TALBOT7557

4 Athole Crescent

February 25^th

My dear Henry

Some letters come for you occasionally which I fancy you will not care to have forwarded – But I will send them if you wish – There are lying for you now, two from the Royal Society of Edinburgh. (probably notices of Evening Meetings) and one with B of S. on the adhesive cachet; which I read Bank of Scotland – therefore I thought you would not want them – And I look daily for a few lines from you in explanation of the latter, being probably an acknowledgement of some remittance from you. –

Your present to Matilda arrived yesterday, unknown to her – I therefore hid it away till this morning, and had it placed on the Table with newspapers &c just received – We are boiling over with indignation at the stupid faction which turned out the ministry by the vote of Friday night. The only consolation is, that the new administration will have almost an impossible task on their hands –

Professor Forbes paid me a visit yesterday, & enquired much after you – He said that Sir David Brewster was at his house a short time ago, & expressed great regret at not having known of your being at Edinburgh, and so to have missed a chance of seeing you. M^rs Forbes told me the same circumstance about ten days ago – but I believe I omitted to acquaint you with it when I wrote. – I had a nice letter from Charles the beginning of this week – he mentioned the severe illness of M^r Steel, which obliged him to put some responsible tutor in his place to rule the house & take his class during the remainder of the half. –

When you write, do tell us whether Wilkins did anything with the large Pumpkins which were to be fit for use in the course of the Winter. Ela hopes that he or somebody else made soup of them, & she wishes to know the result. –

Y^r aff^te

Constance

My Brother doesn’t think there is any truth in the reports of the D. of Devonshires secret marriage.