TALBOT3236

Belle vue ¹ –
Tuesday 29. –

My dear Henry

I have received two letters from you this morning; the one which you wrote on Sunday ² & sent round by London having travelled quicker than its companion – but what a lingering traveller Saturday’s letter ³ must have been, not to arrive till Tuesday! – I am very glad that you have heard from Nice, & that they were actually preparing to set out – they cannot now change their minds, but they do do not seem to intend making very rapid progress – You will rather envy them the passage of the Col de Tende at this season when the flowers are in all their glory – but perhaps it may be a very little too early for them, especially after the cold winter. – I am quite contented with your report of the growth of my flower seeds – I did not expect that such a number would have already made their appearance – I suppose Fitzsimmons ⁴ has not touched my flower garden – Why should you not go to Abbotsbury ⁵ for a few days if you can spare time? – I think it would do you good, & my Sisters ⁶ are not afraid of my remaining too long with them, even if you should not be able to fetch me at the end of three weeks – so pray do go, that is, if you feel inclined. – I suppose we may expect your Mother ⁷ home towards the end of April, if she does not remain herself at Paris – but of course we shall hear as she draws nearer home. – Will there be time for our tour in Glamorganshire before she comes? – we must not contrive to absent ourselves from Lacock just at the wrong moment – I am much surprised to hear that you have had warm weather at Lacock – here we have been rather complaining of cold & grumbling at the high winds. – And from your account the verdure must be forwarder than it is here – at least in our garden there is very little to admire – The letter which you enclosed to me was from Miss Cotton, ⁸ full of kind enquiries. –

I do not think I have much to tell you today only I do wish the postage of your letters was not so very slow, because my it prevents my knowing so soon what you are going to do –

Adieu; I have had shocking pens & ink – Ela ⁹ is very well & will adopt your idea about the ball –

Do go to Abbotsbury –

Your affectionate
Constance. –

I was not aware of the promise made to Harriet ¹⁰ about raising her wages, nor do I even know what she receives at present – so I cannot at all judge whether her request is a reasonable one – but I suppose she is in no immediate hurry to have it determined. – I have been thinking that Price’s ¹¹ wages are very low for a housekeeper & Lady’s maid, & I mean to ask you about encreasing them. – She is very modest & content not to have mentioned the subject herself. –

Henry Fox Talbot Esq^re
Lacock Abbey
Chippenham