Sunday May 26^th

My dear Henry

I do not know of any reason why you should come down – if you have no especial business of your own preparatory to our 3 weeks in Lady C’s ^<1> house. – But I hope you won’t recollect anything after the term has begun to bring you away & prevent your enjoying the whole of the time there. – I think having our carriage in London will be a great agrément – but in my opinion it should be the Coach – because that is useful at night, which the other is not – and by day it will have some advantages – such as affording shelter from hot sun & cold wind – as well as storms if any should occur – and is most conveniently fitted up with packing cases for the journey – I have been looking at your state coachman’s livery – & think it may be made useful on this occasion – so will bring it if you approve, with the hammercloth for the carriage – Have you asked if Lady C has a coach house? – If she hasn’t, Lady Elisabeth ^<2> proposes that you should make Wright ^<3> engage one in the neighbourhood. I want you to ascertain whether Lady C means to leave her house a whole day before she lets it to us & whether she engages that it shall be properly cleaned – as every family expects to find a house clean when they enter. – Lady Elis^th will allow Price ^<4> to sleep a night in Sackville Street the day before we go up – that she may take the Inventory –

You will probably see M^r Moore ^<5> on Wednesday as he has asked leave to go up –

Today we are expecting M^r & M^rs Nicholl & Lucy ^<6> – but they are going on tomorrow – so I am afraid they will not see much of the beauties of the garden –

Your affectionate
Constance –

I suppose our plan will be as you say to bring the children back to Lacock in the first instance – Alfred Robins is just appointed Policeman – through M^r Awdry’s ^<7> kind exertions – & goes tomorrow – The Nicholls are just arrived – they have given up Merthyrmaur ^<8> & stay with us over tomorrow. – They are so disappointed at your not being at home –

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Notes:

1. Possibly Caroline Augusta Lambart, née Littleton, who married the 8^th Earl of Cavan in 1838. [See Doc. No: 05000].

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

3. James Wright, footman to the Talbots & Constable for Lacock.

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

5. Possibly Thomas Moore (possibly d. 1854), member of the Lacock Parish Vestry.

6. Dr John Nicholl (1797–1853), MP and Jane Harriot Nicholl, née Talbot (1796–1874), and their daughter.

7. West Awdry (1807–1892), solicitor, Chippenham.

8. Misspelling of Merthyr Mawr, Glamorgan, on River Ogwr