TALBOT5002

Sunday May 26^th

My dear Henry

I do not know of any reason why you should come down – if you have no especial business of your own preparatory to our 3 weeks in Lady C’s ¹ house. – But I hope you won’t recollect anything after the term has begun to bring you away & prevent your enjoying the whole of the time there. – I think having our carriage in London will be a great agrément – but in my opinion it should be the Coach – because that is useful at night, which the other is not – and by day it will have some advantages – such as affording shelter from hot sun & cold wind – as well as storms if any should occur – and is most conveniently fitted up with packing cases for the journey – I have been looking at your state coachman’s livery – & think it may be made useful on this occasion – so will bring it if you approve, with the hammercloth for the carriage – Have you asked if Lady C has a coach house? – If she hasn’t, Lady Elisabeth ² proposes that you should make Wright ³ engage one in the neighbourhood. I want you to ascertain whether Lady C means to leave her house a whole day before she lets it to us & whether she engages that it shall be properly cleaned – as every family expects to find a house clean when they enter. – Lady Elis^th will allow Price ⁴ to sleep a night in Sackville Street the day before we go up – that she may take the Inventory –

You will probably see M^r Moore ⁵ on Wednesday as he has asked leave to go up –

Today we are expecting M^r & M^rs Nicholl & Lucy ⁶ – but they are going on tomorrow – so I am afraid they will not see much of the beauties of the garden –

Your affectionate
Constance –

I suppose our plan will be as you say to bring the children back to Lacock in the first instance –

Alfred Robins is just appointed Policeman – through M^r Awdry’s ⁷ kind exertions – & goes tomorrow –

The Nicholls are just arrived – they have given up Merthyrmaur ⁸ & stay with us over tomorrow. – They are so disappointed at your not being at home –