TALBOT7589

Athole Crescent
Sunday April 4^th

My dear Henry

Thanks for your two letters – the first (short one) approving our schemes – which I received on Friday – and the other this morning – You have sketched out some pleasant excursions as an improvement on our first idea – The Melrose & Abbotsford deviation is well worth considering – but don’t you think it might almost be easier to see these places from Edinburgh, and so return to Athole Crescent for our final start? – particularly as our term of the house is up on the Saturday: but the following day (Sunday the 2^d) would scarcely be available either for travelling or sight seeing – But there is plenty of time before us to arrange this. – Ullswater is a good idea also – but the girls say that deviation would rob them of a day or two’s study of rocks in the vale of Derwentwater – and they will hear of nothing else at present. They are all very much obliged to you for consenting so readily to their wishes –

Charles arrived last night at ½ past 8, considerably behind the hour that the train was due – but he had met with no hindrances or difficulties – It was a miserable day for travelling – cold & wet – but beyond a little cold he doesn’t appear to have suffered. I have given him your room; but will move him when you come – He had Ela’s before – but I would not disturb her sooner than it was necessary. – Charles appears to have liked his visit at Markeaton very much – He wished also to have paid you a visit at Lacock – but the two places lay too wide asunder to permit of this. He thought in case of your staying on there till near the end of his holiday, he might spend the latter part of them with you at Lacock – He says there are books there which might be very useful to him at Harrow, but which he can only can find by looking for them himself. –

I don’t think it desirable to prolong Samuel’s engagement – He is lazy, and not always under controul. – besides I do not see why we should want a third manservant in London – If we do, it will be easy to get one there on a job – We are extremely amused at Sir John Talbot’s injunctions to his daughter on the occasion of her journey to London – The veneration of the Talbots for the unfortunate Stewarts was unbounded , and in this instance appears ridiculous to us their degenerate descendants. – I dare say you possess many interesting & curious letters in the Tower, of whose existence you are scarcely aware – We rejoice that Lord Talbot’s case is in such a promising way.

Your affectionate
Constance.

I have asked Mr Wake to enquire about lodgings – The Derwentwater Arms is well situated, but I think Poole’s Boarding House would be quieter; & its situation is as good, or better.