TALBOT5500

Lacock Abbey
Wednesday 31^st
New Year’s Eve –

My dear Henry

I opened the Southampton parcel as you desired – and on finding that it did not contain views, but only white paper I felt doubtful whether I ought to forward it – but decided at length that it would be most prudent to send it , in case you might like Nicole ¹ to work with it immediately. – Finding an explanatory letter from M^r Jones ² I glanced at its contents to relieve my anxiety; for I fancied he must have sent views also & that they had been stolen at the Custom house or elsewhere – I am afraid you will be disappointed as I was that there are no views particularly as you bid me only forward it in that case – & the sight of it, will therefore give you a promise which its contents will not fulfil – Wright ³ advised strongly that it should not be sent by the Post – because being large he thought it likely that the post mistress would double it in order to get it into the bag – and as he happened to have business today at Chippenham, he took it himself to the Station – properly directed to you at the Railway Hotel Reading – and I imagine you will receive it some time in the course of this evening – I have hid your charming mysterious "Happy New Year" for Ela, ⁴ and will give it her tomorrow if I have your commands in the morning to that effect, otherwise I will keep it for our Tree on Wednesday – Lady Lansdowne ⁵ has sent them some Toys to be given with her love tomorrow – So they will have something to mark the day – but I have begged Lady Elisabeth ⁶ to keep hers for the Tree – on Wednesday – Will you be here? – I wrote to you yesterday ⁷ at Reading – and explained Lady Elisabeth’s plans – Altogether she will not have had much of Lacock this year & very little of your society – therefore as well as for other advantages I hope you will spend a comfortable month with her at Brighton –

Horatia ⁸ met M^r Beckett ⁹ at old Johnson’s cottage yesterday – & had a long talk with him – in the Church afterwards, when he invited her to go & see the New Table, ¹⁰ – as she was absent Xmas-day – He is delighted with it himself & worked hard to get it finished in time – Horatia likes it too & Lady Elisabeth approves of it also from description – I agree with you – but I dare say in this quiet place it will produce no effect on the minds of the congregation – M^r Bowerbank ¹¹ has positively fixed to come.

Y^r aff^te
Constance.

[envelope]
H, F, Talbot Esq^r
Post Office
Reading