[on mourning paper]
Tottenham Place
Clifton
Tuesday Oct. 12th
My dear Henry
To your very affectionate & kind invitation I can only say that it is, alas, impossible that I can accept it, & for more reasons than one it vexes me very sadly to refuse – Give my love to dear Caroline & tell her I cannot help being glad that the lovely Moon has sympathetically veiled her face in sadness it suits my feelings better.
I lose no time – my love to Mrs Talbot
Believe me dear Henry your aff Cousin
Jane
P.S.
Christiana is gone home to Merthyr Mawr or I would have sent her to make amends for my absence
[envelope:]
H. Fox Talbot Esqr
Lacock Abbey
Chippenham