TALBOT4622

Clifton ¹
October 2^d –

My dear Henry

I was some time in getting over my surprise at your sudden departure on Wednesday morning. – I could scarcely believe it possible, since you had said nothing about it

I want extremely to hear something about you – & also about Lady Elisabeth & Horatia. ² – and where they are & where they are going next – I heard yesterday from Harriot ³ who mentioned that Lady Lansdowne ⁴ was to come home to England on the first of this month. – I thought all the Family must have been prepared for their recent loss ⁵ – but Harriot speaks of her Mother ⁶ as being greatly shocked & distressed by it – H^t says they ⁷ will not be able to settle at Markeaton ⁸ till December – so vast are the improvements – She is very sorry about their [sic] being no vacancy at Hasfield – We have a very nice house here – N^o 2 Caledonia place, at the end of the Mall & in view of the future Suspension bridge – The weather is so lovely now & the drives so beautiful & so numerous, that we think we shall not be able to tear ourselves away at the end of our week – but coax the Landlady to give us part of another week – and remain perhaps till Monday – Yesterday we drove to a charming spot near the mouth of the Avon & had a full view of Portshead ⁹ to my great surprise as I was not expecting to gaze so suddenly upon the familiar scene of last year – Today we have enjoyed ourselves on the Downs just beyond the Toll gate & nothing could be more delightfull [sic] than the weather or more beautiful than the prospect – Do you approve of our prolonging our stay these few days? – I am told Weston super Mare is very full, but becoming less so as the Season advances – I must send Price ¹⁰over in the course of a day or two. –

We have met a little knot of Friends – Miss Censo – the Miss Pinfolds & the Miss Dashwoods – all very old & excellent friends –

your affectionate
Constance.