Venice Monday August 24th 1868
My dear Henry
I do not owe you a letter, and I should have waited an answer to the one I wrote you at least a fortnight ago, if business matters admitted of delay – But I must remind you that a new letter of credit is indispensible before we leave Venice – and Do Namies told me today he wished me to begin the journey south on the 7th or 8th September – breaking it into short days distances & stopping several days or a week at each place – to avoid over fatigue – Then as we approach Pisa we may chuse a longer pause, should the weather continue favorable: but the time he has named is desirable to reach Pisa is early in October. – You will have read in the Newspapers, the announcement of the death of my dear Aunt, Mrs Saunders <1> at Marle Hill House on the 13th of this month. – I had not known of her illness, or rather of the anxiety of the family in consequence of her extreme debility – but Aunt Newton<2> has written to me since & told me how sweetly calm was her end. Sshe kept her bed about 5 weeks – from inability to rise no illness – merely loss of appetite, and weakness – They [illegible deletion] thought at first she was oppressed by the hot weather & would rally – but at 80, this was scarcely probably – Her Son, and Mr & Mrs Hesketh were with her – and she passed away as calmly as in sleep. – Aunt Newton wrote to me on the 18th and on the following day they were all leaving Marle Hill, as the funeral was to be at North Meols. I fear that when the others left, my dear Aunt N. would feel her loss very sadly – Rd has had a letter from Charles from Lacock – but you have written but once, which was the same day you got home – (Monie answered yr letter)
Your affectionate
Constance.
I shd have used mourning paper today – but was afraid of startling you –
Our weather is become quite pleasant – very fresh, (sometimes) night & morning –
Notes:
1. Constance Talbot's aunt, Anna Marie Saunders, née Leaper-Newton (1783-1868).
2. Eleanor Newton, née Stephenson (1788-1880), widow of Sarah Leaper Newton's brother, Robert Newton Leaper-Newton (1775-1846); she continued to live at Marle-Hill House, Cheltenham.