TALBOT8425

Millburn Tower¹
Tuesday June 18^th

My dear Henry

Yesterday we received 3 letters from you, all written the same day (June 13^th) on your arrival at Aix les Bains – These made amends for your not writing from Paris – as all thought you would do. But we had letters from London & York, on your outward progress from Scotland. – We are glad to find that the one solitary letter from Millburn Tower (of M^lle Amélina) came to hand in London before you left for Paris – because you did not give sufficiently early notice for a letter to overtake you at Paris – so nobody wrote to you there – and we waited the next address that you might give – Charles came to Millburn on Tuesday the 11^th having slept at Edinburgh Monday – He looks well, and was full of animation during the first 2 or 3 days. He takes a great fancy to this place, and says he means to set diligently to Mathematics – He kept this resolution at first, but something seems to have unsettled him a little since. The same Tuesday that he came, the Gilchrist Clarks drove over to spend the morning and dine with us – Tilly herself proposing to stay till Friday if we could lodge her, for her husband had to go to Speddoch & Dumfries next day – We had no difficulty as you will imagine, in getting in your room made ready for her – and we were very happy to keep her with us those three days – The weather was perfect & she was out of doors a great deal, helping Rosamond to plan the flower beds & see the gardener plant our annuals &c &c We had curds & cream to regale her with, as the Cow fortunately came at the same time – and on the Thursday delicious salads & new Potatoes & [missing text] things from Lacock Abbey, by the opportunity of the Carriage, which arrived punctually to the promised time. Pullen brought it and the horses quite safe – and yesterday we took our first drive to Edinburgh & did a surprising amount of business between luncheon & dinner. We called on Tilly & found her very florishing. Pullen is quite agreeable to stay while we make careful search for a Coachman – We have had one strongly recommended by M^r Grieve, but I thought him too expensive a Servant for our light place – and we are enquiring further. I think D^r Moir is likely to recommend a more suitable man – He (D^r M) called to see us on Saturday, but he could only stay a very little while – M^r Grieve was here last Saturday & the Saturday before – getting the locks put in order, which was much needed. He is also having the roofs made water tight, & adding spouts in several places – I think we are lucky in having such a sensible pleasant man to deal with and he refuses nothing that is reasonable, only he often forgets his promises – We have really glorious weather, though the East wind is rather keen these 2 last days – But last week was nearly too hot – and the only rain we had coincided with that which you spoke of in crossing from Folkestone to Boulogne – It was very beneficial to our garden, and favored some transplanting of young seedlings. – We are now getting quite settled & comfortable. – and acquiring or rather, discovering, objects of interest each day. – Our Pussies made themselves quite at home in less than 24 hours, & never felt the slightest wish to run away. I think I have nothing any particular to tell you as news – but hope somebody will write you something more amusing another day. Lady Ilchester’s letter about Sir John Watson Gordon is not come yet. – I was puzzled to explain why her first letter should have failed to reach me – She must have addressed it very incorrectly – for M^rs Talbot, Edinburgh, (alone) would have been sufficient.

M^lle A begs me to give her love & thanks for your letter from Aix les Bains – Ela w^d do the same if she knew of my writing

your affectionate
Constance