TALBOT4833

5 Glocester Row Clifton ¹
June 15^th

My dear Henry

You are indulgence itself in so immediately acceding to my wishes about the North Gallery ² – It is now in process of renovation – indeed the whole Abbey has long pined for such an opportunity as the present of undergoing a regular scrubbing. I am going to take a fourth week of Clifton air in consequence: for the operations cannot possibly be concluded before the end of next week – but on Monday the 26^th positively we return. – We had very fine weather Sunday & Monday last – but now again Wednesday there is a sad deterioration. – What can have produced such an extraordinary season? The farmers about Lacock are very desponding – M^r Fry, ³ whose meadows have been abundantly watered by the Avon, affirms that he has lost the value of a hundred pounds by the spoiling of his mowing grass – Price ⁴ called at home on Tuesday in her way back from London ⁵ – She had no difficulty in meeting with a Cook – & today I have received a most excellent character from the lady whith with whom she lived last – I hope she is likely to be a comfortable servant. – Caroline ⁶ has engaged a maid & made up other deficiencies in her establishm^t – Lady Elisabeth ⁷ has granted the humble suit of M^rs Roberts – & pardoned all past offences – so I hope all our families will continue in a settled state – Marian ⁸ writes to me – ‘ Harriot ⁹ tells me L^d Shelburne’s intended marriage ¹⁰ gives great pleasure’ – Were you aware of this? – I knew nothing – but felt very much rejoiced at her announcement, knowing how very desirable such an event had become. – There is so much bustle now in Sackville Street ¹¹ that I don’t wonder they should omit to tell me of family events however interesting. – I saw by the Newspaper that Lady Theresa’s ¹²baby died at Abbotsbury ¹³ a short time since – but I don’t know what was the cause – They will rejoice now that it was not the much-wished-for Boy. – Price gave me an excellent account of all in Sackville Street – She saw Lady Elisabeth several times but could not contrive to see Horatia. ¹⁴ – I suppose you will have made some Calotypes today Thursday if the weather brightened up at Paris as it did here about the middle of the day – It was really hot walking in the Zoological Gardens – I found I might walk there as often as I pleased with my whole family, by paying only 10/6 – is not that cheaper than amusements generally are? – The children ¹⁵ are very fond of going – and throw nuts to the Monkeys & bread to the aquatic birds – The Parrots we contrived to feed without risking our fingers by handing nuts to them on the Catalogue as we might have done on a tray. – They took the nuts in their beaks in a very well bred manner – not snatching & clawing as I had expected. – The improved weather today has put me quite in spirits on your account as well as our own – I think I am a little weather-wise & I really think the appearance of the sky this evening is encouraging – The wind too has changed to the East – which is a circumstance of great importance. All the children continue very well & very much pleased with their séjour at Clifton – Matilda has talked a great deal of your promise to write her a little letter – & is very much delighted about it – I do not write often dear Henry because I have really nothing to say – & all goes [illegible deletion] on perfectly well.

Your affectionate
Constance –

Monsieur Fox Talbot
Hôtel de Douvres
Rue de la Paix
Paris