East Ferry Cottage
Thursday Oct 18th
My dear Henry
We were again disappointed yesterday in our hopes of receiving a letter from you – I spoke to our Cook yesterday to know if she would like to follow us to Edinburgh as kitchen maid, but learnt that she has engaged herself to a place at Dunkeld for the winter – We shall easily get a servant there; but it wd have been more agreeable to have had the same – I hope you received the Birnam Oak acorns sent yesterday. – I packed them in such a manner as I thought would preserve them from being crushed – Pray desire Wilkins to plant them carefully & to place their name on a legible stick by the side – Will he raise them in a large pot or in the open border? If the latter, he must be the more careful to mark them.
We had a slight change in our weather yesterday, inasmuch as the sky was less clear – and consequently we had no frost last night – the wind rose in gusts, dispersing the clouds this morning – & it is now bright again & much less cold – Really it is wonderful weather for a Scotch October. – I find that Wednesday will be a more convenient day for our journey, on account of previous packing &c &c. than Tuesday – therefore we will transfer the remove till that day & hope it will be fine – but I rather anticipate a rainy week to succeed this present dry one.
Adieu dear Henry – I have nothing more to say today –
Yr affte
Constance.
Charles has left off writing to us –
You remember that we left £30- in the Melksham Bank – would it not be best for you to take it out while you are there – pay the ¼ wages that are due to the Servants at home & their board wages – and give the rest to Meredith on acct – for she will perhaps want some to pay their Journey expenses –
¼ Wages due Oct 1st
<in 2 cols; col. 1 name, col. 2 amount due in £ s d, aligned>
Meredith – £6 ·· 5 ·· 0
George 5 – 0 – 0
Rebecca 3 ·· 10 ·· 0
Ellen 2 ·· 10 ·· 0
Betsy 2 ·· 10 ·· 0
19 ·· 15 ·· 0
Board wages 8 weeks up to the end of this week.
Meredith 10/- per week £4 · -
George 5 7 weeks at 10/- – 2 ·· 10 - 0
Rebecca 8 weeks at 8/ – 3 ·· 4 – 0
Betsy 8 weeks at 8/ – 3 ·· 4 – 0
Ellen a shorter time
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