2 Caledonia Place <1>
Thursday 6th
My dear Henry
It is delightful to think of your coming over to see us – The plan at present is arranged to remain at Clifton <2> till Tuesday morning – & on that day proceed to Portshead <3>– and to Weston <4> on Thursday – Price <5> is to go over on Saturday to take a house for us at Weston – but should she not succeed in this, I think our best plan would be to remain at Clifton a little longer – But we leave all these after thoughts till we see the result of Price’s mission –
We have been today to see Mr Miles’s pictures at Leigh Court. <6> The collection is small, but all by the most celebrated artists – and very beautiful – Though a show house, everything looked comfortable – and not too fine – The drive is sadly tedious being a long round through Bristol – How splendid the weather continues! – It will do you all possible good to come I am sure – and you will be pleased to see all the children looking very blooming –
Baby <7> is surrounded daily by admirers – One old gentleman begged to know if he was not the Prince of Wales – which greatly diverted the children –
All the wee things <8> were made happy yesterday by a visit to the Zoological gardens –
Your affectionate
Constance. –
Notes:
1. Bristol. [See Doc. No: 04622].
2. Clifton, Bristol, on the Avon Gorge.
3. That is, Portishead.
4. Weston-super-Mare.
5. Mrs Sarah Henneman, first m Price ( ca.1811–1848), housemaid at Lacock Abbey.
6. Philip Miles (1774–1845), a wealthy Bristol ship-owner and banker, who commissioned Thomas Hopper (1776–1856), architect & surveyor, London to build Leigh Court at Abbots Leigh in 1814. His collection included paintings by Titian, Raphael, Rubens and other old masters.
7. Charles Henry Talbot (1842–1916), antiquary & WHFT’s only son.
8. Ela Theresa Talbot (1835–1893), WHFT’s 1st daughter, Rosamond Constance ‘Monie’ Talbot (1837–1906), artist & WHFT’s 2nd daughter and Matilda Caroline Gilchrist-Clark, ‘Tilly’, née Talbot (1839–1927), WHFT’s 3rd daughter.