TALBOT9413

Lacock Abbey.
Chippenham.
Friday August 28

My Dear Constance

I have written to Coutts & C^o about the letter of credit.

I hope you received Carolines ¹ letter which I enclosed to you, what an awful escape L^y Abercorn and her family had! ² The papers have been filled with accounts of the accident and reflexions upon it, nothing seems to have excited a greater sensation for many years – The curate of Calne is married to the only daughter, ³ & I understand only Child of the Rev^d Sir Nicholas Chinnery ⁴ who perished in the accident, with his wife, and therefore the family estates in Ireland will devolve upon this poor clergyman.

I wrote to Monie ⁵ the very day I heard of poor M^rs Saunders’s ⁶ death, I hope she got my letter – I was very sorry to receive the sad news! And I think all her relations will regret her very much.

The day I returned to Lacock (10^th August) was very hot but it was the last of the hot weather. The next 2 days were cool and cloudy and on the 13^th came the long wishd for rain. Since then we have had very showery weather (and one day of furious tempest which did great mischief about Liverpool, wrecking several large ships which had just sailed) ⁷ – The country is transformed as if by magic, the fields are as green as emeralds, and the farmers are (or ought to be) thankful and happy. The thanksgiving “for Rain” is read in our church, and I daresay in all others throughout the Kingdom. Our harvest home feast will be earlier than usual on Wedn^y 2^d September.

M^r Moncrieff ⁸ will no longer represent Edinburgh – apparently he was hopeless of success with the number of Electors so greatly augmented. He is now a candidate for the united universities of Glasgow and Aberdeen. I have renew’d your Abonnement to Galignani ⁹ for 6 months.

I am very glad you continue to like D^r Namias,¹⁰ notwithstanding his peculiarities – It is not clear to me from your letter received this morning whether you have given up the lake of Como – as you only allow about 4 weeks for the journey to Pisa, and mean to rest at several places on the way – You are not tired yet of D^r N’s goatsmilk & Seaweed? I am so glad it has become cooler at Venice, I thought it must. Here it has been quite cool enough for the last fortnight – a pleasant medium temperature has prevailed, varied by showers – The plans for our School are I think finally settled – It will cost about a thousand pounds – I think government ought to help individual parishes. The burden is too great that falls upon the Philanthropic. I have not time before Post goes to commence a second sheet else I would do so.

Love to all. Your aff^te
Henry