TALBOT6472

Grasmere Oct 3

My dear Henry

Your agreement with M^r Coppock & the other executors was dated 28^th day of May – the occupation of the Cottage (13 weeks) to commence on the 4^th day of June. – From the 4^th of June to the 3^d of September are thirteen weeks. The rent £75. From the 3^d of Sep^r to the 15^th of October, (making six weeks additional) £35. – total £110. – You will examine whether my reckoning is correct. By it I find that our time will expire on Wednesday the 15^th a fortnight from last Wednesday.

I will, if you please, consider on what day it will be necessary for Jones to come, & write you word. I must endeavour to make out what money will be wanted & let you know –

I am sorry your business prevents your enjoying the [?] of sun time at Grasmere – but just now the weather is unfavorable and may continue so – It w^d be a great pity for you to inconvenience yourself by coming down again for so short a space (at the most). And the weather is not likely to be settled enough for any kind of grand excursion<.> M^lle A is better & took a nice walk into Langdale with the girls on Wednesday – though it blew a gale of wind – and she was all the better for it – Both she & I are disposed to improve every opportunity that the weather may offer and therefore you must not think that our girls are precluded from making the most of what remains – I wish that in winding up accounts with M^r Coppock you would avoid tying us up to leave on any one particular day – It might be a pouring miserable day, & some of us might be really indisposed & afraid of exposure to damp – Could you not say that some of your family being invalids, might they not put off a day or two if so required – You know M^r Senhouse had intended that we should exercise such discretion in regard to Barrow; but his civility came too late, & he expressed himself very sorry on the occasion.

I was quite pleased to see by your letter yesterday that I had taken a mistaken view of your invitation to see the Exhibition. –

So it is all right, and we are all exceedingly grateful for your thinking of us again – What a shame of the committee to act so shabbily towards Henneman! and unfairly too in their appreciation of his performances. – Of course you will inspect them yourself. –

We had a thunder storm yesterday, which has left a raw chilly atmosphere but the weather is improving now ([?] part) and the changing lights are very fine.

We will say civil things to M^r Vardon:-¹ and I think, if he gives up Ambleside as a residence & comes into the neighbourhood of Bath, he will be glad to make his head quarters at Lacock while making arrangements. –

His decision must depend on what I am able to learn on our return. I mean to see what promises will be made as a sufficient security to him on first starting – later, he will have to take care of himself. But he has distinctly said that he feels it necessary to abandon Ambleside & try his fortunes elsewhere –

While he is attending to this, his wife & child will visit her family at Brussels. –

Your affectionate
Constance

I suppose you could not procure the plan of Canals which I so much wanted? –