Margam <1>
Sunday 22d Decr. 1839
My Dear Constance
I had a tedious & troublesome journey. I was obliged to post all the way, as the few coaches there were, were quite full - I left Bath at 9 o'clock & when I got to the Old Passage I found it low water and the Steamer aground, & likely to continue to so for the next hour & a half, so I crossed in a sailing boat with the passengers of a coach which drove up at the same time. We got across well enough and proceeded to Chepstow, when I found a coach, but already were 21 passengers wanting to go by it - so I proceeded to Newport & Cardiff, at the latter place there was not a single horse to be had in the town, so I was compelled to stop the night at the Cardiff Arms- I left the place next morning soon after nine and got to Margam at ½ past one in very stormy rainy weather, which has continued almost without intermission ever since. There is nobody here but Uncle John <2> who seems delighted with his recent tour in the isle of Skye. Theodore <3> is left at Penrice <4> therefore I cannot send you a description of him Ly Charlotte <5> is rather indisposed today with a headache, to cure which she went out walking when it was almost dark and raining pretty heavy, and I accompanied her, and we admired the views for what they might have been in Summer. I mean to return home Thursday evening
Yours affly
Henry
Don't forward any letters to me after you receive this.Notes:
1. Margam Park, Glamorgan: home of Christopher Rice Mansel Talbot.
2. John George Charles Fox Strangways (1803-1859), MP.
3. Theodore Mansel Talbot (1839-1876), WHFT's Welsh nephew.
4. Penrice Castle and Penrice House, Gower, Glamorgan, 10 mi SW of Swansea: home of Christopher Rice Mansel Talbot.
5. Lady Charlotte Talbot, née Butler (1809-1846), wife of CRM Talbot.