TALBOT5464

Friday Dec^r 12^th

My dear Henry

Caroline ¹ & her party are all with us – in good spirits & well – Horatia ² is particularly lively as she always is when Caroline is near her – Tomorrow we are to have Lord & Lady Shelburne ³ to dinner & L^d Lansdowne ⁴ & M^r & M^rs Sotheron ⁵ & M^r Awdry ⁶ – Lady Shelburne ⁷ is delighted with the thoughts of coming – & so afraid at first that Lady Lansdowne ⁸ would forbid her on the ground of imprudence –

I had a very pleasant luncheon at Bowood ⁹ on Thu Wednesday with Matilda ¹⁰ who dined there with her Cousins – I saw Lady Louisa ¹¹ & her Baby ¹²– and I ought not to forget to mention the flowers – of which there was a splendid show, arranged with M^r Spenser’s usual taste.

Caroline & Horatia think you ought to have favored us with your comments on the aspect of political affairs – in the present crisis. ¹³ – and I should like some on your own welfare.

Caroline has seen the Prince of Wales’s ¹⁴ pictures – but I have not pressed for her deliberate opinion: as when she looked at them there were too many people present – to talk it over comfortably. – She says the colored one has assumed a totally different expression from the print – I don’t think it nearly so pretty as when it was only half finished. ¹⁵–

Mr Awdry has transmitted to me the enclosed –

Your affectionate
Constance.