TALBOT7594

Tuesday 13^th

My dear Henry

My letter of Sunday would shew you that I almost anticipated your decision of staying at Lacock and allowing Charles to pass of week with you there. – He is very much pleased to learn by your letter to me of this morning, that he has your permission and approval. – He has been out just now to buy himself a Bradshaw Guide, & hopes to make out a way of getting through to Lacock in one day – Past experience makes me doubt the practicability of this, but there is no harm in trying consulting the Oracle & making it out if he can. – We think that Monday next (the 19^th) will be the best day for him to eave Edinburgh – and be with you either on that day or the next according to circumstances – He doesn’t mind how early he starts or how late he travels, provided he can get through in the day – We have found a little difficulty in chusing our lodging at Keswick – because we preferred so much having a house to ourselves, on account of quiet, privacy, & I may say warmth, for all those hotels & Boarding houses are so very cold, because the doors constantly stand open. I therefore declined rooms at Pooles Lodging House, and asked M^r Wake (who himself recommended Poole) to enquire further – Yesterday Sunday I received a letter from him proposing Castlet Cottage on the Lake side of S^t John’s Church. It is the last House on the Barrow road, just opposite the gate leading up to the Church – I answered him by return of post requesting him to engage this Cottage – which from his description will only just hold us Ladies with our Maid – Goodwin will have a bed out of the house close by – and I hope my dear Henry that you will not mind for so short a time, the trifling inconvenience of sleeping at Dewar’s Boarding House, which is just on the outskirts of the Town – or rather (to describe its position more accurately) it stands at right angles to M^r Cowper’s premises, (M^r Cowper the Jeweller) – and has a square patch of garden before it. or we might be able to hear of a bed for you at a shorter distance – I have no doubt that tidy beds are to be had in any of the houses in the adjoining row to ours – For they are all in the habit of taking in lodgers in the Season – and at this time of the year cannot be in request. To confess the truth, I did not think you would yourself come to Keswick, as I believe you were not over fond of it; but had I known it for certain I don’t think I could have got a larger house – So I hope you won’t find the present arrangement uncomfortable. Shall I bespeak a bed close by? or shall I have a spare day, to look for one myself after we arrive? We are going to a very select private Dance this Evening – and have several large Balls at the Assembly rooms in prospect, to which Invitations are given by the Squires, the Militia &c &c So we shall have a very brilliant winding up of Season.

y^r aff^te

Constance