TALBOT3686

London

June 4^th 1838

My Dear Constance

I have engaged M^rs Groves – I was chiefly decided by her having lived 16 years with her former mistress M^rs Storey –

You had better give warning to M^rs C. and as I before suggested, take to sleeping yourself in the inner nursery for a little while, giving as your reason, that you wish to accustom the children to the change, that they may not think themselves left alone among strangers.

Altho’ we are under no necessity of considering what is to become of M^rs C. yet if she seems in distress she may be advised to go to London, & take a small cheap lodging, until she finds means of placing herself, which in this great metropolis may be possible, thro’ the agency of some of the offices for hiring servants; As she can produce no testimonials, it follows that she must content herself somewhere with very low wages – If this attempt fails, she had better emigrate to Sydney in New South Wales; There employment is certain & plentiful, & a good character not required, such is the low state of morality in that colony –

I expect to return Friday morning or evening, shall I bring the nurse with me, or send her before, or let her follow after?

Your visitor Lady Julia Howard ¹ is daughter of the Earl of Suffolk & lives at Charlton near Malmesbury 13 miles from us. Lady Hunloke ² who is a relation of theirs, is doubtless on a visit at Charlton.

I believe I have got George <illegible> into service, I recommended him very much to a lady who called here; but I suspect he will find small pay & much work. Have you had any thunderstorms? We had one; and great plenty of rain. M^r Moore ³ is much astounded by the Animal Magnetism ⁴ which he went to see Yesterday.

Your aff^te

Henry