TALBOT5235

Bowood ¹
Tuesday Morn^g

My Dear Henry

My sister ² is sending a messenger with a small box for Theresa ³ which she wishes you to convey into Dorsetshire & Somehow get it transmitted to Melbury, ⁴ & they will take care of it for her, as they have such frequent communication. Now for my commission – I want you take [sic] the enclosed Key with your own hand & open the long drawer under my Secretaire in my room and just inside the drawer you will see a largish Key with an Ivory label on which is written Costume Chest with that Key open the said Chest which is behind the head of my bed, & the very top thing is an embroidered Shawl all over flowers, which pray give to Nicole ⁵ & desire him to make it up in a parcel with the things Sophia is to send by the Bearer – That done pray seal lock up the Chest Key again & send me back my own sealed up as before, because you know I could not trust that Key to any hands but yours. Pray send any Letters that may be come for me, & let me know positively when you go that I may thus write to the Postmistress at Chippenham

Y^rs
EF

I should rather have said the long drawer of my Secretaire