Laycock abbey
7th august
My Dear Henry
How you fly about! great was my surprize to see a letter dated London instead of Keswick <1> or ambleside. I intend to be here stationary for some time, except going for a few days to Bowood, <2> but if you will let me know what day you come, I will make a point of coming down here to meet you. I wish very much you would come & let me have a glimpse of you, but how will you continue to be in time for the Meeting at Newcastle <3> which is to begin I understood next Saturday What was the housemaid about? When you arrived I mean. as she is new I wish very much she should be occasionally surprized, that I may know if she is to be depended on, which I fear not as you seem to imply there was no room ready for you in Sackville Street, <4> now she was particularly ordered to keep one bed room in readiness, & I told her myself you might happen to come at any time
affly yrs
EF
Il paroît que Constance a pris le goût de voyages <5> perhaps it is to try if the Children could go to Naples.
Does Wm <6> mean that he sent you a large Letter by the post since we came down? I have not seen it – Upon inquiring I find Mrs Price <7> has your Letters but did not know where to direct, as now as you are coming she had better keep them for you. I am just going to look at the Ribes Sanguineum <8>
Notes:
1. Keswick, Cumberland.
2. Bowood House, nr Calne, Wiltshire, 5 mi NE of Lacock: seat of the Marquess of Lansdowne.
3. The British Association for the Advancement of Science met at Newcastle in 1838.
4. 31 Sackville Street, London residence of the Feildings, often used as a London base by WHFT.
5. It appears that Constance has developed the taste for travels.
6. William Thomas Horner Fox Strangways, 4th Earl of Ilchester (1795–1865), botanist, art collector & diplomat.
7. Miss Price, governess to the Talbot girls.
8. See Doc. No: 03654.