TALBOT8323

Lacock

Feb. 22 1861

My Dear Constance

We had a most terrific gale of wind in the night between the 20^th & 21^st – It reached its highest point between midnight and one oclock – The gusts shook the old abbey very much, the wind made such a roaring and howling that I thought some of the chimneys would have fallen – It put me in mind of the gale of Michaelmas Eve in 1841 which brought down the great Elm tree. I expected its companion would have fallen this time; – Next day the 21^st the gale returned in the afternoon with renewed fury and this time it prostrated eight fine black poplars growing all together in an old gravel pit, they fell across the road and blocked up the carriageway, but I should think nobody wishes to travel at that time.

In the evening a gust tore off one of the longest limbs of the noble elm which greatly disfigured it, because the torn part fronts the Abbey windows – what remains is still a fine tree.

I perceive from your letter that you had nothing of all this at Edinb. only think of 400 miles making so great a difference! Adieu, it is almost post time

Your aff^te

Henry

I will consider Mary Carmodys¹ case tomorrow.