TALBOT6457

Grasmere Wednesday
Aug 20^th

My dear Henry

I was in Keswick all day yesterday with Mlle Amélina & on my return found your letter dated Lille, by which I learnt the unlucky delay which occasioned by yourself & baggage parting company – It is to be hoped you soon recovered it & were enabled to proceed – but of this I am ignorant, having had no letter from you today. – You will find an accumulation of letters from me when you do arrive – that is two at Calais, en chemin, & one besides this at the Athenæum. – Caroline wrote to us from Lacock on Sunday & hoped you would meet her there<,> but I hope you will not, as I only wish you just to see her in London & then come on here. – You know we are promised a fine Autumn, as it is the rule at the Lakes even in ordinary days years – much more in this, when it has rained so much that it cannot go on. – I have had a correspondence with Mr [Coppock?] the Agent or trustee, on account of a M^r Fletcher having requested to view the House & grounds, on pretext of wishing to purchase. I had some conversation with him & found his real wish was to occupy for a time, & perhaps purchase at the expiration. – Harrison, who shewed him & his ladies all over the place, judged also from his conversation that they only wished to occupy for a short term. – They were looking at the place, just before it was let to you, & ended by taking one of M^r Green near the church – now they shew a desire of exchanging for this, as soon as we are gone. I did not like the Cottage being let over our heads, in this way without your knowledge, & therefore I wrote to Mr Coppock to know if he would not rather give the preference to you, in case of your choosing to remain a little longer. He civilly answered; “I can assure you if you will let us know the term M^r Talbot desires, we shall if possible allow him to continue.

“We shall give no answer to M^r Fletcher until we hear from M^r Talbot, for which a week will allow ample time.”

What will you do? – I should like to have it in our power by remaining a little longer to make some pleasant Autumnal excursions – with you. – We have not yet been to Langdale even –

Your affcte
Constance –