TALBOT5000

Thursday May 23^d

My dear Henry

I am enchanted with your success in regard to the house – To confess the truth, I had such feeble hopes of your being able to get anything to suit us, that I am equally pleased & surprised at all the merits of this one – Lady Cavan ¹ must be a very amiable Lady – It would be best I think that her own housemaid should remain, if she happens to wish it – in order to watch over the safety of her furniture – but of course one of our own maids will go up to do the work under her – I am very sorry about Scheichelbaur ² – as you must now have the trouble of engaging some other servant – It will be impossible for you to have any comfort in London with out William ³ only – I imagine Price ⁴ should go up the day before us to take the Inventory – and will not Thursday suit best for entering upon the house? – It is not that we require so much time for preparation, but it will give a little more time for Lady Elisabeth ⁵ to remain here as she said she should regulate her movements accordingly – The situation being close to Kensington gardens [sic] is delightful.

I am afraid M^rs Nicholl ⁶ won’t come tomorrow after all, but put it off till she goes up on Tuesday –

The colds are a shade better today – mine much better – and change of air will be the most sure of all cures –

Horatia ⁷ arrived just in time to see Lady Mary ⁸ – just for ½ an hour before she set off for Clifton ⁹ –

Your affectionate
Constance –