TALBOT6562

29 Royal Crescent
Bath

Saturday Jan^y 31^st 1852

My dear Henry

I wish you would let me know how poor Amandier ¹ is – for I had a very dim account of her from Constance ² the other day – which makes me anxious about her – as she says she had an attack of Bronchitis, & had been seriously ill – & as Constance herself is by no means well, I do not want to trouble her to write again.

I wish also to know if any of you are still afraid of seeing any of us – because I might possibly be inspired some fine day to run over to Laycock – [illegible deletion] as it is most likely we shall be leaving this neighbourhood very shortly – & it will be dismal to go quite away without seeing you all again, Valletort ³ went back to Oxford last yesterday week – & D^r Watson⁴ said it was perfectly impossible that any of us could give the infection, now, or for this long time past. Pray let me have a positive answer to this question – yes or no. I am glad to hear you are so well, & have got rid of your bad cold. Aunt Mary ⁵ wrote me word a short time ago that they had been very uneasy about Kit, ⁶ who had had a violent pleuratic cough – “but at last he allowed the doctor to try some remedies & was quickly cured, but as he thinks he knows more than the faculty, he is a very bad patient.”

I am sure you will all be sorry to hear that D^r Watson lost his wife this morning⁷ – though to herself it must have been a great release for she had been suffering dreadfully for a long time – & some time ago he told me that he had never seen anyone alive so emaciated.

I went yesterday to see the Deaf & Dumb & Blind Asylum – with which I was very much pleased – One very intelligent looking Girl about fifteen was both Blind, deaf & dumb – yet she can read write, work & make baskets beautifully. I bought a pair of little Baby’s socks knitted by her in shaded red wools – & when the Mistress gave her to understand that I had bought them, she looked so pleased & made a curtsey.

It is quite curious to see the blind & deaf Children all romping, swinging & playing together – It is a kind of private establishm^t at least it is chiefly managed by one lady – & the children all seem so happy & fond of the mistress. One of the Clergyman [sic] of Bath preaches on his fingers to the D. & Dumb Children on Sundays. –

Please write soon – we are all pretty well except Milord ⁸ – who is suffering much as usual

Y^r aff^te Sister
Caroline

Love to all – I had a delightful account of little Horace ⁹ lately – He now plays with the rattle I gave him – & is in short petticoats.