TALBOT7178

East Ferry Cottage
Dunkeld
Wednesday Sept 19^th

My dear Henry

I have received your letters of Monday & Tuesday from Edinburgh and am very happy to find that you began to feel more & more comfortable after we parted – I had feared that your indisposition might, on the contrary encrease: similar attacks having being so prevalent. We have indeed been most fortunate in the weather – you for your journey, and we for ours! So bright, beautiful & warm! – You say that at Edinburgh the latter part of Monday was hazy – with us it grew brighter & brighter till sunset yesterday & This morning were [sic] equally delightful. About 4 o’clock today a Scotch mist came on – but we had finished our walk & didn’t mind it – We had a most properous [sic] journey to this place – A carriage & pair of horses, with a seat behind, roomy & comfortable happened to be waiting at Perth Station. It had been ordered by a gentleman who failed to arrive by that train, consequently was at our service – It held us all together with our smaller packages – We had all the other luggage taken on trust to the Carrier’s: & after seeing them deposited in his Cart & receiving an assurance that they would reach Dunkeld about nine o’clock the same evening, we proceeded on our journey – Our driver was very obliging, & charged nothing extra for this delay, which had proved rather a convenience than otherwise, by enabling us to buy something at a baker’s & see a little of the town of Perth. – M^elle A, Ela & I were far more delighted that we expected by the approaches & first view of Dunkeld, which are the more striking from the preceding paucity of interest throughout the route from Perth. Our surprise was at least equal, on first entering this pretty little cottage. Rosam^d & Matilda had abstained from any kind of description which would prepare us for what it really is – a very pretty, & in many respects commodious house – The last lodgers must have been very untidy people, & Miss Chalmers herself no better, to judge from the dirty state of the whole house – Our Servants are getting everything into order by degrees – The 2 maidservants are quite as good as I expected – Though rather fonder of talking than working – We have hired 2 very commodious chests of drawers to hold our things, and mean to be very comfortable. – Our first night did not pass over quite smoothly – owing to the Carrier objecting to unload his cargo till the following morning which deprived us of our night caps &c &c. Some of our beds also were rather damp – but I don’t think anybody suffered materially – Nothing can be prettier or more suitable for our séjour than this little retreat. We shall hasten to view the beauties of the environs as soon as we are all quite rested. We have already paid several visits to the Town, & find it convenient for marketing – It is such a peaceful place – as yet unspoilt by railways – How different it will look in the course of a few years! – This morning (Thursday) is again very fine – We mean to take a short drive – The post at Dunkeld goes out (North & South) at ¼ past 12 – & comes in at ½ past it so there is no possibility of answering letters the same day – I will send this off by this morning’s post; and tomorrow will forward the Devizes Newspaper which M^r Awdry sent you – It came yesterday via Bridge of Allan – We keep it to read today – there is a long account of the Meeting – The letters you sent interested us very much – particularly M^r Scrope’s – I am glad we were not at home to meet such an invasion – You would have a long day again yesterday from York to Harrow. – but I hope to hear that you got through it comfortably. –

M^lle Amelina continues better – all the rest are well – They send their love & desire me to tell you how happy we all are here –

Your affectionate
Constance

[envelope:]
H. F. Talbot Esqre
Lacock Abbey
Chippenham
Wiltshire