TALBOT6451

Grasmere Thursday
Jul Aug 7^th

My dear Henry

I am writing to you almost sooner than I can reckon on your reaching Calais, unless some anxious thoughts about our dear Horatia, should bring you home sooner – It is sad to think illegible] that this great state of weakness should have recurred after her progress towards recovery had given us all such good hopes – They have however the best advice at command, & I hope D^r Ferguson may suggest something to give her strength which the others have not thought of – I have not heard from you since your letter of the 22^d July: which I received on the 28^th & answered on the 29^th directing to Dresden as you desired – I am therefore still ignorant of your proceedings connected with the Eclipse – but I think you must have had fine weather. Here we are enjoying the most perfect Summer we have yet had – it is bright & beautiful without being oppressive – and today is the fourth day of it – We were all on the Lake yesterday evening with the gardener; learning to row the boat ourselves – Charles tried his hand the day after he arrived, & delights in nothing half so much – M^r Green is exceedingly good natured to him. I only fear he is too indulgent – He has sketched a little, & fished more – without catching anything but minnows – Arithmetic writing & English History divide the hour from ten to eleven, previous to going out. Yesterday after the boat, I strolled up the road on our side the Lake, & taking the mountain track behind M^r Johnson’s, we found a shorter way to Langdale, & came home by the usual road. Charles & his Sisters were with me & we enjoyed ourselves very much – M^lle Amélina was not well enough to leave her room but she is better today & sharing the Thursday’s drawing lesson at this moment – On Monday they went with M^r Vardon¹ into Easedale, to sketch from Nature –

We have all continued very florishing [sic] since you left us – & are now anxiously hoping that whenever you come next to Grasmere you will find the same beautiful weather that we enjoy at this moment – Our Strawber Strawberries still last, & the gooseberries & currants are very fine – We have also a kind of small cherry (quantities) in the wood, which we gather off the trees ourselves –

Your affectionate
Constance.

Ela answered your letter of the 30^th & directed to Cassel. –