TALBOT5343

Lacock Abbey
Wednesday July 30^th

My dear Henry

I wrote you a second little letter to York yesterday ¹ – but it does not contain anything worth sending after – as I will recapitulate the only topic of interest.

Lady Elisabeth ² wrote me word yesterday that since you left London M^r Longman had informed her that there was a great demand for the First Number of the Pencil of Nature ³ – because it contains the account of the process – & that no materials being left in the Binder’s hands, nothing could be done in your absence to meet the demand – I dare say you will have heard this from Lady Elisabeth before my letter reaches you – Can I do anything for you by looking for the views if you have left any locked up here? Horatia ⁴ has not yet paid me her promised visit – & I don’t now expect her as the weather is so bad – We have had three deplorably wet days – & today is the worst, as it pours without intermission. – I have scarcely done anything but lament over the wet – for your sake – all day. It is calamitous enough for the harvest – the hay is spoiling & the corn will not ripen – You have been so peculiarly unlucky on former tours – that it is now tenfold more trying – & I almost fear that you may give it up in despair – The wind today reminds me of the Equinoctial Gales – Your suggestion about chess-playing was an excellent one – M^lle D. ⁵ is not a very good player – but our games are interesting & she expects to improve with practise – Harriot ⁶ writes me comfortable accounts of Noel ⁷ – Lady H. Gallwey ⁸ is her near neighbour & some of the Nicholls ⁹ (for sea bathing) I believe are next door. – Caroline ¹⁰ has taken Ernestine ¹¹ to Brighton as she began to droop very much from being so long in London. – & L^d Mt Edgcumbe ¹² is at Cowes. Lady Elis^th seems quite undecided in her plans – M^lle D. & I get on very well together – I feel no kind of reserve with her – & have even ventured to express my dissent to her pronunciation of avec & have arranged that the children ¹³ shall pronounce the c as we do. Matilda has ½ an hour’s regular study of French & writing besides a little music lesson daily – Shall I forward your letters? –

Yr aff^te
Constance