TALBOT6987

Greta Bank

Saturday June 10^th

My dear Henry

We came home yesterday evening after a most prosperous tournée. – It was about ½ past eight and rather chilly with a few drops of rain falling – but the whole of the morning till after our arrival at Corkemouth, we and indeed all our weather after we parted from you on Wednesday was as bright & beautiful as possible. – I imagine there was some storm yesterday which changed the temperature of the air. – but though we had hail storms early this morning & a good deal of wind, it is now quite bright again & looks as if fine weather was not going to abandon us altogether. You would have been diverted if you had seen us yesterday evening, peeping in at the closed windows & calling to you: till Matilda, wiser than the rest of us, went in & asked George whether you were at home – and then he gave her the letter for me & said you were gone to London. We were so disappointed! we wanted to hear your adventures over <ill. del.> Stye Head, and to relate our own. I was afraid too that you might have regretted some delay in your journey by being out with us those three days – in case the letter was lying at Greta Bank before your return – We slept at Broughton on Wednesday – in a tidy little Inn where we were well entertained. but were disturbed by the noise of the ordinary low company that frequent those little Inns. – Therefore after spending Thursday visiting the Duddon valley, (which delighted us, quite surpassing our expectations) we went on late in the evening to Furness: where there is a very good hotel, on the site of the Abbots residence – The ruins are contiguous, & we spent all yesterday morning among them, till the train started by which we had fixed to return: at 1 o’clock – You would liked it all very much, if you could have staid. The only incongruous circumstance, and it does shock ones feelings cruelly is the station & Hotel being in the centre of the ruined pile, the engines puffing & screaming every half hour. – The girls made several drawings & have returned home with their sketch books quite filled. – Today they have been very much interested in passing them in review, comparing one with another – and tracing our route on the Map which we ought to have had with us – At Whitehaven one railway ends, & the Carlisle terminus has to be joined by traversing the Town which we did in an omnibus. There was no waiting here – but on leaving at Workington (the Cockermouth junction) we had ¾ of an hour which was satisfactorily devoted to discussing cold beef ale & cheese at the little Inn close to the Line. – This was our dinner. – At Cockermouth we found the carriage safely arrived by land on the previous day: and after looking through the new Church & admiring Wordsworth’s window, & walking round the old Castle, we drove briskly home, some of the party following in a cart –

I have a long arrear of accounts to settle with Goodwin, after he has got in the 2 months bills – therefore, if you can spare him so long, I will not send him off till Tuesday – in which case you will have his services on Thurs Wednesday – I hope you will not be inconvenienced by the delay – and I venture to keep him because you say you are not in a hurry. – I found a letter here from Harriot asking me to write, as she felt disappointed not to have received a few lines after our journey home from London. It was dated Whit-Monday, and as I did not receive it till Friday evening, & today there was no post to London, she will not get my answer till Monday – I am sorry to have neglected writing sooner, & fear she may think something has happened to us –. She would <ill. del.> never guess the true reason. – She wants particularly to know whether Dickenson in Bond S^t makes Talbotypes under a license from you, or whether he is one of those who infringe your Patent rights? – Pray answer me, that I may inform her. – Sir David Brewster’s book was lying on the Dining room table; we have ventured to open it – We found the Athenæum also –

Tell me whether you were over-fatigued with passing Stye Head? I am afraid you would find it severe work but you had beautiful weather.

Your affectionate

Constance. –

Have you repaid M^r Clarke of Calderbridge those £10 –? I believe you did not desire me to do so.