TALBOT5746

Lacock Abbey
Friday Oct. 9. –

My dear Henry

You cannot think how very glad I was to get your letter this morning – having lost all trace of you since hearing from Wright ¹ that you had set off for Dover last Friday (this day week). – Up to the date of the last part of your letter you seem to have proceeded very perseveringly – in spite of indifferent weather. Since then I fear you will have been much discouraged – for it has been one incessant storm – such wind & rain as we have scarcely experienced since last winter. – I felt sure you must have crossed the water or else it would have brought you back again, – and I have done nothing but lament over your ill-luck. – For my Brother ² too I feel anxious – as he intended to cross from Southampton to Havre on Tuesday – but I cannot think that he would be able to do so – & I have heard nothing since – I hope you will soon write to me again dear Henry & tell me what you resolve to do – under these adverse circumstances – & how you manage to keep up your spirits – It grieves me to learn from your letter that you are unwell – perhaps the voyage upset you although you bore it better at the time than some of your fellow passengers –

I am puzzled about your letters – as you do not say – forward them all except any that are evidently unimportant – How can I judge! – without perusing them! – There are 2 Foreign letters, both with the Paris postmark – in the same hand – one of them stamped Charles Chevalier. ³ One from M^r Cowderoy ⁴ – 1 Harrison ⁵ & 1 M^r C. Jones ⁶ – 2 from Melksham ⁷ a bulky one from M^r West Awdry ⁸ – & 3 others – & a brown paper parcel looking like Talbotypes. – So in my perplexity I decide upon forwarding none – Rosamond ⁹ sends her love to you in an affectionately squeaky voice – Matilda ¹⁰ joins – for these two are in the room with me at this moment. I took them all to see Tom Thumb yesterday at Chippenham which was a great pleasure – M^r & M^rs Moore ¹¹ went with us & lunched here afterwards. – She likes this kind of thing – by why she made M^r Moore go also, I cannot understand; as it is not at all in his line & he was evidently bored if not disgusted. Wright is here on his way to M^t E. ¹² – he seems still unwell & wants nursing – Horatia ¹³ has ordered him to take down with him – a quantity of things – warm clothing &c. which implies that she intends to prolong her stay considerably. –

My Brother paid his promised visit the same day that you left home, arriving in excellent time for dinner – he signed the deed of exchange & went on to Moreton ¹⁴ on Saturday – I wrote to you on Friday & directed to Cox’s hotel – but of course you did not receive my letter. ¹⁵ Wright says L^d & Lady Lansdowne ¹⁶ reached London on Monday – & I imagine they will come down to Bowood immediately. I must go & enquire after them as soon as the weather improves – M^lle A ¹⁷ has a cold & is indisposed – the weather does not allow of her going to Bath as she had intended for bathing. –

Dearest Henry your affectionate
Constance –

I heard from M^rs Henneman ¹⁸ a day or 2 ago – She was getting stronger & Henneman ¹⁹ was much better & intending to return to Reading ²⁰ this week.