Chester, Monday
October 27
1851 [in another hand]
My dear Henry
I have just this moment received your letter – I asked for it on arriving here yesterday – about 2 o’clock – and the answer was the Post office would not be open till six – being Sunday – But it was not forth coming till this morning – can it be two days post from London to Chester? – Mlle. Amélina wrote to you on Saturday morning, to report our favorable progress – and put her letter in the Post office here yesterday – As you are gone to Lacock you will not receive these tidings so soon as we expected – & therefore I indite a few lines to you there to the same effect.
We have proceeded extremely well as far as Chester. Our first day Milnethorpe [sic] was pleasant & as warm as Summer – There was however a considerable haze in the distance, enough to mark entirely the Langdale Pikes – and therefore the Duddon was given up – at Milnthorpe we had a walk on arriving – Friday to Preston Saturday to Harrington – The latter place was much quieter & more comfortable than I expected. But Chester is what delighted us most. I was obliged to give up my intention of finishing my letter there this morning – and I am now writing to you from Llangollen, where we arrived this evening, just at dusk. I will post my letter in the Post somewhere tomorrow, but will direct it to London, as this delay of a day would probably prevent its catching you at Lacock. We were delighted with the approach to Llangollen & mean to look about a little tomorrow before starting for Shrewsbury. But I must tell you now of Chester; We direct after our arrival; then went to the Cathedral afternoon service & afterwards walked about the old Town & ramparts by lamp-light, till we were tired – This morning we walked again to gaze at the ancient houses, inspect the Choisters & Cathedral, and admire the Shops – which are very good. Mr. Vardon1 made several excellent sketches The old shops are fast disappearing; and I think we came only just in time to see them, as the character of the Town will be quite gone in a few years. – Our journey prospers quite as well as I hoped – It is not tedious & the weather is pleasant – but very hazy for seeing the country. – I was a good deal tired the first 2 or 3 days, but am getting on well now – Mlle. Amélina is but poorly – She will be rejoiced (as much as ^I myself ^with her) to put herself under Mr. Kenrick’s care – It makes me very anxious to see her in her present health.
It is with difficulty that I have found opportunity to scribble this stupid letter. – so dull – it is not worth your reading – We had a Harper playing Welsh airs on a Welsh harp all the evening, in the hall of this pretty hotel, which has the curious designation of ‘the Hand’. – I am very sorry that Sir David & Miss Brewster will not come to us at Lacock. We shall reach home on Saturday – but I suppose that is not soon enough for them.
Your affectionate
Constance.
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