TALBOT3944

Tuesday Oct 1^st

My dear Henry

I want to know if there is any chance of your being able to recover a lost letter? It contained a Sovereign which Bennett ¹ wished to send to her Sister ² in London & which you kindly enclosed for her to M^r Strangways ³ on the 17^th of September: at least I am almost certain that was the date. I dare say you recollect the circumstance, particularly as you wrote the direction yourself on Bennetts letter. I am told that some enquiries have already been made by Nicole, ⁴ but without success; perhaps he may not have taken the liberty of naming it to you; and that is the reason of my writing; because I think you might be able to discover whether or not M^r Strangways ever forwarded it –

[illegible deletion] Pray let us hear of your well:being, if you have a few moments to spare – I fancy you quite uncomfortable, at the mercy of a strange housemaid! –

called yesterday & invited us all to dine & sleep at Compton on Monday. Lady Elisabeth ⁵ & Horatia ⁶ have accepted, but I mean to be excused – I was extremely glad to see her & to hear something of poor M^rs Webber, who remains at present at her own home in Hamps. with her Sister M^rs Ward. – The Chicks ⁷ are quite well, with the exception of Matilda being a little fractious (as the Nurses say) which may be owing to her teeth.

What lovely weather we have now dearest Henry! I hope it is favorable to your pursuits whatever they may be –

Your aff^te
Constance

Ela is delighted with her new Spelling board and I really have great hopes of her improving by its means.