TALBOT5345

Lacock Abbey

Thursday July 31^st /45 –

Good Henry! – to write me such a nice long letter today ¹ after the short one of yesterday ² – In that I found a great deficiency of news – but it enabled me to write to you – which I did. I am quite consoled by your having succeeded in getting 12 views of York in one day – that proves to me that your weather must have been better than ours – Today again we have had violent storms – with hail & torrents of rain – but Thunder storms are so partial that I have the satisfaction of thinking that perhaps there may have been clear weather in the North. We have had several remarkably clear cold starlight nights & very bright sunshine for an hour or two in the morning – but clouds gathered & spoilt all before nine or ten o’clock. – That was a narrow escape of M^r C Jones ³ & his fellow-travellers! – Several accidents I have read of within the last few days in the Newspapers which shake one’s confidence in the Railroads. – I think they appear all to arise from unpardonable carelessness. – I am so glad you have such an able assistant in M^r Jones – his activity is really surprising – and his example too excellent not to be followed – I expect you will come back an early riser. – You ought to invite M^r J to Lacock Abbey –

Pray do mention whether you have lost your cold – I hope you are very careful – but your occupation is not the wholesomest in rainy weather.

From your description I should judge Scarborough to be a healthy place. – on a Cliff & situated on a bracing coast – I imagine it to be always cold there – or else burnt by a glaring Sun & an East wind –

Chicks ⁴ are pretty well – only with colds in their head & not much cough – M^lle D. ⁵ seems considerate about their health – I think M^rs Traherne ⁶ did not say too much in her praise – We played at chess last night till near twelve. –

Your affectionate

Constance.