TALBOT6490

Thursday 11^th July

I am so sorry you are to be bored on the Grand Jury, but hope it will not be so bad as the last time for certainly the weather cannot be called hot. I will go & look at that house for the Miss Mundy’s ¹ <sic> the first moment I have any time. I hope to be down with you before the end of this Month I quite long to be at the dear old abbey again, which is to my mind a paradise in fine weather, or in any weather provided the leaves are on.

Have you ever told Constance of M^r Thorburn’s ² offer of going down to Laycock abbey to give some touches to Ela’s picture? ³ It would be no expence & he would see her much better than he did before. He is full of genius & talent, & not satisfied like the generality with painting a picture & getting paid, he wants to be pleased himself with what he has produced, as well as to please others. I am quite vexed I forgot to speak to you when you were here about your broken Etruscan Vase. I consulted M^r Vivian ⁴ M^r Hope & M^r Bankes ⁵ & all the Virtuosi I knew about who was the best person to give it to, & after much consultation they agreed that Mortlock was the best & that he would mend it like old china. Shall I do so?

answer this

aff^ly y^rs

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