TALBOT5884

Lacock Abbey
Shrove Tuesday.

My dear Henry

A Circular has been received by M^r Bowerbank ¹ from the Librarian of Lambeth Palace ² requesting information respecting ancient books belonging to any Church Library or private collection in his parish. – The enquiry relates only to foreign books (that is books printed abroad in a foreign language) in or before the year 1520; and English books (that is books printed in England in whatever language, or elsewhere in the English language) in or before the year 1550 – also to Manuscripts of the same or of an earlier date, & to such books or manuscripts as are obviously ancient – but have no date. – He states that "this important work is undertaken, not less with a view of preserving the books themselves, & in some cases turning the attention of those into whose hands they may have devolved to their rarity & value, than with the hope of benefiting the cause of literature, by showing that books, the very existence of which has been disputed, or is not even suspected, are not only in being, but are more accessible to the student than some of the exaggerations of mistaken or interested persons may have led him to suppose." – M^r B. said he thought your library the only one likely one [sic] to contain such books & asked me whether you wd object to his giving the names & particulars if such were found. Preparatory to your answer Horatia ³ & I have examined those which we knew of as being among the oldest in the Library – and we do not find any quite so ancient – H thinks Dionyse de Monsichantsye (w^h you will scarcely recognise in the orthography I have given her) is certainly of the Class specified – & have you any others? – And what answer shall I make to M^r B? – We have a high flood after the melting of the snow – yesterday it was higher even than today –

M^lle A ⁴ has given the children ⁵ a half holiday to keep Mardi gras. – She is very well content with their diligence in general for some time past –

I am afraid this damp weather must be very odious in London & productive of Influenza – be careful please – Marian ⁶ writes me word she has a bad cold & cough & feels weak – They are going to have a sale of the furniture china &c at 44 Queen Anne St. ⁷ She says it makes her melancholy to see the things she remembers all her life – put out to be sold. –

I have had a fire made in your white or yellow room these two days to dry it & all it contains – It was damp in the breaking up of the frost & this was increased by the bursting of a pipe which flooded the floor – but was luckily discovered before any mischief was done.

Your affectionate
Constance.