13 Great Stuart St.
Wednesday June 12th
My dear Henry
Ela<1> told you of the great step made by her Sister<2> on Monday; and that instead of being over tired by her stroll down to the middle of the garden, and the climb to the top of the house, added to the ascent along the paved way on her return, she really seemed revived; by and enjoyed the pleasure of getting out again after her long confinement in the house. She sat down on the benches in the garden, & enjoyed the beauty and perfume of the lilacs & other things. On her return upstairs, she rested on each flat, after taking her cup of tea in the dining room, & got safe back to her sofa without assistance. Yesterday she determined to try a drive and I went with her in an open cab as far as Murrayfield; then we took a cross road by Ravelstone through most beautiful broken scenery and home by the Queensferry road, passing Craigleith Quarry This little round occupied one hour, as we drove slowly, and she found it quite enough the rough jolting of the Cab being rather trying to her and in some parts we suffered from the dust and d gusts of wind But it was not air air [sic] that made her cough, being so very warm and we found the Sun almost too hot at times I observe however that Monie can bear a good deal of heat just now and shrinks from anything approaching to a fresh moderate coolness. Today she prefers remaining quiet, although the weather is still perfectly warm but the wind is boisterous and I am sure she is right to be cautious in these first attempts at going out. Dr Moir<3> continues to watch her with the greatest care as there is still something beyond mere debility in her case Of course we shall not stir until he gives a free consent but we think at present of the probability of getting a short distance next week Tuesday if fine & to go to Silloth<4> for a few days or a week then perhaps to some place within an easy distance of London. Your Courier<5> asks you to write to him at Geneva to let him know whether there is to be any delay in our time of starting for the Continent. I think and hope we may be quite ready at the time talked of. Monday appears to be the 1st July on which day I understand from a previous letter he will meet us in London There will be no use therefore in our going to London before that day and supposing we arrive there on Monday & rest till Wednesday or Thursday, Bayer will be able to make himself useful in getting the passport & making arrangements about the Luggage We cannot say anything more positive at present, many things may occur to cause a trifling delay, cannot Bayer put you in a way of communicating with him later, should such a delay occur? [illegible] to save any inconvenient hurry to the family he is now with? I have directed Goodwin<6> to provide for us whatever is still wanted here up to Tuesday; & get in the bills no doubt they will exceed our calculation on account of our prolonged stay: and extra expense of physicians &c &c but I need not ask you to send any remittance here Mlle Amιlina<7> having received some money of her own from Stillwell<8> and she will lend some for the journey to Silloth and everything I borrow of Goodwin, you can settle with him at Lacock Abbey. A gentleman looked at our house today on behalf of a friend I am going to send Goodwin to ask Mushet the particulars and whether if I learn anything promising, I will let you know Love to Charles<9> I hope his dinner today will pass off satisfactorily
Your affectionate
Constance.
[envelope:]
H. F. Talbot Esqre
Lacock Abbey
Chippenham
Wiltshire
Notes:
1. Ela Theresa Talbot (25 Apr 1835 - 25 Apr 1893), WHFT's 1st daughter.
2. Her sister had been quite ill for some time - Rosamond Constance Talbot (16 Mar 1837 - 7 May 1906), died & buried at San Remo, Italy, with a memorial at Lacock; 'Monie', artist & WHFT's 2nd daughter.
3. Dr John Moir (b 1809), French-born to British parents, MD, 52 Castle St, Edinburgh.
4. Silloth, or Silloth-on-Solway, a port town in Cumbria.
5. M J Bayer, courier to the Talbot family in the 1860s-1870s.
6. George Goodwin (d. 1875), footman at Lacock Abbey.
7. Amιlina Petit de Billier, 'Mamie', 'Amandier' (1798- 8 September 1876), governess and later close friend of the Talbot family [See Amιlina's journal].
8. Stillwell & Co, naval agents, London.
9. Charles Henry Talbot, 'Charlie' or 'Tally' (2 Feb 1842 - 26 Dec 1916), antiquary & WHFT's only son.