TALBOT5092

Lacock Abbey
October 4^th Friday –

My dear Henry

I am so glad to receive your letter from York ¹ – I had pined to know where you were & how you were prospering – I wish I could recollect whether I wrote more than twice to York – but I dare say I didn’t – because with the one to Oxford, they made 3 letters in a very short time – The last was written on Saturday the 28^{th 2} which I hope you received, as it contained one from Lady Elisabeth ³ mentioning her plan of going to Carclew ⁴ on the Wednesday 1^st October. I have heard once since – a good account & the day for Carclew remained unchanged – I shall write immediately to say that you have been heard of, for they are always asking & wondering – but I dare say before now you have written yourself. We are going on perfectly well – your son ⁵ decidedly improving – your daughters ⁶ coughing more in fits – but getting out & playing with their usual vivacity – and not yet incapacitated for their various occupations – I am sorry to tell you that Noel Mundy ⁷ has also got this cough – I lamented it to Mr Kenrick ⁸ – but he says that being ten years old it will perhaps be better that he he should have it now – he will have it probably more favorably – I had a very kind letter yesterday from Harriot ⁹ – half lamenting that I had left Markeaton ¹⁰ at all, since it had failed as a precautionary measure. ¹¹ We had a frost last Sunday Night which destroyed the Dahlias & Heliotropes & blackened the potatoes – At Sloperton ¹² where I drove today without finding M^rs Moore ¹³ at home, the Dahlias are untouched – but her garden is going off of course – M^r Moore seemed very well & enquired much after you & all our party – I hear that the Lansdownes ¹⁴ are expected at Bowood ¹⁵ in a few days –

You will feel less bustled in the wilds of Scotland than you did at York – & therefore you will be able to write a line now & then – Indeed if you don’t you will compel me to keep silence also – for I imagine I ought only to write once to each place – unless I have occasion to write 2 days following which is unlikely. And your children are so well with their coughs that you need not feel at all anxious about them – and I too am quite well –

Your affectionate
Constance

[envelope:]
H. F. Talbot Esq^re
Post Office
Jedburgh
Scotland