TALBOT8195

Parkfield
Friday Sep^r 14^th

My dear Henry

I received your welcome letter yesterday and congratulate you on having accomplished your journey from the North while our fine weather lasted. But a melancholy change has come over the face of the Country since yesterday, and I guess that your next letter will speak in a different tone. And that you will no longer urge us to take a trip to Buttermere. – I don’t believe however that the fine weather has left us altogether; it is often variable as we approach the Equinox, and especially after a touch of frost. – At Speddoch, it was colder on Sat. & Sunday than here, and some of their Dahlias & Fuchsias were a good deal cut up, and hung their heads. – On the second night all the tender things were protected – and escaped further injury. – Nothing in the Oakfield garden appears to have suffered – & I think the heavy rain of today is likely to do us more mischief than the frost of last week. By the way now I recollect, those were the two last nights before you left us. Charles was very well & in excellent spirits on Wednesday morning when he started on his journey at nine o’clock. – And he had a very fine day to go by Ullswater. Which was a very happy thought of his own at the last moment. He had never seen Ullswater, – and he therefore chose the morning Coach which starts that way – but instead of passing our Kirkstone he was to meet the Steamer at Patterdale, for Pooley Bridge, and take the other Coach from thence to Penrith. – I dare say we shall hear Tomorrow of his arrival at Whorlton. – We were quite astonished at your pedestrian journey from Grasmere to Windermere. – I did not think you had strength for such a feat! – but must believe you were not the worse for it, as you do not say so. The accounts from Speddoch are very satisfactory – Matilda has walked all round her kitchen garden – and now dines in her Dining room with her husband at 2 o’clock – she also walks up and down stairs without assistance.

I have received a very civil apology from M^r Gale about the work in the Passage & at Lacock – and he tell me he began to make the new door ways the moment he rec^d my letter, and that he will push it on quickly. – There is a new storm trough required in the scullery which I have asked him to order Banks to put in –

If you receive a parcel of books by the Carrier on Saturday, directed to me. – it will be the Library books from Simms, in exchange for the set Which we sent back by Thomas. – Rosamond will write tomorrow & explain what we wish to be done with them. – Our little Page boy from Keswick promises well. – he is very short of his age – but handy. –

Your affectionate
Constance

[envelope:]
H. F. Talbot Esq^re
Lacock Abbey
Chippenham-