TALBOT5278

11 Moray Place
Saturday March 16^th

My dear Henry,

I have today held a conversation with M^r Greive respecting Milburn Town – and he left with me the enclosed Terms of a Lease to submit to your consideration – I stated to him your objection to bind yourself for more than a twelvemonth, and I have no doubt he will concede this point – Of course you will not sign any agreement until you have heard from me again for I propose to go over there again with Goodwin on Monday & see about a few things that the proprietor should agree to do in the way of whitewashing some of the offices – The house is in perfect repair – but there are a few dirty looking nooks in the servants departments – and I can see from Mr. Greive’s civil firmness of manner that whatever is wanted must be mentioned now. We will make our report to you as well as to him, on Tuesday. – It is all right about the Post – & it is the duty of the gardener to meet the Postman outside the lodge gate as he passes – daily –

As you have so amiably relied on my judgment on in this matter and trusted to the statements of Ros^d & myself, we are very anxious not to mislead you in any way – particularly about the beauty & enjoyability of the place. You will recollect the look of the country in driving from Edinburgh to Costorphim – and must picture to yourself that the 2 miles on the other side are a continuance of the same – It is a well cultivated & rather monotonous district – but you will also recollect how near the Pentlands lie on the left, while Costorphim hill is on the right of that road. The drives from Millburn to the Pentlands are easy – and on that side the walks & drives are said to be very pretty. – Then the grounds of Millburn Tower¹ are limited & offer no views of anything that can be called picturesque – but there is enough private ground, a sort of wood or plantation through which the drive passes – with sufficient breadth to saunter about in for some time – and here there were some very find laurels which the frost has sadly cut up – It is a Calamity which has struck every place, but of course it is a blemish to the home scene. There is no regular flower garden – only a few beds – surrounded by trees – but the gardener is anxious to cultivate flowers more extensively & to cut out fresh "figures" wherever the tenant may wish – The kitchen garden is very good, & altogether, as I said before, the place is "comme il faut" looking & pretty. Certainly there is nothing unsightly. –

Monie has received your letter & cadeau this morning & sends you her affectionate love – and she will write to you very soon – She also heard from Charles today – he says he is going to Lacock next Thursday so you appear to have expected him one week too soon – I think it is a good plan his going to you for change of air & scene – It will be good opportunity for you to judge of any improvement in his health & power of study since Edinburgh in January. –

I send you a scrap from the Courant – which gives a different colour to M^rs Langsorth Yelverton than from some former sketches – It is probably more true. Pray return it to me next time you write – I have not thanked you as I should have done for your letter rec^d yesterday. It gave us all very much pleasure – and shall increase our caution about the house, as you trust so much to our report. Thanks too for the remittance, which you had thought of without waiting for me to ask. –

Your affectionate
Constance.

Caroline wrote us word of the birth of Valletort’s second daughter – It sh^d have been a son this time!