Wednesday March 13^th

My dear Henry

I heard from Marian ^<1> yesterday that you had been to see her – and after hearing her report spoke less decidedly about the Swiss Lady ^<2> than we all did – But probably since my last letters to you & to her you have had some further communication – & saved her all unnecessary trouble. – I dare say we shall have no difficulty after we arrive at Brussels, in engaging a nice person on much more reasonable terms – nor will there be any immediate hurry about it – There will be so many new objects to make the children ^<3> happy at first, that we shall have no difficulty in passing the time agreeably –

I dare say Marian told you of her proposed visit to us – which makes me very happy for I scarcely thought she would have ventured at this time of the year, when the weather is so changeable & often cold – What a storm there was yesterday & the day before! – very unfavorable for Lady Elis^{ths <4>} journey. – I suppose they must have travelled much slower – I quite expected we should have lost some trees – but I don’t hear of any – An old acacia close to the Sphinx which was shaken by a storm last year rocked so much yesterday that Humphries ^<5> expected it to fall & even asked my leave to pull it with ropes to guide its descent & prevent its injuring the Mermaid. – But I could not sanction so strong a measure – particularly as I thought the chances were in favour of its surviving the storm, – which has proved to be the case. – I visited M^rs Moore ^<6> yesterday & was glad to find M^r M ^<7> so far recovered as to make it likely that he will go up to Sackville St ^<8> on Friday & I engaged to let Sarah ^<9> know this – for which purpose I have written the enclosed note. – She is to prepare for him on Friday – but not to be surprised if he does not arrive – & not to expect him late. –

Rosamond is very anxious for you to be at home on her Birthday – (Saturday –) but I have told her it is scarcely likely that you will have finished your business by that time –

Your affectionate
Constance –

I propose to give Marian your bed-room – if (as usual) you like the Confessional equally well – for yourself. – But if you dislike moving let me hear please before she comes down, which she talks of doing Friday or Saturday. – I think Horatia ^<10> begged me to remind you of bringing down the Revue des deux mondes. ^<11>

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Notes:

1. Her sister, Marian Gilder, née Mundy (1806 – 14 October 1860); m. 6 August 1844 William Troward Gilder (d. 1871), Army Surgeon (ret).

2. She was being considered as a governess [see Doc. No: 04958].

3. Ela Theresa Talbot (25 Apr 1835 - 25 Apr 1893), WHFT's 1^st daughter; Rosamond Constance Talbot (16 Mar 1837 - 7 May 1906), 'Rose'; 'Monie'; artist & WHFT's 2^nd daughter; died & buried at San Remo, Italy, with a memorial at Lacock; Matilda Caroline Gilchrist-Clark, née Talbot (25 Feb 1839-1927), 'Tilly', WHFT's 3^rd daughter; Charles Henry Talbot, (2 Feb 1842 - 26 Dec 1916), 'Charlie'; 'Tally'; antiquary & WHFT's only son.

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

5. John Humphries, gardener at Lacock Abbey in the early 1840’s.

6. Elizabeth (Bessie) Moore, née Dyke (1783–1865), wife of the poet Thomas Moore.

7. Thomas Moore (1780–1852), Irish poet.

8. 31 Sackville Street, London residence of the Feildings, often used as a London base by WHFT.

9. A housemaid from around 1826.

10. Henrietta Horatia Maria Gaisford, née Feilding (1810–1851), WHFT’s half-sister.

11. A French periodical published in the 1800s.