Monday May 5. –

My dear Henry

I have received your two letters ^<1> and we are looking forwards with pleasure to your coming home on Wednesday – The children are rather sorry not to have you tomorrow for the Eclipse – I have smoked a piece of glass – but not perfectly as I had no varnish – and I have found the colored glasses in your drawer – so we are fully prepared & only hoping for a clear sky tomorrow – but the clouds are gathering heavily this evening which looks unpromising – We found the weather today fine enough to undertake a drive to Bowood in the Pony carriage – Ela Rosamond ^<2> & I – but the wind blew very cold & we were rather chilled coming home – Lady Lansdowne ^<3> had just been out round the house – sauntering from one seat to another – and while I was with her she reposed on the Sofa – She does not seem to be much better yet –

Lady Louisa ^<4> looked very well – Lady Lansdowne enquired what chance I had of engaging a governess – & I mentioned Lady Adare’s ^<5> – She does not think 80 guineas unreasonably high – where so much is taught as that one professes – Therefore let us not hastily reject her – as all Lady Elisabeth ^<6> wrote of her seemed so desirable –

Thanks for remembering the pale ale – it is safely arrived –

Your affectionate
Constance. –

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Notes:

1. Letters not located.

2. Ela Theresa Talbot (1835–1893), WHFT’s 1^st daughter and Rosamond Constance ‘Monie’ Talbot (1837–1906), artist & WHFT’s 2^nd daughter.

3. Louisa Emma Petty Fitzmaurice, née Fox Strangways, Marchioness of Lansdowne (1785-1851), wife of Henry Petty Fitzmaurice, 3^rd Marquess of Lansdowne; Lady of the Bedchamber to Queen Victoria, 1837-1838; WHFT's aunt.

4. Louisa Charlotte Frampton (1808-1885), author.

5. Caroline Wyndham (d. 26 May 1870), wife of Windham Henry Wyndham-Quin, 2^nd Earl of Dunraven and Mount-Earl (1782-1850).

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