TALBOT7622

Castlet Cottage.
Tuesday May 4

My dear Henry

You will receive I hope in safety tomorrow Evening by Morgan, a precious plant with thick leaves, having its name attached, (but which I do not at present recall to mind) of which I request you will tell Wilkins to take the greatest care – It was given me by Lady M^cNeill just before we left Edinburgh, & described as being very beautiful, but there was some doubt as to what is its Native Country. It is one of several seedlings raised in the stove at Granton – but the only treatment which the Gardener recommended was that it sh^d be watered only once a week, first putting it into a larger pot, as its roots were already pushing their way through the hole at the bottom of the pot. The hamper contains also a little heath & a little Azalea, both in good health, though now out of flower – but we [illegible deletion] wish them to be taken particular care of. – They belong to M^lle & to Ela. –

You will be glad to hear that we have very fine & enjoyable weather since Sunday – yesterday we were out nearly all day – R^d and M. sketched Stumps & rocks & weeds on Friar Crag. – and I wandered about the while, & sat reading in the bright sunshine on the banks of the Lake till they had finished – This filled up our morning till the early dinner at 3. – After dinner we had a succession of visitors, and as soon as they were all gone, I went out again with R^d & M, to the woods of Wallow Crag and came in to tea at 8. – This morning we have staid near home, as we were expecting the promised visit of Sir John Woodford. ¹ He came soon after twelve – and was very pleasant & friendly – and desired his compliments to you when I happened to be writing. He is sadly enfeebled & altered by a severe attack of bronchitis which seized him at Stafford on his way home from London – and laid him up for a month – He is convalescent, but very much changed – He is cutting down a quantity of wood on his estate, with the intention of throwing it into pasture land. I fear we shall find the place much disfigured, when we go over to the other side –

We are all enjoying ourselves much. I had a letter form Charles today: his first from Harrow.

Y^r aff^te Constance.