TALBOT9231

13 Great Stuart Street Edinburgh
Thursday May 23^d

My dear Henry

I return Caroline’s¹ letter with many thanks. We also have heard from her, & of course more recently. The Mount Edgcumbes were at Fountainebleau, waiting for warmer weather to bring them to England. Caroline’s maid & Henriette had been writing to each other – and the latter had very naturally mentioned Rosamond’s² illness. Instantly dear Caroline wrote to M^lle Amélina³ in the most affectionate manner to enquire about her, with many tender expressions of sympathy with her in this illness; – which M^lle A answered by return of post. Of course I don’t exactly know what she told her; but we observed with regret that Monie’s cough had been more troublesome within the last 2 days or so. – Yesterday D^r Moir⁴ called late; but promised to come earlier today, which he did – and again most carefully examined the state of the chest. – His report today is that she has certainly got some cold – from through the evil influences of this desperate east wind: and of which she has been more sensible, since she began to move a little from one room to another. – Today he has desired her to remain in M^lle Amélina’s room & her own, both of which have fires – and are shut in from the staircase by an outer door. – Before this drawback we were all lamenting her very slow progress – and now I much fear that the recovery will be retarded many weeks – Under these circumstances D^r Moir has himself proposed to bring D^r Begbie⁵ to see her tomorrow, as he is skilful in affections of the chest: and I feel much relieved that this is determined upon – You shall hear the opinion he gives of her case – and also what he recommends with regard to climate. – Let us hope that her recovery may be more rapid than we anticipate – I think that Monie herself will like to see D^r Begbie – but I have not yet told her of the arrangement till I know the hour he will call. –

My Brother⁶ has sent me a Photograph of the Presentation Plate; it is rather on a small scale, but with the magnifying glass it is easy to see that the work is very beautiful –

With love to Charles,⁷ I am your affectionate
Constance

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