TALBOT8176

[fragment? - Constance typically signed her letters]

Speddoch Saturday
August 11^th

My dear Henry

I trust the post will bring us today the intelligence of your having reached Oakfield as you intended yesterday. You would have the comfort of knowing by letters written to Ela, & intended for you principally, that our dear Child has been steadily improving ever since that dreadful crisis which alarmed us all so much. Nothing has gone wrong up to the present present moment: and we trust that under the blessing of God, with by using the greatest caution – and keeping her in the quietest state we possibly can, a few more days may establish her recovery so far as to remove anxiety from our minds – Her Physicians are quite satisfied with the progress she has made; and indeed scarcely had expected to subdue as rapidly as they have done the more dangerous symptoms – I will explain to you when we are together how all this happened as far as the Physicians have explained it to me – There were causes that would have been understood by a Physician had any trifling indisposition occasioned a medical man being called in within the last month or two – and a remedy could have been applied – There is nothing extraordinary in the attack, D^r Moir said, there was but no warning that could be understood either by herself or those near her – After the favorable termination of this illness, for which there is every reason now to hope, it is confidently expected that dear Matilda’s general health will improve, and her constitution become strengthened. We will not therefore mourn over the lost little one, but look forward to a blessing either of sons or daughters at a future period. – I am not sure whether M^lle Amélina mentioned in her letter of yesterday, that Matilda was quite resigned to the disappointment of her hopes – Her state of unconsciousness had prevented her knowing it at the time, & as her mind gradually cleared, she became aware of something strange & confused in her ideas – persuaded of something having happened, but without being able to account for it. D^r Moir advised that she should be told at once when he came the 2^d time – and on Thursday evening he broke it to her himself in the kindest way – A little increase of headache was perhaps the only result that could be traced at all prejudicial to her health, and the soothing prescriptions that were carefully followed, ensured a quiet night. She has this morning asked me a few questions & she gradually begins to understand what has happened. – I give you all these details – knowing how much they will tend to soothe your sorrow for what has happened; and to remove your fears for the future. I will keep my letter open, in case the post brings me anything w^h may require answering – I am sorry we cannot write tomorrow, as there is no Post on Sundays from hence – but I trust that all will be as favorable tomorrow as it is today. You will please tell Charles & Ela as much as you think proper of this letter – Of course they will be anxiously waiting to hear if I send good accounts. We are all pretty well – He M^r Clark & myself take turns in watching with one of the Nurses – Henrieta is admirably judicious, attentive & devoted – only I am obliged to watch that she is not too lively: for we are all forbidden to speak more than a few words. – or to encourage dear Tilly to talk – M^lle A. saw her for a moment yesterday & kissed her – I hope Ros^d may soon have a kiss too – but they cannot be allowed anything more for a day or so. They will soon

[unsigned}

[envelope:]
H. F. Talbot Esqre
Oakfield
Keswick
Cumberland