TALBOT481

Melbury ¹
Dec^r 29

My dear Henry

A rumour reached me in Glamorganshire that you and yours are to be here for Christmas & I was much disappointed when I came here to find your visit was put off! I hope however I really shall have a glimpse of you & see Matilda & her caro Sposo ² if you do come on Monday or Tuesday, but it will not suit me to put off my journey, any longer as I am wanted at home & have already outstaid the time I proposed spending in Dorsetshire. I am going to Minterne tomorrow & shall be very glad to have a line from you to say you are coming really. –

W^{m 3} is much better indeed quite well but obliged to be very careful & only goes out on fine mornings. There are quantities of gay plants in the Stoves but I do not know their names & we have some pretty things in the Drawing Room windows, one quite new to me I cannot venture to transcribe the name even, it is so astonishingly spelt I am not sure what the letters are –

I have a bad account from Rewe today I fear poor Harry Strangways ⁴ is not likely to recover he does not know anyone I believe & is getting weaker & weaker – Har^t Mundy ⁵ went home yesterday. Noel ⁶ went before Christmas day & is now on a visit at Tredegar ⁷ I believe –

My love to all my Cousins

I am your aff^ate Coz
Mary

[envelope]
Henry F. Talbot Esq
Lacock Abbey
Chippenham