TALBOT8231

Oakfield October 25^th

My dear Henry

I yesterday received a letter from M^rs Widowson at Geelong dated August 22^d – forwarded to me by Goodwin from Lacock. She sends you the enclosed packets of seed, of some Native Shrubs – thinking you may be interested in them; and proposes "(if spared till the summer) to collect a few of the most choice & rare, if M^r Talbot will not think me taking too great a liberty." Inside the papers are directions for treatment, and description of the plant – so you must open & examine them yourself, before handing them over to Wilkins – M^rs Widowson writes to acquaint us of her old Father’s death: which appears to have taken place while he was living with some Friends in Ireland, who treated him so kindly as if they had been his children and gave him a very handsome funeral &c &c So that his Daughters in Australia were quite comforted & relieved from their long anxiety about him. M^rs W is struggling on in maintaining her sick husband as well as herself. She gave up her school which proved a failure, especially as he could not fear the noise of the children in the house. – She has now undertaken a brisk employment in Candle-wick making – which she says is not laborious otherwise than by shortening her hours of rest – from the quantity which she undertakes to supply – often as many wicks as are required for from 12 to 15 cwt of candles in the 24 hours – She says it is a clean and very respectable employment – that she has persons to help her when she cannot get through the whole of it herself – and that she has the material sent to her at her own home –

I have a very nice letter from Tilly this morning – She speaks of the weather as more deplorably wet even than we have it at Keswick – She has only walked out in her garden once since her return from Dabton: that was on Tuesday last, which was also a beautiful day here, as I mentioned when I wrote to you. She thinks you may be come to us at Bakfield, and sends her love & I am to tell you that she is ashamed of having left your least letter unanswered; but she says it is partly because she knows you have been wandering about – I remark that she wrote before receiving her post yesterday, when one of our letters would tell her of your being still at Lacock – She heard of a house through Miss Moncrieff, no 25 Melville Street – I am therefore writing to ask Patterson about it – As he did not himself mention it, it has either been put into the hands of another Agent, or is too small , or perhaps let since Miss Moncrieff heard of it – At any rate I have requested M^r Patterson to make enquiry about it –

I was glad to hear from your letter received yesterday – that you had seen L^d M^t E. and found him so very cheerful. It is wonderful! But how anxious Caroline must feel until he gets safe home again. –

Ever dear Henry your affectionate
Constance

M^r Headlam is at Portinscale with the Farells – but I have not seen him yet. Charles’s Pony is come.