Because the sanitary condition of the only place I at all care to go to is not altogether satisfactory.
Because my Uncle Anthony is expected home every day from Australia, and I am unwilling to be absent from town when he arrives.
Because my cousin Selina is going to be married from her stepfather's at Upper Clapton, and insists on my giving her away to the gentleman with whom she is about to penetrate into the interior of Africa.
Because I am desirous to avail myself of this opportunity of completing some statistical tables I am compiling, showing the comparative numbers of horses, carriages, and pedestrians passing my dining-room windows on the last Saturday in May and the last Saturday in August respectively.
Because my eldest son is reading with a private tutor for his army examination, and I feel I am of some use to him in his studies.
Because my Aunt Philippa is detained in town by an attack of gout, and expects me to call and sit with her three times a day.
Because I am determined to put into execution my long-cherished design of thoroughly exploring the British Museum, the National Gallery, the South Kensington Museum, St. Paul's, Westminster Abbey, the public monuments, and the City churches.
Because it is pecuniarily inconvenient to me to be anywhere else.