TALBOT5484

Lacock Abbey
Thursday 18^th

My dear Henry

I wrote you a little letter yesterday – but as I was rather late for the post, perhaps you will receive it with this – I have touched over the specks in the Ariadne which you mentioned and a few others near the top on the right hand corner which were apparent on some, but not all the copies. This puzzles me – I cannot understand why the copies differ – I am quite glad you have such fine weather in London – here we find it rather dark – today particularly so – with rain. – Caroline ¹ has made a bad exchange by putting off her journey till today. – Horatia ² drove with her to the Station in Lady Elisabeth’s ³ new carriage – Mary Fitzmaurice ⁴ is expected at Bowood ⁵ tomorrow without her Mother ⁶ & Lady Lansdowne ⁷ has sent an invitation in her name to our Children ⁸ for dinner on Saturday – Ela was quite in an extasy of delight on reading the letter. Of course an acceptance was written without delay – Lady Elisabeth & Horatia are also to lunch there the same day – And with Lady Lansdowne’s horses <&> Lady Elisabeth’s little carriage, we expect to get there [with]out difficulty or expense – Only think how [di]ssipated we are become in your absence. We are all engaged to dine with the Sotherons ⁹ tomorrow, to meet M^r Watson Taylor ¹⁰ & Lady Charlotte, Lord Shelburne ¹¹ &c &c –

We are grieved by your accounts from Malta – Lady Elis^th also had a letter a few days since from M^r Talbot ¹² himself by which he appears to be in very low spirits & ill as well as Lady Charlotte. ¹³ – I forward today a letter for you –

Your affectionate
Constance

I suppose you know that poor Lady Harriet Galwey ¹⁴ is released at last from her long sufferings –

Henry Fox Talbot Esq^re
31 Sackville Street
London