TALBOT7188

East Ferry Cottage Tuesday evening.

My dear Henry

I dare not wait your answer to my letters of Friday & Saturday before sending you my appeal for a remittance – So having collected most of my bills today, I draw up the enclosed statement ready to be forwarded by post tomorrow: and I think it will be necessary for you to take measures to send me the money by return of post, or at least not later than Saturday, that I may receive it on Monday. – There is a bank at Dunkeld called, the Central Bank of Scotland, into which I suppose you will pay it – and you will please to direct me how to draw it out – I suppose it will be on stamped bills such as you gave me before – I think £60 will not be too much to send me.

The only piece of extravagance we have been guilty of, is that of the journey to Loch Tay & Blair Athole, which I see, cost us about £1 per day each person – Those kind of pleasure are very expensive – but I hope you approve of our having done it. We have not had a carriage more than twice for drives about Dunkeld, as we mostly prefer walking – but their charge for airings is cheap enough; being 7/ 6 for a carriage & pair of horses, irrespective of distance – These three last days have been very fine indeed – dry & sunny – and in the middle of the day quite warm; although the nights are frosty & very keen – On Sunday we crossed the Bridge & walked towards Birnam wood but the railroad has spoilt every thing on that side & the paths are no longer frequented except by navvies, some of whom were <illeg.> about there at that time – We therefore retreated in the direction of the River, & walked through the pretty grounds of a villa called Tor Wood, on Tor Hill – built by a nouveau enriché, who ruined himself & died – Then we turned by the Birnam Hotel garden to a green Walk by the river side, which is thrown open to the public by the liberal minded owners of Murthly Castle, who is I believe a Stewart, although the guide book calls him Sir W^m Drummond. The green walk extends several miles quite up to Murthly Castle, but we did not proceed much beyond the entrance, where stands the 2 fine trees, sole remain of Birnam Forest. We finished up some of the Acorns under the venerable Oak &c I will try if I can coax a few into a shapeable letter, as we should like to have some planted at Lacock – The other tree is a Sycamore – They are both very fine.

Did you see a letter of Lord Mount Edgcumbe in the Times rather more than a week ago? We missed it & only saw the Times’s answer to it – on the 10^th – We think perhaps the letter itself was not inserted in our edition, but if you can tell us the date, we will search again more carefully.

Harriot writes me word that her Neice Louisa Mary, (Henry Frampton’s daughter) is engaged to M^r Featherstonhaugh - which appears to give her great satisfaction although she knows very little of the gentleman.

good night, dear Henry; I have been writing this evening to be sure of being in time for tomorrow’s post – We are all impatient for you next letters, as you are in debt to three of us –

Your affectionate

Constance –

Which hotel at Edinburgh do you recommend as being pleasantly situated. & convenient for our object in house hunting?

Miss Chalmers begs we will chuse any day we please for our journey; therefore if Tuesday sh^d be wet we will take Wednesday.