very fine weather commences, or should have answered it sooner. I am sincerely glad that you have at last got a faithful preacher of the Gospel to be your minister, and hope that you may long have the benefit of his services. It is our present intention to return to return to Belfast in September and id we can get lodgings which is extremely difficult, the Hodders propose to come to us for a short time in November or December at which time I hope we shall have some accommodation for you also. I am glad you get the newspapers and the Ulster Churchman regularly. Pray remember us kindly to Miss Aukineck when you meet her. Mrs Lascelles will always be happy to see her wherever she may be. There is a great Methodist conference here to last three weeks. Four hundred Ministers have assembled here and are billeted on the inhabitants at their particular desire. The Rev Mr. Clayton, Vicar of St Thomas has given up his house to as many as it will contain, the Collector of the Customs has invited several. In short the Methodists are numerous, and popular, and they are debating whether they shall adopt our prayer book, or a part of it. Every day I find out something new, and interesting. I was last Sunday at a Presbyterian Meeting house and saw twelve lay Elders, and Deacons ordained, a ceremony I never heard of until then. Last night I was at a Baptist Meeting house and saw ten men and eight women baptised in a large basin of water in the centre of the house. The women were handsomely dressed in white muslin and the men in black dressing gowns. The minister went down in his black gown into the water, and baptised them all as you would bathe children, of course they were all completely wet and retired into separate vestry rooms to dry etc. The ceremony was solemn, and religious. I have seen Lord Ravenworth’s fine castle and we spent a day in Durham, and was shown all parts of the magnificent cathedral, the College etc. The Hon and Rev Doctor Wellesly, brother of the Duke of Wellington was walking in the cloisters, he is one of the chapter, a plain looking, unpresuming old gentleman, very like his brother. We propose to go to Harrowgate and York and Edinburgh and there is every appearance of fine weather completely set in for our encouragement. Mr and Mrs Hodder and Mrs Lascelles join in their love to you and all friends in Killough. We are going to Lady Strathmore’s beautiful place today. Lord Durham died suddenly in the Isle of Wight on Tuesday last. I am my dear Lucy,

affectly yours

F.E. Lascelles

P.S. Write frequently whether you have anything to say or not.