TALBOT5110

Lacock Abbey
Saturday Oct 26

My dear Henry

I did receive yesterday your charming letter from the banks of Loch Achray – In it you draw the Sunny side of the picture – but your letter from Edinburgh today discloses the sad reverse by setting forth and reveals the cold discomforts of the Inns ¹ – I quite pity you for lying awake shivering with cold! – what must those wretched places be in really severe weather? Your former letter from Edinburgh reached me on Sunday – I have written 3 times to Darlington – and I have nothing now to communicate since the last written yesterday – but in case you should not receive it, I will repeat that the Damers have not fixed their day – only as they are engaged to Bowood ² for the 29^th Lady Elisabeth ³ calculates that their visit here must fall between the 1^st & 5^th – This, supposing they chuse the earliest day, will allow of your arriving before them, I should think – We hope you will not try to avoid them, as they are such pleasant people – and having invited themselves they will not expect any fuss to be made for their entertainment. – They know that there is no party to meet them. – You will tell us of course when you know your own day for returning – because if we knew for certain, it might make a little difference in the arrangem^t of the rooms – Lady Elisabeth & Horatia, ⁴ arrived, as I told you yesterday – & both seem very well – They left L^d M^t Edgcumbe ⁵ much better – All of us ⁶ are florishing [sic] – Lady Elisabeth thinks Ela grown & improved –

Your affectionate
Constance –

[envelope:]
H. Fox Talbot Esq^re
Black Swan Hotel⁷
York