TALBOT5430

Lacock Abbey
Tuesday –

My dear Henry

I have found in Lady Elisabeth’s ¹ Universal Receipt book several ways of making Size for our purpose. – at least I hope some of them may answer. I have prepared some by boiling shreds of parchment in water – it is a stiff Jelly when cold – Isinglass ² size in the same way – gum water & sugars – white of egg whipped up & allowed to stand half a day to clarify – All these I have just been trying – but without the desired success – Either I varnished over them before they were thoroughly dry – or else I used them too weak – but I must try again – Experiments don’t do when hastily executed & various circumstances have hindered my attending to them properly – but now I am en train ³ I will go on till I succeed. I am afraid we shall not be able to keep Lady Mary ⁴ more than a few days with us – She threatened to go on Thursday, because the tide suited & she said she had penny clubs of her own & Lady Charlotte’s ⁵ to attend to. – But I believe she has yielded to Lady Elisabeth’s remonstrances. – Lady E. (as usual during Lady Mary’s visits) has been unwell & kept her room the last two days – She is much better & more nervous than seriously indisposed – but I think it must have arisen from catching cold in the north east winds – She certainly does expose herself too much to their influence & is tempted to do so by really enjoying their freshness – M^r Moore ⁶ had an attack of the same kind & was attended by M^r Kenrick ⁷ – Ela ⁸ has been more poorly than usual, but brisker again today. – Aunt Mary ⁹ has given me a little advice for her – It is charmingly bright pleasant weather & I don’t quite understand why children & others should appear more ailing than ordinary. I wonder how you are getting on – are you too busy to write to us? – Lord Mount Edgcumbe ¹⁰ only slept here one night (Sunday) – as he was in hurry to begin the baths – perhaps he may come over again in one of the intervals – for he must cease the baths after a few days –

y^r affectionate
Constance –