Grasmere
Friday 28th Oct
My dear Henry
I have received an excellent report from the Speddoch party this morning – Rosamond says that after getting through the whole journey comfortably (in spite of rough weather for the Shap Fells) they felt none the worse the following day, beyond a certain degree of fatigue – & that neither the pleasurable excitement of the whole thing or the hospitalities of dear Matilda’s table had had any injurious effect upon her guests. – These are Rosd’s words – “Mamie is wonderfully flourishing – tired of course, but much better than I dared to hope.” – She says further on “The house surprised me agreeably; it is not nearly so small as I imagined” – “The rooms comfortable, thought the wind comes in sadly! – Weather today horrible, wind snow, sleet, everything disagreeable. Impossible to stir out &c &c” How very curious it seems that when the weather is so stormy & unsettled all over the kingdom, it should vary so much in different parts on the same days! At Grasmere yesterday it was particularly fine – we had uninterrupted sunshine with a softened breeze – but today we have wind & rain in plenty. – Last Tuesday was beautiful here, but very bad with you at Lacock – I have the impression that the rain which has now set in will carry off the frost & snow altogether. What disasters among the shipping on the every part of the Coast! – & what injury to life & property in London. – All our arrangements are made for starting on Monday and Rosamond has undertaken to write you word at the last moment that nothing occurs to cause a days delay – She will write the same to you & to me, so that will save time – and Goodwin will write the orders for provisioning the house & for appointing the Carriage &c to meet us at Chippenham – I am so very glad they were able to go to Speddoch after all – but who would have expected it in such weather? – I was persuaded they had stuck fast at Kendal, & actually wrote to them there! I am promised a full account tomorrow – but I [illegible deletion am already informed that both Matilda & Mr Clark look particularly well & are so happy to have them at length under their roof.
Your affectionate
Constance.
Ela & I are quite comfortable & well. & find plenty of occupation for these few days, by ourselves –
Thanks for the few lines you sent me yesterday.
[envelope:]
H. F. Talbot Esqre
Lacock Abbey
Chippenham
Wiltshire