Peacock retired from the India House on 29 March 1856 with an ample pension. In his retirement he seldom left Halliford and spent his life among his books, and in the garden, in which he took great pleasure, and on the River Thames. In 1860 he still showed vigour by the publication in "Fraser's Magazine" of "Gryll Grange", his last novel. In the same year he added the appendix of Shelley's letters. His last writings were two translations, "Gl' Ingannati (The Deceived)" a comedy, performed at Siena in 1861 and "Ælia Lælia Crispis" of which a limited edition was circulated in 1862.