San Remo. February 11^th 1868

My dear Henry

We all send you our very affectionate wishes for many happy returns of this day – and which we did expect & hope would have been spent altogether, after this somewhat lengthened separation. – But if you are busy all this time at Lacock, & tolerably comfortable, you are right not to have hurried yourself in coming out to join us in these parts? – If only it was possible for you to pass some odd half hours with us each day, strolling about the garden, or the easiest walks among the olive terraces, it would be very pleasant – and I miss you deplorably as often as I gaze upon some queer plant or other, of which I want to ask the name. – Today I have collected some little bits of things from the hôtel garden, which though very shabby & fragmentary will help you to tell me the names, as under –

This is a single flower, picked from a large branching head; which, though coarse growing, will be handsome as soon as all the flowers are open. – the stalks & outside of the flower buds are reddish brown – the foliage rather lush & leaves large –

This other yellow thing, with leaves like Ivy, is a free climber & covers a trellice – I admired it most before its flowers appeared early in Jany. – the Stems appear to be very brittle. –

This shrub has continued to flower the whole time of our residence at San Remo & is as vigorous as at first. It is said to be [Hebenstratia?]? – and that [?] I expect will be very grand in a few days – [?] plants of it, each being a couple of spikes of flowers – just about to open. In its earlier stage the spike looks scaly; something like an elongated fire fir cone, but of course a very different color – the leaves are stiff & thick, with edges like the teeth of a saw – & it grows like an Aloe. Of this it is impossible to send you a proper specimen – being so juicy & thick. It is a brilliant red both in stalk & flower. – leaves of small importance – but very fleshy & of a dull greenish red – Its flower stalks are very long & straggling – & so brittle that they lay scattered on the ground – Ela has painted one s of its spikes – Monie is filling her sketch books with charming views of the old Town – and it has been a great pleasure to her having one or other of the Miss Steuarts as a companion – Two of them draw very well, one of the 2 excelling also in flower painting – so that she has plenty of work in hand – and she accomplishes a great deal by sitting to her drawing both early & late. & finds time for long walks besides – she is the youngest & liveliest of the Sisters – and I am sure Monie will miss her very much. When Charles returns from Markeaton, please tell him that Ela received his letter today – & that Monie wrote to him on the 2^d addressed to him at Merstham; but he appears to have left L^d Hylton’s before the letter arrived. R^d hopes it has been forwarded to him – Charles says that nothing is yet settled about a new kitchen range for Lacock remind you that it is quite necessary to get it done before we return to the Abbey in the Summer. You should give instructions to Goodwin about it now, with orders for the work to be done the moment he considers to be the least inconvenient. When Charles returns, ask him to send us an account of M^rs Noel Mundy’s accident to which he alludes, & say whether it is the same foot w^h she hurt before – It is really very unfortunate – Talking of accidents, I believe you did not hear of dear Mamie having narrowly escaped a very severe one to her hand, by catching her foot in something on the garden walk – she was holding a book and parasol, & in falling she strained her left hand severely – & experienced much pain for some days – Most fortunately she did not break any bone which almost surprised D^r [Danberry?]: as her whole weight rested on the hand in falling, & she chanced to be alone at the moment of the accident – It happened last Saturday week the 1^st Feb. and today (the 11^th) she is still only able to use the hand a little, but carries it in a sling – As soon as it is quite strong again we shall prepare for our move to Genoa, Pisa & Florence – but in the mean time you may write here again, & afterwards leave instructions for letters to be forwarded – We are told that Florence is very expensive, so we must not stay longer there than will suffice to see the Galleries &c &c – Don’t you feel Lake Como will be the pleasantest place for you to join us? We would give you due notice of the time we are likely to be there in case of that suiting you best – but we will keeping you au courant of our movements from the time we get under weigh [sic] – And you should also give us your own ideas on the subject, in time to write our suggestions before you leave England. A letter from Tilly today with a good account of the children – She complains that neither you nor Charles write to her, altho’ she has asked you for news – This is treating her badly, poor dear Tilly! – We read with concern the newspaper accounts of those disastrous storms in England & Scotland! Charles says he was in London on that Saturday – You seem to have experienced less of it at Lacock – what do you hear of L^d Landsdowne since his accident out hunting? – And who is the young nobleman of 22 who has [illegible deletion] involved himself with money lenders & sold all his horses? – Our weather is glorious, & the nights g magnificent for astronomical observations – In the day I find the sun too bright till ½ past 3 – & generally take my quiet stroll from that hour till 5 – On the whole I am feeling rather more comfortable, but the rheumatism is still painful. Ela & R^d are well.

Your aff^te
Constance

Monie answered your last letter by the next day’s post.

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