Eastbourne – Sussex
September 1. 1861
<on mourning paper>
My dear Henry,
The good news contained in your letter was most welcome I had been hoping & enquiring for such for some time fearing that my absence from home might delay the intelligence. I heartily & sincerely congratulate you all on dear Matilda’s <deletion> joyful confinement & I trust she will have no drawback in recovery to give any of her friends the least uneasiness. Having so recently experienced the relief which this event produces I can fully sympathise with Mrs Talbot – pray give her my love & also convey it soon to dear Matilda whose happiness I hope one day or other to witness.
It was a real disappointment to me not to be at home to receive William & Lady Ilchester when they were at Merthyrmawr this summer – I hear that they enjoyed the beauty of my Garden notwithstanding the wet & wind which has nearly brought it all to a wintry appearance. When are you coming? I feel it very hard to be separated so completely from one who I always felt to be all but my Brother I want you to make your children be what they ought to be with mine. Particularly Charles who would like our pursuits, I feel convinced. My health has been so, so <sic> for a long while & I have been banished from home for two months I am now going home again – The air here has done me much good, it is a very nice Sea place but nothing more
Your affte
Jane H. Nicholl