March 13^th –

My dear Henry

I am very glad to hear of dear Lady Elisabeths ^<1> safe arrival – and in good health – for I fancied she might have been ailing & therefore put off her journey. I will prepare to receive her on Thursday –

Price ^<2> is going on favorably but very slowly – she occupies the green room which is more cheerful & airy than her own – She is greatly troubled with low spirits & impatience to recover – but that will not bring her on a bit the faster. – Rheumatism & cold still hang upon her – though the bilious attack is subdued – & she is extremely weak –

I certainly think the gates of Somnauth ^<3> more interesting than the Church of Scotland. –

Y^r aff^te
Constance

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Notes:

1. Lady Elisabeth Theresa Feilding, née Fox Strangways, first m Talbot (1773–1846), WHFT’s mother

2. Probably Mrs Sarah Henneman, first m Price ( ca.1811–1848), housemaid at Lacock Abbey.

3. The Gates of Somnauth were reported carried off by a Sultan in 1024 and recovered by Edward Law, Earl of Ellenborough (1790–1871) during the First Afghan War. As Governor General of India, he brought them to Agra as part of a lavish display intended to impress the Indian populace. His efforts were universally ridiculed, and the ‘ancient’ gates, supposedly made of sandalwood, were discovered to be of more modern manufacture and made of deal (a pine wood commonly available to the British).