TALBOT5095

[the letter is in the Bodleian Libary and its envelope in the British Library]

Lacock Abbey
Monday October 7^th

My dear Henry

I did write to Edinburgh yesterday & to Jedburgh on Friday ¹ according to your directions – I am very glad you are not going to pass now or miss Melrose & should like very much to visit those interesting places with you – I believe I should think the present weather rather chilly for Scotland, but you like a moderate degree of cold & as the weather is still remarkably fine –having had rain only once Saturday with a heavy shower we had yesterday I hope you will not find it otherwise than agreeable. A few Scotch mists I fear you must expect even when the weather is brilliant with us – & some very dark days we had last week even here – I am quite distressed at your being ill after the York Meeting, ² as I told you in my letter yesterday – and I recommended eating luncheon as a tonic – which being the most important thing, I repeat, as I do not wish you to lose a day in following my excellent advice – I am sure you must have hurt yourself by fasting too many hours, as you always do when you are away from home & too busy to think of your physical wants. I also communicated news from Carclew ³ in a letter from Horatia ⁴ descriptive of her pleasure in being there, which will keep a day or two – but en attendant ⁵ I will [illegible] you that she & Lady Elisabeth ⁶ seem to be well & enjoying themselves. Today, I will indulge you with a letter from Lady Elisabeth – part of which contains merely hints for the Nursery, which are not quite in your line – but other things she says which you will like to see – so I send it, instead of transcribing – Also I mentioned in my letter yesterday that there were several letters lying for you here – 2 from York & 2 from London which last I fancy are in M^r Collen’s ⁷ handwriting – at any rate, as they followed each other within a few days, the writer plainly is urgent for your answer – Shall I send all these in a budget? ⁸ –

We are all going on well. Charles ⁹ is certainly much better & more playful & a little cross sometimes which I consider a very good sign<.> I sent him & Hester[?] out of your room a few nights back – as they all sleep well & do not disturb one another. – The girls ¹⁰ cough in strong fits now but do not decidedly hoop – Do get better quite quick – & let me hear of it –

Your affectionate
Constance

William ¹¹tells me that I have only one bottle of wine left – what must I do when it is finished!!

[envelope:]
Henry Fox Talbot Esqr
Post office
Melrose
Edinburgh
Scotland