TALBOT6546

Lacock Abbey

Friday 22^d

My dear Henry

Ela ¹ thanks you for your messages to her & your extreme solicitude for her re-appearance among us – I should otherwise have kept it as a surprise for your return, to tell you that she has dined with us these three last days – Yesterday she was a good deal fatigued towards evening – but today she seems stronger again. The weather was heavy yesterday & very showery today, – so that she has been obliged to keep in doors – and this is perhaps better for her than attempting to walk every day. M^lle Amélina ² & myself are delighted with the flattering comparisons you make between the Water colours of Lacock Abbey and those of the London artists. I am still hesitating whether I shall venture to tell the Girls – We have held a general grand consultation on Summer plans, thinking in accordance with your request – and indeed you are right in wishing something to be decided now – as there is not much more time than necessary for making preparations – to be ready for our usual start. – We do not incline for Switzerland – and had rather take change of air nearer home. We have all a faiblesse for Cumberland as you know – but there is much to be said against that too – the great difficulty of finding houses – and the dislike you yourself have to return to that district. – North Wales is quite new to some of us – and a country we think we should like – If you think the same, I would suggest (time permitting) that you should enquire at some of the Agents for good houses in the interior of the picturesque parts – not on the coast – of course the mountains would be best during the summer.

This is rather a hurried scrap which you will please to excuse, as I thought it would be best to give you our ideas at once –

y^r aff^te

Constance. –