TALBOT8915

13. Gt. Stuart Street

Saturday Dec^r 17^th

My dear Henry

I have received all your letters from London and must say you have been very good in keeping us au courant of your intended movements. – Some of us would have written if you had not always seemed to be coming on immediately – On Tuesday after getting the first of your letters, Monie proposed writing to tell you what sort of weather we were having here – and when I remarked that I thought this useless, she understood me to mean that writing was useless, when I only alluded to the weather.

I am rather glad you were not travelling today, for the sleaty hail storms would not have been pleasant – and I like to fancy you in the British Museum, or Library of the Athenæum, brightly lit up with gas, sitting in a luxurious arm chair, or taking notes at one of the writing tables. We are looking anxiously for a bright frost, in exchange for the present gloomy damp weather, which doesn’t suit Edinburgh at all better than any other Town – and it keeps everybody too much within doors. You do not say whether you have met many people in Town. The Primroses were to have gone there the beginning of this week for Alice’s marriage; and now we hear from unquestionable authority the startling fact that it is suddenly broken off on account of the gentleman’s ill health. We are very sorry for the distress it must have occasioned both to the Bride elect, and all the family – and are wishing to know some further particulars – for when we spoke to M^rs Primrose in Heriot row <sic>, ten days ago, she said that she hoped the illness of M^r Henderson was not serious, but that they had just received letters to postpone the day and they didn’t know when the marriage would take place. We heard from a friend a few days ago that M^r Primrose had himself been to London, had returned & the whole thing was broken off. We continue to have very good accounts of Matilda – she bore the fatigues of a <smart?> visit of some days to the Maxwells of Terregles – and she is re-gaining strength along with her appetite. – They don’t fix anything yet about coming to us – but as they are engaged to Carruchan (M^rs Maxwells) for Christmas, it cannot be till some time after that. –

I was much obliged for by your mentioning my lost box to the Clerk at Chippenham, though of course I don’t expect anything to come of the complaint at this distance of time – How provoking your having to wait so long for your train to London – and what a surprising mistake for you to make, who are always so accurate! – I fear you may be somewhat inconvenienced by a parcel which I asked Lucy Pullen to send me if she had any facility of packing it along with your things for Edinburgh. – I thought you might have something coming by luggage train – but she wrote me word it was put in your portemanteau <sic>. Don’t leave it behind in London please. – I am sorry you dread the long journey from London to Edinburgh – but it seems to me that being so direct, I should come through without stopping. – I was much less tired than I expected in coming through from Derby – and it was such a quiet journey, I felt I could have gone on several hours longer had we been going to a more distant place. – We have not heard from Charles lately.

Your affectionate

Constance