Saturday
I should be very sorry to frighten away Miss Cotton, <1> particularly as my stay is so uncertain being engaged to pay visits in Norfolk - indeed I understood that Constance <2> had settled it with Miss C.
Harriet Galwey <3> will not interfere with either her or you. For so short a time I shall not take my carriage & it is some difficulty to convey your Portfolio, however Wright <4> has I believe written to Mrs Price <5> for the little garden cart to convey the luggage from Chippenham. You had better mention it in case his letter should miscarry. We leave town by the 2 o'clock train tomorrow & shall be ready for dinner I suppose by 7 or sooner -
affly yrs
EF
The Archbishop of Canterbury & his wife <6> have both been near dying of Cholera -
No other conveyance but the open Cart will hold the things, as my imperial <7>is too high for the other & must stand on end.
Notes:
1. Miss Cotton, flower painter. [See Doc. No: 03318].
2. Constance Talbot, née Mundy (1811-1880), WHFT's wife.
3. Lady Harriet Payne Gallwey (1784-1845), née Quin, widow of Lt Gen Sir William Payne Gallwey (1759-1831), 1st Bart.
4. James Wright, footman to the Talbots & Constable for Lacock.
5. Miss Price, governess to the Talbot girls.
6. William Howley (1766-1848), Archbishop of Canterbury and his wife Mary Francis Howley.
7. An Imperial was a case or trunk for luggage, usually fitted to the top of a carriage; sometimes the carriage top itself was referred to this way.