Oakfield
Sunday 26th Oct
My dear Henry
I was very pleased to get such a long letter from you yesterday – only sorry you should have felt so very tired – So much excitement is trying after a solitary séjour at Lacock. It is very satisfactory to me to hear your opinion that Charles is starting at Cambridge with a fair promise of getting on well. It is certainly a great change for him – and that alone, may have a happy effect on the tone of his mind and feelings – The introductions you have given him will I hope mainly secure his getting into a good set. for the present small circle will be gradually enlarged. I only trust that his Harrow friends are all of the right sort. Rosamond has received your letter today – and begs me to thank you for it with her love. You do not say whether you saw Lord Mt E. after all. We hope the visit to Bowood will be pleasant: & that you will not feel so much tired while you are there. – I am curious to know how the invitation came about – as you do not speak of having met any of the Bowood family. As you mean to enquire for letters at the Athenæum tomorrow, I will direct this accordingly: instead of writing to Lacock. If Goodwin has the inclosure in time, he will try to get us a few bonbons – (called Coffee berries) at Fortnum & Mason’s.
I am acting today upon the decided preference you give in your last letter, of taking a house in Edinh rather than combining Country & town, as the Cowerhouse scheme proposed to do. – I have written to Patterson, opening a negociation for the late Sir James Bussell’s house in Princes Street: which he offered last week for £200 for the season of six winter months. – This is cheap, if it is found to contain the requisite accommodation – He says it does – but I am writing for a full description. – The situation is cheerful, & what we feel satisfied we shall like, with those pleasant Princes St Gardens for our daily walks – A great thing for Ela, who may walk there alone, & she makes a point of going out every day. – The reception rooms are very cheerful, tho’ small; but their size is no particular objections, as we do not intend to give large parties – and only desire to be comfortable. I feel authorised by the tone of your last letter, to close at once with this house, or any other that may suit, because it is our last chance of getting a house at all. If you disapprove, you must say so. I will take care that we decide for the best possible house on those moderate terms. I mean to stipulate that the six months shall date from as late as the 1t Decr because I think that will be a good time for moving – Tilly writes that she is getting quite in despair at our prospect of being shut out from Edinburgh altogether. – It would be a cruel disappointment to her – and I know that Charles has quite as eager a desire for the scheme as any of the rest of us –
I am so glad you have secured a Servant – I understand from Goodwin that the Steward of the Athenæum was disposed to be lenient, and excuse him the regular month’s warning
I must be brief now, to save the Post.
Your affectionate
Constance
Tell Goodwin to get the Coffee bonbons (like Coffee berries) – for I have not time to write.
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H. F. Talbot Esqre
Athenæum Club
London S.W.